Applicability of the Smart Readiness Indicator for Cold Climate Countries
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I think that this paper is interesting and focuses one of the aspects of energy behavior of buildings in Northern European Countries.
The methods are well illustrated, as well as the conclusions. My only concern is that it looks too self-referenced, even if I do not know who are the Authors. I suggest to extend the initial part of the paper (parts 1 and 2) since there are several articles published in the field on EPBD, triage, demand side managements, and enlarging these two initial parts could help to increase the visibility of this paper
Author Response
Thank you for encouraging comments.
We have quite a few references in the paper, but we are not self-referencing in this manuscript.
We have extended the parts 1 and 2 of the paper according to your suggestion.
In chapter 1 (Introduction) we have broadened the scope to better cover the EPBD.
In chapter 2 (methodology), we have provided an extended description of the SRI methodology (both methodological framework and calculation methodology).
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper presents some examples of application of the smart readiness index to different buildings in clod climate. It provides interesting hints, yet some refinement may be desirable.
A clear definition of the smart readiness index, possibly supported by a simple example, is missing in both the abstract and the introduction.
The results seem that the index doesn’t work in the considered cold climate area. This should be more clearly substantiated. Moreover, a clear proposal for correction of the index would be desirable in a scientific work.
The subsections’ numbers of section 4 are wrong (i.e. 3.x instead of 4.x). Moreover, section 4. Discussion should be section 5, and section 5. Conclusion should be section 6.
Author Response
Thank you. We have now aimed to refine our main findings.
We have added a brief explanation of the SRI on both abstract and introduction -sections.
Additionally, we extended the chapter 2 (methodology) to provide a more detailed description of the SRI methodological approach with a simple example.
We added a clear statement of the SRI's poor applicability to cold climate countries to the Discussion chapter.
We have now also provided a proposal for improving the applicability in terms of the technological fit in the discussion chapter.
Thank you for the notice. The subsection numberings have been corrected.
Reviewer 3 Report
The article deals with a hot topic related to the energy efficiency of buildings, i.e. the definition and the application of the Smart Readiness Indicator as required by the recent European Directive 2018/844. In particular the authors apply the Smart Readiness Indicator, as defined by the first outcome of the european initiative "Smart Readiness Indicator for building", to three real cases in Finland in order to explore its applicability to cold climate countries. Furthermore they investigate the suitability of the actual triage method proposing two alternatives.
I suggest to provide a more detailed description of the methodological approach for the defintion of the SRI and the triage methods. The documents available on the site of the European project provide al the necessary information but an albeit brief description will improve the quality of the article. Furthermore, I suggest to describe how the proposed triage methods work.
Author Response
Thank you for your comments.
We have now extended the methodology and provide a more detailed description of the SRI approach including both the framework as we as the SRI calculation methodology.
We have now also provided a simple example to support understanding of the calculation methodology.
We have also provided an explanation for the discussion part regarding the proposed triage (triage B).
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors seem to have replied satisfactorily to the reviewers' remarks, so the paper is now ready for publicatio
