Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Development of an Operational Framework for Smart Management and Energy Flexibility in Net-Zero Energy Buildings

Document Type : Research Article

Author
Mojtaba Masoumnezhad
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran.
10.22060/mej.2026.25615.7956
Abstract
The transition toward Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) necessitates the integration of energy flexibility with smart management systems. However, a literature review reveals a significant gap between theoretical flexibility frameworks and their operational feasibility in real-world contexts, particularly concerning cybersecurity challenges and stakeholder interest conflicts. To bridge this gap, the present study develops an integrated conceptual-operational framework grounded in the philosophical foundations of Critical Realism. This framework is structured into a five-layer architecture (physical, digital, optimization, grid, and policy). For its operationalization, the IDADA method and novel composite indicators, including the Composite Flexibility Index (CFI), the Stakeholder Benefit Index (SBI), and privacy-related metrics, are utilized. For validation, a 10-unit residential complex in a hot and dry climate was simulated using the Design Builder/Energy Plus environment, and the indicators were weighted through a hybrid AHP-Delphi approach.

The results demonstrate that implementing this framework leads to an 85.7% improvement in the CFI and a 134% surge in the SBI (balancing the interests of residents and the grid). Furthermore, sensitivity analysis via the Monte Carlo method confirmed the high robustness of the model against behavioral and economic uncertainties with a 95% confidence interval. This framework provides a novel pathway for policymakers and engineers to institutionalize grid-interactive buildings.
Keywords
Net-Zero Energy Building (NZEB)
Energy Flexibility
Smart Management
Critical Realism
Cybersecurity
Subjects
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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 57, Issue 12
March 2026
Pages 1573-1600