Purpose – Recent years have been characterized by a growing interest toward sustainability issues. In fact, themes such as a more efficient use of the energy resources have taken a central role in the debate on energy policies of developed countries. In particular, it has been demonstrated that energy efficiency in residential buildings is one of the keys to reducing overall energy consumption and greenhouse emissions. In this work, we propose an innovative system for monitoring and managing energy consumption in “Smart Home Environments” (SHEs), according to the needs of users and to the particular state conditions of the considered environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on a methodological approach to design a SHE based on the following steps: – Identify and apply technological solutions to provide additional intelligence and connectivity services to existing heterogeneous home devices. – Define an architecture of SHE, supported by a centralized management system featuring a smart Central Control Unit (CCU) and different peripheral devices of sensing and actuating. – Define a data management model in order to handle machine-to-machine and machine-to-human interactions. – Define a set of decision algorithms and interoperability rules to perform energy-control services, basing on quantitative forecasting methodologies for analysis of historical data. Originality/value – Different approaches to the design of SHEs are emerging in literature, emphasizing the importance of such a type of applications as a mean to guarantee energy and cost saving. However, most of these approaches are essentially focused on the technological issues, relying primarily on the architectural characteristics of the Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). In this work, we intend to highlight how a knowledge-based management model can support the design of innovative HEMSs, providing the energy performance improvements of the considered environment and the adaptability to the user’s habits and needs. Practical implications – In line with the goals of Europe 2020 strategy, energy resource saving represent a key issue for sustainable development. Among the various technological solutions for reducing energy consumption in home environments, the so called “Building Automation and Control Systems” (BACS) represent high performance and low impact solutions for energy efficiency. In this context, the proposed system, whose development is ongoing, offers in prospect the opportunity to improve the energy performance and electricity cost saving of residential buildings, featuring at the same time a low architectural impact due to the use of wireless and/or powerline technologies.