Next-generation Dynamic Digital EPCs for Enhanced Quality and User Awareness

In July, D^2EPC partners met at the consortium meeting in Delft for the last time before the completion of the project in August this year. In this H2020 project, a digital dynamic tool was developed to calculate asset rating and operational rating of a building, introducing novel indicators, which affect the energy performance of a building. https://www.d2epc.eu/en

The study, performed under “Next-generation Dynamic Digital EPCs for Enhanced Quality and User Awareness (D^2EPC)” demonstrated the current EPC schemes' quality and weaknesses and presented the dynamic EPC's novelty aspects. The novel aspects include the following indicators:

• Smart-readiness level of the buildings (SRI)
• Human comfort and well-being (HC&W) indicators
• Sustainability-related indicators (life cycle assessment (LCA))

Also, the mentioned study analysed the introduction of the building information model (BIM), the digital twin, the geographic information system (GIS) and financial schemes for the next-generation EPCs. In the framework of the D^2EPC project a detailed technological concept for a novel dynamic EPC framework based on (near) real-time field data was developed. A key performance indicator is a performance measurement based on human comfort and well-being. The indicators proposed in the project are based on three significant domains of the Indoor Environmental Quality: Indoor Air quality, Thermal Comfort & Visual comfort.

In the project, an analysis of standardisation gaps and needs was conducted. This revealed some significant gaps in the current standardisation landscape regarding the energy performance assessment of buildings. The analysis showed that the calculation methods used in different EU countries are not very transparent and therefore not comparable. Furthermore, the lack of existence of common standards and regulations for operational rating was confirmed. Also the integration of standards taking into consideration the SRI through intelligent meters and customer information and the information-rich BIM data as well as standards for data exchange between CAD from planning and EPC software, EPC software and EPC registries and EPC Data repositories and owners’ needs are missing. A further gap concerning the energy demand beyond lighting and the related costs distributed to tenants (energy demand and costs for surveillance, lift, pumps, etc.) was identified. The standards related to a feasible method to give tips for sustainable renovation without having LCA for ancient existing building elements are missing.

The implementation of this project is the first step stone towards EPCs based on (nearly) real-time dynamic operational data. The results of this project and others are tested in crossCert and will include, for example, accuracy, usability, robustness to user errors, and reusability of results.

Check the D^2EPC  tool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2g6oEdJz3Q