In the University of Debrecen, Building Mechatronics Research Centre, an Intelligent Building came to existence. Building mechatronics simulations are carried out, the energy consumption habits and needs of an education and living building can be observed and measured. The project is realized with the help of the Energotest Ltd. and the National Instruments (NI) Hungary Ltd. The Department deals with energy efficiency, optimization, the development of new ways and methods in the fields of measuring and automation. This paper presents the history of the Research Centre and the building automation technology that with the Smart Home challenges can be researched with the newest means and methods. The main core of the project is the embedded device system of the National Instruments that is reconfigurable on the basis of FPGA system and capable of massive parallel working. It is reconfigurable according to the building services challenges. With the help of the NI sbRio technology, an efficient developer and designer system is worked out. Regulations to upgrade building energy efficiency are examined and improved.

In the University of Debrecen, the Building Mechatronics Research Centre as intelligent building provides research infrastructure for building automation simulations. The infrastructure is considered as an energy aware Intelligent Space (later iSpace) with research, education and living area. The building is equipped with surveillance and security system and renewable energy utilization machines, such as heat pumps, solar and PV panel systems. We investigate measurements of different energy efficiency operation scenarios of heat pumps, solar collectors and wind turbine. Energy consumption habits of the education and living area of the building can be observed, measured and simulated. The article presents the methods to obtain higher energy consumption awareness for inhabitants through the examination of consumers' behaviours. The aim of the paper is to investigate and measure the quantitative features of energy consumption. Energy saving can be reached by on demand energy control and inhabitants' requirements based intelligent building management. Also reference building models can be set up for energy performance certificates and examination.