Energy audits result in static models of energy demands needed in order to maintain acceptable comfort conditions in buildings. In reality building energy consumption usually shows significant deviations – the reason for this is the building comfort control in dynamically changing inner and outer operative conditions of the building. Predictive control techniques will in the optimal way gather the whole building dynamic model with available information on meteorological conditions and forecast into an algorithm of energy-efficient building control.

Global trend of energy prices rise puts buildings into focus, as technical systems responsible for 40% of energy consumed by mankind. Major research endeavours are performed globally in different technical areas which can contribute to buildings’ energy-efficiency. Information-communication technologies (ICT) have a prominent role in this as they enable incorporation of different technological solutions into a unique system adaptable to the buildings itself and different modes of its use.

The action Enhancement of Research, Development and Technology Transfer Capacities in Energy Management Systems for Buildings (ENHEMS-Buildings) aims to fill the gap in Croatian ICT base within the area of all-inclusive energy-efficient control of comfort in buildings, and unlocks the development possibilities for own competitive solutions. In order to accomplish that, ENHEMS-Buildings joins contributions in optimal and predictive control, meteorology, open building automation systems and telecommunication systems. That is accomplished through cooperation of the action partners and associates – University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER, the applicant), Meteorological and Hydrological Service, Elma Kurtalj Ltd. and Hrvatski Telekom d.d..

Main action results will be:

• established research and development infrastructure for comprehensive and energy-efficient control of comfort in buildings,
• demonstrated effects of the developed technology on the FER skyscraper building,
• established technology transfer centre for energy management in buildings, closely interconnected with the identified stakeholders from research and eocnomy sectors as an environment for integration of a wide spectrum of building technologies and their systematic implementation on real buildings,
• established meteorological and communication support for easier replication of the developed technologies throughout Croatia.