ACTIVITIES :: ICT for Societal challenges :: Energy saving :: Connecting smart buildings

Connecting smart buildings to smart grids

Connecting ICT devices to smart grids is another source of energy savings which is considered as one of the sustainable solutions to invest in now and for the future.

The SmartHouse/SmartGrid project tests in particular how ICT-enabled groups of smart houses – i.e. houses with advanced automatic systems for lighting, heating and other functions - can achieve higher levels of energy efficiency by connecting them into a network. The project builds on existing industry standards from the ICT and the energy sectors and communication and computing capabilities which are widespread in normal houses and working environments. It has a three-fold goal: improving energy efficiency, increasing the penetration of renewable energies, and diversifying and decentralizing Europe’s energy mix.

The technology is field-tested in three countries, each focusing on a specific aspect:

• The Netherlands: how to handle large scale communication, negotiation and information exchange between thousands of smart energy devices simultaneously;
• Germany: how to interact intelligently with customers and deliver optimal home energy management;
• Greece: how to control smart energy devices in a fully decentralized and bottom-up way to achieve optimal energy efficiency and higher supply security for end-users.

Funded by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)