Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Smart City Principles over the Full Building Life Cycle
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36910/6775-2410-6208-2026-15(25)-12Keywords:
building life cycle, Smart City, energy efficiency, circular economy, expert survey, urban planningAbstract
The life cycle of a building comprises the following main stages: design, construction, operation and decommissioning. At each of these stages, corresponding energy efficiency indicators are established. This article presents an integrated analysis of the results of an expert survey (n = 103, 48 indicators) on energy efficiency and Smart City principles at all stages of a building’s life cycle. Each indicator was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. High expert support for the proposed sustainability model and the validity of the developed assessment tool (Cronbach’s α = 0.997) were confirmed. The structure of the survey is based on the modules of standard EN 15978:2011: Block 1 — Planning and Design (A1–A3), Block 2 — Construction (A4–A5), Block 3 — Operation (B1–B7), Block 4 — Demolition/end-of-life (C1–C4). The experts assigned the highest importance to the design and operation stages, where the potential to influence the energy efficiency and functioning of the building is greatest. The operation stage demonstrated the highest level of consensus in the assessments, with the efficiency of HVAC systems (M = 4.64) and energy-efficient lighting with smart control (M = 4.55) identified as priority indicators. The lowest ratings were given to the demolition and material reuse stage, indicating an insufficient level of development of circular economy principles. The lowest scores were given to the stage involving the dismantling and reuse of materials, which indicates an insufficient level of development of circular economy principles. A synthesis of the results enabled the formation of a ‘design-operation core’ of building sustainability, comprising: preliminary analysis of energy requirements, passive architectural solutions, optimisation of building orientation, efficiency of HVAC systems, and smart lighting. Prospects for further research relate to adapting the proposed approach to different types of buildings, integrating LCA analysis, and developing a dynamic sustainability index that will take into account the development of smart technologies and the circular economy.
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