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Enhancing building energy performance with digital twin technologies: insights from the SmartWins project

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Article

Enhancing building energy performance with digital twin technologies: insights from the SmartWins project

12 December 2024
SmartWins leverages digital twins to optimise building energy performance, integrate Life Cycle Assessments, and foster collaboration through research, education, and tools, advancing sustainability and carbon-neutral goals across Europe.
Editorial Team

Authors

Paris Fokaides, Kaunas University of Technology, Cyprus BUILD UP Ambassador
Egle Klumbyte, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania BUILD UP Ambassador

(Note: opinions in the articles are of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the EU).

Introduction

The transition towards sustainable and energy-efficient buildings has become a critical priority within the European Union, driven by directives such as the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). As buildings are responsible for a significant share of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, innovative approaches are essential to achieve carbon neutrality. The SmartWins project responds to this challenge by leveraging digital twin technologies, a cutting-edge solution that combines real-time data collection and advanced analytics to transform how building energy performance is assessed and managed.

Digital twins create dynamic virtual representations of physical buildings, integrating real-time inputs from IoT devices, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and other Industry 4.0 tools. These technologies enable a holistic approach to monitoring and managing building stock data, improving transparency, reliability, and accessibility. By aligning with sustainability frameworks such as Level(s), SmartWins supports the development of carbon-neutral building practices while enhancing compliance with EU directives.

This project exemplifies the potential of digital twins to address key challenges in energy data management, from accurate energy performance evaluations to comprehensive building life cycle assessments. Moreover, SmartWins fosters collaboration among European partners, contributing to advancements in research, policy integration, and market adoption of smart technologies. By exploring real-world applications of digital twins, the project provides actionable insights into the intersection of technology and sustainability, paving the way for smarter, greener buildings.

Core studies and applications

Overview of Digital Twin Technologies in the Built Environment

Digital twin technologies are emerging as transformative tools in the assessment and optimisation of building performance, enabling a dynamic and interactive connection between physical assets and their digital representations [1]. By leveraging real-time data integration, advanced analytics, and iterative feedback systems, digital twins provide unparalleled insights into the operational characteristics and sustainability of buildings. Unlike static models, these digital counterparts continuously evolve based on live data streams, making them particularly suited to addressing the challenges of energy efficiency and resource management in the built environment [2].

The integration of digital twins into building systems offers several distinct advantages, particularly in sustainability assessments. These technologies allow for comprehensive lifecycle evaluations, combining embodied and operational carbon impacts with real-time performance metrics. Such capabilities align with frameworks like the EU’s Level(s) by embedding lifecycle thinking into operational workflows and enabling the proactive identification of areas for improvement. The ability to adapt dynamically to real-world conditions distinguishes digital twins from conventional methodologies, facilitating a more holistic and accurate understanding of building performance [3].

Automation plays a critical role in the efficacy of digital twins, particularly in the handling of complex and diverse datasets. By directly integrating data from Building Information Modeling (BIM) repositories, digital twins minimise redundancies in data collection processes and ensure that material, geometric, and thermal property information is accurate and accessible. Coupled with continuous input from IoT devices, this creates a robust data ecosystem capable of supporting detailed energy and environmental assessments [4]. This interconnected approach reduces inefficiencies while enhancing compliance with stringent performance standards, making it a powerful tool for the modern building sector.

Real-world applications of digital twins underscore their potential. For example, pilot studies have demonstrated their ability to optimise HVAC systems by dynamically recalibrating operational parameters based on environmental feedback [5]. This approach not only reduces energy consumption but also maintains occupant comfort. Additionally, lifecycle assessments using digital twins have enabled regional benchmarking of building sustainability across Europe, providing valuable insights into the impact of different building geometries and materials on carbon emissions [6]. These examples illustrate the versatility and effectiveness of digital twins in tackling both macro and micro-level challenges.

Despite their potential, several barriers to the widespread adoption of digital twins remain, including the lack of standardised frameworks for implementation. While BIM benefits from established standards such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), digital twins often rely on emerging technologies that lack universal protocols [7]. Overcoming these challenges will require the development of open-source APIs and data exchange protocols that ensure interoperability across diverse systems and stakeholders. Advances in this area are crucial for unlocking the full potential of digital twins and fostering their integration into mainstream building practices.

Looking ahead, the adoption of digital twins is expected to accelerate as these technologies become more accessible and their benefits more widely recognised. Their ability to integrate, analyse, and visualise data in real-time positions them as indispensable tools for achieving long-term sustainability and energy efficiency goals. By addressing current implementation barriers and enhancing their interoperability, digital twins are poised to play a central role in transforming the built environment into a smarter, more sustainable domain. Their integration into building management systems and compliance frameworks marks a significant step forward in realising the potential of data-driven decision-making in the pursuit of a carbon-neutral future.

Application of Industry 4.0 tools in smart buildings: the case of sustainability assessment

The application of Industry 4.0 tools in smart buildings has revolutionised the assessment and management of building energy performance, enabling greater efficiency and sustainability. By utilising advanced technologies such as IoT devices, smart sensors, and cloud-based analytics, these tools provide a comprehensive and dynamic approach to energy monitoring and life cycle assessments (LCA) [8]. Within the framework of the SmartWins initiative, Industry 4.0 technologies play a pivotal role in integrating real-time data streams to enhance environmental sustainability. The integration of Industry 4.0 tools has also significantly advanced LCA methodologies, providing detailed insights into the environmental impacts of building materials, energy systems, and operational practices. By leveraging real-time data, LCAs are no longer static evaluations but dynamic processes that reflect the evolving conditions of building performance. Comparative assessments of building geometries and regional contexts, for instance, reveal how thermal performance standards and material choices influence environmental impacts. These insights are essential for understanding regional disparities and tailoring solutions that align with specific sustainability goals [9] (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Workflow for defining the geometry of typical buildings [8]

Fig. 1. Workflow for defining the geometry of typical buildings [8]

In the SmartWins initiative, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) documents have been central to implementing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aligned with Level(s) principles. This approach leverages IFC as a standardised format to extract, structure, and analyse building data, enabling comprehensive sustainability evaluations. By integrating LCA parameters directly into IFC workflows, the initiative facilitates the seamless assessment of building materials, operational impacts, and embodied energy within a consistent framework. This method enhances transparency and consistency in sustainability assessments, allowing stakeholders to conduct in-depth evaluations without relying on additional data sources. The use of IFC ensures that the Level(s) indicators are applied systematically, providing insights into resource efficiency, carbon footprints, and other critical performance metrics. Through this approach, SmartWins underscores the role of IFC documents as a robust foundation for integrating LCA practices into building management, supporting informed decisions that align with sustainability and carbon neutrality objectives.

Energy performance assessment and sustainability indicators

 

Digital Twin based buildings energy audit

Fig. 2. Digital Twin based buildings energy audit [10]

A significant feature of digital twins in the SmartWins project is their advanced capacity to incorporate energy performance indicators critical for evaluating building sustainability. By embedding these metrics directly into Building Information Modelling (BIM) environments, the project ensures the seamless integration of real-time and historical data, facilitating detailed analyses of energy performance. This approach enhances the accuracy and reliability of assessments, supporting more informed decision-making. The integration of energy performance indicators within digital twins transforms traditional building evaluations. It enables dynamic feedback loops, where real-time data updates ensure assessments reflect actual building conditions rather than static assumptions. This capability offers actionable insights into energy use, highlighting inefficiencies and potential improvements. By bridging the gap between design intentions and operational realities, digital twins support the creation of sustainable, efficient buildings.

The integration of energy performance indicators within digital twins is particularly valuable in operational building classification and on-site energy audits [10]. Operational building assessments rely on real-world data, such as actual energy consumption and usage patterns, to evaluate performance. Through the use of digital twins, energy data collected from smart sensors and IoT devices is synthesised with BIM models, providing a comprehensive view of how buildings function in real time. This dynamic approach enables digital twins to identify inefficiencies, such as deviations from expected energy performance, and recommend targeted interventions to improve efficiency. Such insights are vital for bridging the performance gap often observed between designed and operational building performance, a key focus in the SmartWins project.

Buildings energy operational assessment framework workflow

Fig. 3. Buildings energy operational assessment framework workflow [11]

Operational energy assessments of buildings have traditionally relied on static models and periodic audits, often failing to capture the dynamic realities of energy use. SmartWins introduces a transformative approach through the integration of digital twin technologies [11]. Digital twins create a virtual counterpart of physical buildings, enabling continuous, real-time monitoring and analysis. By combining static building data, such as geometries and materials derived from BIM models, with live energy consumption data gathered through IoT devices, this framework addresses key gaps in traditional energy assessments. One of the critical advancements highlighted in this approach is its ability to classify operational energy performance at multiple levels, building-wide and system-specific. Unlike static asset ratings, operational assessments reflect actual energy use patterns influenced by occupant behaviour, seasonal variations, and equipment performance. This dynamic evaluation enables more precise identification of inefficiencies and targeted optimisation strategies. The integration of real-time monitoring with digital twins facilitates the transition from reactive to proactive energy management. By utilising advanced sensors and smart meters, energy consumption data can be spatially mapped and analysed. This ensures that decision-makers receive actionable insights, improving energy efficiency while reducing costs and carbon footprints.

Enhancing research and educational capacities

The SmartWins project is a significant contributor to advancing research and educational capacities in the built environment, particularly through the application of digital twin technologies. By developing cutting-edge methodologies and tools, the project addresses real-world challenges in sustainability and energy management, reinforcing the integration of digital twins into lifecycle assessments and operational building performance evaluations.

A cornerstone of SmartWins' capacity-building efforts is its collaboration with prominent institutions such as Kaunas University of Technology, PoliMi, CERTH, and Contecht. These partnerships foster a dynamic exchange of knowledge and expertise through a structured program of staff exchanges, workshops, and training activities. These initiatives are designed to enhance the technical and practical understanding of digital twin applications, equipping researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with the necessary tools to drive innovation in sustainable building practices. A highlight of these efforts will be the BDTA (Building Digital Twin Association) conference, set to take place in Kaunas in May 2025. This event will serve as a platform for disseminating project findings, sharing best practices, and showcasing advancements in digital twin technologies for energy-efficient buildings. The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, fostering collaboration among academic, industrial, and policy stakeholders.

The educational dimension of SmartWins is equally impactful. Through targeted training programs, the project aims to build a new generation of professionals skilled in applying digital twins for sustainability assessments and energy optimisation. By integrating these tools into academic curricula and professional training, SmartWins ensures that its innovations have a lasting impact on the built environment sector.

In combining research, education, and stakeholder engagement, SmartWins not only advances the state of the art in digital twin technology but also strengthens the ecosystem needed to achieve smarter, more sustainable buildings across Europe.

Conclusion

The SmartWins project highlights the transformative potential of digital twin technologies in building energy performance and sustainability. By integrating advanced tools such as BIM and IoT into comprehensive frameworks, SmartWins bridges the gap between theoretical and operational energy assessments. This approach enables dynamic, real-time evaluations of energy performance, addressing inefficiencies and optimising building operations. The project also emphasises the value of leveraging IFC-based workflows for Life Cycle Assessments, ensuring consistency and reliability in sustainability evaluations. SmartWins showcases how digital twins facilitate more informed decision-making by providing stakeholders with actionable insights into energy use and material impacts, supporting carbon-neutral goals. In addition to technological advancements, SmartWins prioritises education and collaboration. Partnerships with institutions like Kaunas University of Technology and PoliMi enhance research and professional development through training, workshops, and the upcoming BDTA conference. These efforts collectively pave the way for smarter, greener, and more efficient buildings across Europe.

References

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