Bringing together renovation passport and smart readiness indicator certificate: A case study

The recently published EPBD sets an ambitious trajectory toward a zero-emission building stock, introducing instruments aimed at accelerating deep renovation and digitalization. Among these, the building renovation passport (BRP) supports staged, long-term renovation strategies tailored to individual buildings, while the smart readiness indicator (SRI) certificate assesses the ability of buildings to optimize energy efficiency, respond to occupants' needs, and interact with the grid. Although conceived for complementary purposes, their combined potential has not been widely investigated yet. Within this framework, a methodology integrating BRP driven renovation planning and SRI assessment is proposed. Starting from an energy audit, the approach defines a tailored, staged renovation plan that includes both traditional and smart-solution measures. The associated benefits are evaluated in terms of primary and final energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. The procedure is tested on an Italian office building. Embedding smart measures within the renovation plan enables a clearer interpretation of SRI outcomes and highlights their influence on energy performance, flexibility, and comfort. Results show that coupling BRP and SRI certificate fosters a more holistic building assessment, enhances the robustness of staged renovation strategies, and supports informed decision-making for both owners and practitioners in line with the EPBD's zero-emission ambition.