How structured data and the IISRI methodology are setting a new standard for Smart Readiness assessment
As Europe accelerates its green and digital transformation under the European Green Deal, the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)—a core instrument under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)—is emerging as a crucial metric for determining how well a building can adapt to user needs, optimise energy performance, and interact with smart grids. While currently voluntary, the SRI is on track to become mandatory for large buildings across the EU, making it vital for developers, facility managers, and public authorities to understand and integrate its principles from the design phase onward.
But a pressing question remains: is the building sector truly ready to implement it at scale?
This article draws on insights from the IISRI project (Interoperable Information Requirements for SRI), delivered by Cobuilder and funded under the SUSTAIN Eurocluster initiative. The SUSTAIN programme supports advanced, high-TRL solutions that combine digital technologies such as BIM, AI, and IoT with Europe’s key sustainability objectives. The IISRI project responds to this ambition by demonstrating how SRI can be operationalised as a structured, BIM-ready data requirement, integrated seamlessly into the design, construction, and operation phases of a building’s lifecycle.
The full whitepaper is available for download for those seeking in-depth implementation guidance.
What the SRI measures – and how it supports smarter, more energy-efficient buildings
At its core, the Smart Readiness Indicator is designed to assess a building’s technological capabilities to enhance energy efficiency, comfort, and operational flexibility through the use of smart technologies. The SRI assessment framework categorises building functions into nine impact domains, ranging from heating, cooling, and ventilation to demand-response and electric vehicle integration.
Each domain is assessed for its ability to:
- Monitor and control building systems intelligently
- Provide user-centric functionality
- Support grid integration and energy flexibility
The result is a score that reflects the “smart readiness” of the building—a signal to investors, occupants, and regulators that the property is future-proof and environmentally optimised.
The SRI is not merely a compliance tool. It functions as an enabler of decarbonisation, helping identify retrofit opportunities, prioritise system upgrades, and benchmark performance improvements across building portfolios. Moreover, by aligning with building automation and control systems (BACS) and digital twins, it bridges energy and data strategies at the building level.
The hidden bottleneck: Manual SRI implementation
While conceptually robust, the current implementation of the SRI is largely manual, fragmented, and disconnected from design workflows. In most cases:
- Assessments are conducted post-construction, missing the opportunity to shape smarter designs.
- Data is collected through site visits, document searches, or interviews, adding cost and complexity.
- There is little interoperability with BIM or other digital construction tools.
- Owners and SMEs view SRI as “one more compliance burden,” especially when it duplicates other certifications, such as EPCs.
Without integrated, structured data, scaling the SRI becomes impractical, especially for public and large-scale commercial projects.
How structured, machine-readable data enables automated assessments
To address these challenges, the IISRI (Interoperable Information Requirements for SRI) methodology, developed by Cobuilder with support from the SUSTAIN Eurocluster, introduces a structured, digital-first approach to smart readiness.
The IISRI approach reimagines SRI as a machine-readable data requirement embedded into BIM workflows, allowing for:
- Real-time validation of smart readiness during design and construction
- Automated extraction of building data for scoring
- Seamless integration with commissioning and handover processes
- Reuse of SRI data in Digital Building Logbooks and facility management systems
Instead of SRI being a final audit, it becomes a living indicator—aligned with Cobuilder’s broader mission to empower the construction sector through interoperable, standardised data.
From framework to workflow: How IISRI works
The IISRI methodology provides a practical toolkit for implementing SRI through structured BIM processes. It includes:
- Digital SRI Templates: Standardised data definitions for each smart function, based on open standards like IFC, IDS, and ISO 23387.
- Design-Time Integration: Requirements are checked directly in BIM software, such as Revit or ArchiCAD, using tools like Cobuilder Require.
- Automated Compliance: Rule-based engines validate BIM models against SRI logic and calculate provisional scores.
- Construction and Handover Alignment: Contractors update SRI data during installation, enabling digital-ready final assessments.
- Ongoing Operations Support: Facility managers inherit a structured inventory of smart systems, enabling them to better monitor performance and implement upgrades.
This approach makes SRI part of the building’s digital backbone, rather than an afterthought.
Stakeholder benefits: From designers to policymakers
Insights from industry interviews and pilots reveal broad benefits when SRI is embedded digitally:
- Designers and engineers avoid costly retrofits by addressing smart requirements early
- Assessors complete evaluations faster and with greater consistency
- Building owners gain a marketable smart-readiness label—and lower energy bills
- Facility managers use the structured data for predictive maintenance and system optimisation
- Policymakers can rely on consistent data to track progress and inform future regulation
As one stakeholder put it: “It’s not just about the score—it’s about knowing what the building can do.”
Policy recommendations: Scaling the smart transition
The whitepaper also outlines practical policy recommendations to future-proof SRI adoption, including:
- Mandating digital building logbooks and structured data for new projects
- Integrating SRI with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
- Supporting training and accreditation for digital SRI assessments
- Promoting open standards and reusable digital content
- Establishing national SRI databases for benchmarking and progress tracking
These steps will enable regulators and industry players to embed SRI into mainstream construction practices.
Conclusion: Smart readiness begins with smart data
The SRI is poised to transform how we measure and improve the intelligence of Europe’s buildings. But its success hinges on how easily and accurately it can be applied.
The IISRI methodology offers a blueprint for that success. By embedding SRI in structured, BIM-ready workflows, we transition from static reports to dynamic digital compliance, benefiting designers, owners, operators, and society at large.
Want to explore how to implement smart readiness in your next project?
Download the full whitepaper to access the complete IISRI methodology, use cases, and policy guidance.
References
- European Commission. (2023). Smart Readiness Indicator Implementation Progress Report. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/index_en
- X-tendo Project Consortium. (2022). Toolkit for SRI Integration in Digital Logbooks. www.x-tendo.eu
- IISRI Framework Report. (2024). Interoperable SRI Toolkit and Methodology. EU Horizon Project.
- REHVA Journal. (2023). Smart Readiness and Building Digitalization in Europe. www.rehva.eu
- BPIE. (2022). Making Buildings Smart and Sustainable: Policy Pathways for Europe. www.bpie.eu
The post Is your building project ready for the EU’s smart and green transition? appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
