How Smart Are the Highly Rated Green Buildings?

Buildings account for substantial energy consumption and carbon emissions globally. While sustainability certifications, such as LEED Platinum, are widely recognized, they often overlook the potential of smart technologies to further enhance building performance and reduce life cycle emissions. This study uses the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) framework to evaluate and compare smartness capabilities in three LEED Platinum-certified buildings: the David Brower Center, Sello Shopping Center, and Tripla Shopping Center. Each building was analyzed for its integration of smart technologies, with SRI scores revealing a wide variation in smart readiness despite similar sustainability credentials. The Sello Center achieved a high SRI score due to its advanced demand-responsive automation, grid interaction via battery storage, and renewable energy integration. At the same time, the David Brower Center and Tripla exhibited lower SRI scores, primarily due to limited automation and adaptability features. These findings highlight the importance of further developing prominent sustainability certifications according to net zero emission requirements or incorporating both sustainability and smart-readiness certifications to maximize operational efficiency, energy flexibility, and occupant comfort. The SRI framework emerges as a critical tool for identifying gaps and guiding the adoption of intelligent systems that complement environmental sustainability, thus paving the way for more resilient, adaptive, and high-performing buildings.