BENEFIT: An Energy Management Platform for Smart and Energy Efficient Buildings

Buildings are among the most significant sources of energy consumption worldwide. Unfortunately, many are inefficient in terms of energy use, leading to high operational expenses. With modern technologies such as IoT sensors, smart meters, secure real-time communication, and advanced mathematical algorithms for data processing integrated into an efficient energy management platform, traditional buildings can be transformed into smart structures. In this context, a platform called “Building Energy Efficiency in Totality” (BENEFIT), which incorporates the smart building energy management (SBEM) concept, has been designed, developed, integrated, and tested as an innovative tool for monitoring and optimally controlling energy consumption. The platform is based on open-source software, enabling rapid and straightforward development of comprehensive solutions that address all aspects of the SBEM concept. The BENEFIT architecture allows the management of a wide range of devices within the building, including energy generation units, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, indoor lighting, environmental sensors, surveillance cameras, and others. BENEFIT has been implemented and tested in a building belonging to the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Iasi, Romania. The analysis of the results after one year of integrating the BENEFIT platform has resulted in a plan focused on measures to reduce energy consumption and improve the building’s performance and efficiency. The implementation of two measures (upgrading window insulation and improving lighting) resulted in a 12.14% reduction in total energy consumption.