Apartment building · Dynamic building envelope
Dynamic building envelope in apartment building: what the SRI measures
The envelope is dynamic when shading and windows respond automatically: shading that closes in bright sun and opens for free heat in winter, and windows that open for night cooling. Reporting on performance is included.
In short
- 1This page shows how smart the building envelope of an apartment complex is.
- 2It covers solar shading, windows and reporting on these in shared spaces.
- 3This domain counts as 1 of 3 domains in the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for this building type.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window solar shading control DE-1 · A · 5 levels | No sun shading or only manual operation | Predictive blind control (e.g. based on weather forecast) | at least level 1 |
| Window open/closed control, combined with HVAC system DE-2 · 4 levels | Manual operation or only fixed windows | Level 2 + Centralized coordination of operable windows, e.g. to control free natural night cooling | – |
| Reporting information regarding performance of dynamic building envelope systems DE-4 · A · 5 levels | No reporting | Position of each product, fault detection, predictive maintenance, real-time & historical sensor data (wind, lux, temperature...) | at least level 1 |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 6 percentage points (from 33 to 39 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
What is a dynamic building envelope?
A building envelope is dynamic when solar shading and windows respond automatically to their environment. Solar shading closes in bright sunlight and opens to let free heat in during winter. Windows can open automatically for night cooling, without anyone having to operate them manually.
In an apartment complex, this domain focuses mainly on shared spaces. Individual apartments typically have their own manual solar shading, which falls outside this assessment.
Which services belong to this domain?
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) measures three smart-ready services within this domain. Each service has functionality levels from 0 to 4, where a higher level means more automation and more control.
- DE-1 Solar shading control for windows: from no or manual shading to predictive control based on weather forecasts.
- DE-2 Window open/close control combined with the HVAC system: from manual operation to centralised control of windows for natural night cooling.
- DE-4 Reporting on the performance of dynamic building envelope systems: from no reporting to real-time and historical sensor data on wind, light and temperature.
In most apartment complexes, this domain currently operates at a low level. Solar shading is often operated manually and windows are rarely linked to the heating or cooling system.
Why does this domain count for relatively little weight?
For this building type, the dynamic building envelope counts as 1 of 3 domains in the total SRI score. Other domains, such as heating and electric mobility, carry more weight because they have greater impact on energy use and comfort in residential buildings.
Still, improvement in this domain can contribute to the score. A homeowners association that invests in motorised solar shading with sensor control can thereby raise the functionality level of DE-1.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As an owner or homeowners association board, it is useful to know at what level solar shading and windows in shared spaces currently function, before investing in automation. This domain carries light weight in the total score, but can be included relatively cheaply during renovation, for example when replacing existing solar shading.
- Tenant
- A resident notices this domain mainly in shared spaces, such as a lobby or bike shed with automatic solar shading. In their own apartment, usually nothing changes, because individual solar shading typically does not fall under this assessment.
- Advisor
- When assessing, pay attention to the distinction between shared and individual spaces, as only collective installations count towards this domain. Also check whether reporting functions (DE-4) already exist, as these are often overlooked in an initial inventory.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?