DR in Smart and Near‐zero Energy Buildings: The Leaf Community

The Leaf Community is a unique blend of inspired qualified personnel where the preservation of the natural environment, renewable energy sources and worldwide R&D meets education, local culture and society. The Leaf Lab is an industrial building of a rectangular shape and a floor area of approximately 6,000 m 2 located in the Leaf Community, one of the very well‐established smart microgrids in Europe. The Leaf Lab is a near‐zero energy building, combining passive systems, energy‐efficient technologies, integrated monitoring and control, as well as renewable energy production. The number of residents in the Leaf House varies, as it accommodates both employees of the Loccioni Group and short‐term visitors of the Leaf Community. The apartments in the Leaf House are equipped with a touch display providing access to an energy management interface for observing indoor conditions and energy‐related data as well as managing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning; lights; and window shutters.