This research area focuses on developing digital solutions to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings and ensure the energy performance of buildings certified according to energy efficiency and sustainability standards, such as ENERGY Star, LEED, and Green Globes. The aim is to create intelligent, adaptive, and sustainable building environments that optimize energy use, enhance occupant comfort, and minimize environmental impact.
Key areas of investigation within Smart Buildings include:
- Building energy modeling and simulation: Developing advanced modeling techniques, simulation tools, and data-driven analytics to comprehensively analyze building energy performance, identify efficiency opportunities, and design integrated, sustainable, and resilient building energy strategies.
- Building automation and control systems: Investigating the role of intelligent building automation and control systems in optimizing energy use, indoor environmental quality, and overall building performance, including advanced HVAC systems, lighting controls, and energy management platforms.
- Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices: Exploring the deployment of IoT devices, sensors, and actuators in building environments to enable real-time monitoring, data collection, and performance optimization, as well as enhancing the interoperability and integration of various building systems and services.
- Demand-side management and occupant behavior: Designing digital platforms, tools, and algorithms that facilitate demand response, load balancing, and energy efficiency improvements in building environments, empowering occupants and facility managers to actively participate in energy management and contribute to the optimization of the overall energy system.
- Renewable energy integration and storage: Investigating the potential of on-site renewable energy generation, such as solar PV and wind, as well as energy storage technologies, like batteries and thermal storage, to enhance building self-sufficiency, resilience, and grid flexibility.
- Green building certification and performance monitoring: Assessing the effectiveness of energy efficiency and sustainability standards, such as ENERGY Star, LEED, and Green Globes, in driving the adoption of smart building technologies, and developing digital solutions for continuous performance monitoring, benchmarking, and improvement.
By focusing on these critical aspects of smart buildings, the research aims to contribute to the development of innovative, sustainable, and occupant-centered building solutions that effectively manage energy resources, reduce environmental impact, and support the transition towards a low-carbon, high-performance built environment.