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Smart buildings in a decarbonised energy system

Summary

Buildings can balance the grid through proactive energy demand management and can play a leading role in transforming the EU energy market, shifting from centralised, fossil-fuel-based systems towards a decentralised, renewable, interconnected and variable system. There are many benefits to fast-tracking the concept of micro energy-hubs: from empowering users to control their own renewable energy production and consumption; to cutting energy bills and facilitating the surge of renewable energy as well as electrical vehicles and even reinforcing energy security. BPIE identifies 10 principles for buildings to become micro energy-hubs which should be the reference when re-designing our energy system. They are all important separately, but more impactful once considered together. It is paramount to firstly maximise the buildings’ energy efficiency level in order to successfully apply other principles.