The energy performance of buildings is becoming a central criterion in European regulations governing the built environment. The new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2024) requires all new buildings in the EU to be zero-emission by 2030.

Achieving this objective involves the use of advanced technologies for automation, consumption monitoring, and the integration of renewable energy sources. In Romania, the Ministry of Development updated in 2024 the national methodology for calculating energy performance, introducing new parameters for smart buildings. According to INS data, in 2023 only 11% of newly built residential buildings fully met the criteria for nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Buildings). Through Component C5 – Renovation Wave, the NRRP provides funding for thermal modernization and the digitalization of public buildings, including automated energy control systems.

Smart buildings not only reduce energy use and operational costs but also offer superior comfort. The integration of sensors, data networks, and photovoltaic panels contributes to more efficient resource use and to lowering the carbon footprint. In the future, building standards will be defined not only by architecture but also by a structure’s ability to actively interact with the environment, occupants, and urban networks.

(Photo: Freepik)