Smart Readiness Indicator metric for building envelope structures

Halilovič, Miroslav (author), Kralj, Aleš (author), Kurnitski, Jarek (author), Domjan, Suzana (author), Maček, Andraž (author), Medved, Sašo (author)

Seasonal energy imbalance and corresponding grid loads are a key challenge in the decarbonisation of buildings. This study derives new delivered energy and power indicators to explore the role of high performance glazing units as passive but dynamic façade components that help address this mismatch. Through dynamic thermal simulations combined with PV and battery modelling, we assess how glazing affects electricity demand, storage needs, and grid reliance. To more adequately evaluate envelope performance, we introduce a quantitative Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) tailored to the Dynamic Building Envelope domain-providing a performance-based alternative to the current checklist-based SRI method. The new indicator integrates both static (U-value) and dynamic performance across three categories: energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and energy flexibility. Results show that quadruple glazing units (QGUs), when paired with local PV and storage, outperform both triple glazing and opaque walls in balancing seasonal loads. QGUs also reduced both delivered energy and peak power as well as PV and battery equipment size that make this solution economically feasible in many cases. Developed methodology enables robust, orientation-independent comparison and highlights the potential of transparent envelope elements in reducing grid dependency and supporting zero-emission building targets.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Smart Readiness Indicator, Dynamic Building Envelope, quadruple glazing, seasonal energy imbalance, grid decarbonisation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 26 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 350, art. 116677
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-175881
• UDC: 621
• ISSN on article: 1872-6178
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116677
• COBISS.SI-ID: 256898819
• Publication date in RUL: 12.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Energy and buildings
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1872-6178
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23262469

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: indikator pametne pripravljenosti, dinamični ovoj stavbe, štirislojna zasteklitev