The realization of smart and energetically efficient buildings is contingent upon the successful implementation of two tasks that occur on distinct phases
component. An illustrative application of the proposed methodology in an office building is provided.
MOTIVATIONEffective utilization of energy in buildings is receiving significant attention. This interest is justified on the observation that buildings account for a significant portion of end-energy use: in Europe 40% of the total energy consumed is used for the operation of buildings (Perez-Lombard et al., 2008) with a significant part of that energy used for conditioning occupied spaces. Energy retrofits, properly selected and executed, can yield appreciable reduction in energy demands. But the value of effective energy utilization during the building operational phase is undisputed both in terms of achieving good occupant comfort and in reducing energy consumption.In domestic environments the extensive research on intelligent temperature regulation and the proliferation of smart thermostats and home automation solutions are partly a response to that need. In the nondomestic building sector Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are used to ensure proper operation of systems and components in an energyefficient manner. Typical BEMS installations comprise a communication and data management layer enabling communication and data transfer between interacting field devices (sensors, actuators, field controllers); C 2015 Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering.