As Europe moves toward climate-neutral and resilient cities, energy flexibility and digital readiness are becoming crucial pillars of transformation. This transition demands clear metrics to track progress and scalable approaches to replicate success. This workshop, led by the EU-funded project COLLECTiEF, explored how Smart Readiness Indicators (SRI) and key performance metrics for energy flexibility, indoor comfort, and climate resilience could translate into tangible impact across diverse European building types and climates. The purpose was to create an interactive space where practitioners, researchers, and policymakers could compare methods, test tools, and discuss how performance-based evaluation can accelerate the uptake of smart and flexible buildings.

The workshop combined short presentations, hands-on demos, and structured discussion. Drawing on results from COLLECTiEF pilot sites in Italy, Cyprus, and Norway, it showed how the SRI methodology was applied before and after deploying COLLECTiEF systems.

Participants:

• Explored how building performance indicators were assessed for energy savings, flexibility, and comfort.

• Saw how the SRI and monitoring tools were adapted to local conditions and integrated into real-time system control.

• Gained insights into collective-intelligence-based demand-side management and edge-based control.

• Discussed business models and market perspectives for scaling smartness upgrades.

• Engaged in an open discussion on the use of KPIs for impact tracking and replication.

Innovative results and outcomes:

COLLECTiEF demonstrated how cost-effective, interoperable technologies could raise a building’s SRI level, cut primary energy use, improve user satisfaction, and boost demand flexibility. The workshop highlighted lessons learnt, validated tools, and opportunities for replication in other projects and contexts. By connecting evidence from field testing with forward-looking debate, the workshop provided participants with:

• Practical methodologies for assessing building smartness and flexibility.

• Transferable insights to inform business models and investment strategies.

• A clear view of how indicators like the SRI can serve not just as labels but as drivers of climate resilience and digital transformation in Europe’s building stock.