Smart-ready service MC-3 · Monitoring and control
Run time management of HVAC systems
In short
- 1MC-3 describes how a building controls the operating hours of heating and cooling systems.
- 2There are four functionality levels, ranging from manual adjustment to control based on prediction or grid signals.
- 3This service is not included in method A and therefore only counts in the comprehensive assessment under method B.
The levels
Level 0
Manual setting
Level 1
Runtime setting of heating and cooling plants following a predefined time schedule
Level 2
Heating and cooling plant on/off control based on building loads
Level 3
Heating and cooling plant on/off control based on predictive control or grid signals
What is HVAC operating hours management?
HVAC operating hours management concerns when a building's heating and cooling systems are switched on and off. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This smart-ready service falls within the Monitoring and Control domain of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI).
The service is called MC-3 in the methodology. It does not measure how warm or cool the building becomes, but how intelligently the system decides to operate or remain idle.
What functionality levels does MC-3 distinguish?
The SRI methodology recognizes four functionality levels for this service, numbered 0 to 3.
- Level 0: manual adjustment, without automatic scheduling.
- Level 1: fixed operating hours according to a predetermined schedule.
- Level 2: on/off control based on actual building load.
- Level 3: on/off control based on predictive control or grid signals, meaning it looks ahead to anticipated demand or electricity grid conditions.
The higher the level, the more independently and foresightfully the system decides when heating and cooling are needed.
Why does this service not count in method A?
The SRI methodology uses two calculation methods. Method A uses 27 services for a quick, simple assessment. Method B uses all 54 smart-ready services for a comprehensive assessment.
MC-3 is not among the 27 services in method A. A building assessed using only method A therefore excludes operating hours management from consideration.
Under method B, MC-3 is included alongside other services within the Monitoring and Control domain, each with its own weighting factor in the final outcome.
What does this mean for the building as a whole?
Each smart-ready service is assessed on three key functionalities with equal weight: energy efficiency, flexibility and user-friendliness. For MC-3, these operate through seven impact criteria that determine the effect of the functionality level.
A higher level in operating hours management can contribute to a higher score and thus to a more favorable class, ranging from the lowest band below 20 percent to the highest band between 90 and 100 percent.
Relevant for these building types
Next step
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