The trade-off between technology deployment and enviro-economic benefits in smart buildings

Smart grids are meant to reach multiple goals such as leveling the electricity demand profile, reducing electricity consumption and increasing the energy efficiency of the electrical grid. Smart buildings play an important role in achieving these goals. With an increased number of measuring and controlling tools, new problems also arise, such as their economic and environmental impacts, juxtaposed to the levels of savings achieved by them. This research investigated the impact of home automation on electricity consumption, related CO₂ emissions and costs. A smart building model with its appliances and different number of inhabitants was used along with eight electricity contracts and four different technology systems deployed. The results showed that a fully deployed automation system may be counterproductive, as the electricity need of the system may exceed the savings achieved by it. Therefore, a careful selection of the appliances to be used should be performed.