Smart Zero-energy Buildings and Communities for Smart Grids

2Integrated Design (ID) Towards Smart Zero-energy Buildings and Smart Grids

This chapter focuses on smart and zero-energy building analysis in the design phase and aims to provide guidelines for integrated design procedures toward smart/zero-energy buildings and smart grids.

This is a mandatory requirement based on the fact that the requirements of the EPBD impose that all new buildings should meet the nearly zero-energy targets from 2021 onwards. New buildings occupied and owned by public authorities have had to comply with the same criteria from 2019 (Kolokotsa et al. 2011; Kapsalaki and Leal 2011).

Since buildings are major consumers in smart grids, the integrated design task helps in developing a collaborative method for designing buildings for smart grids. The IED process is an innovative approach able to support and manage the growing complexity of the building market sector. It requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including key stakeholders and design professionals, from conception to completion. Decision-making protocols and complementary design principles must be established early in the process in order to satisfy the goals of multiple stakeholders while achieving the overall integration design objectives.

The design of NZEB requires an interdisciplinary approach. Reducing the energy demand in the design phase requires the careful consideration of specifications of the different designers and engineers such as architects, building engineers or façade designers. ...