Peer-reviewed paper on Verco-led Design for Performance initiative published in Journal

The paper in Building Services Engineering Research and Technology is titled “How the commitment to disclose in-use performance can transform energy outcomes for new buildings”.

It describes the transformation that has taken place over the last 15 years in the energy efficiency of new office buildings constructed in Australia and considers if and how the UK could follow suit.

The success in Australia has been driven by a ‘design for performance’ culture, underpinned by advanced simulation, strategic sub-metering and fine-tuning post occupation to help eliminate wasteful deviations. It is argued that from a technical perspective base building energy performance in new UK offices could be as good as it is in Australia. However, there are non-technical drivers missing in the UK.

To compete with their Australian peers, the UK property and construction industries need a base building operational energy measurement and rating system, creating the ability to set a performance target and disclose the outcome. It advocates for a scheme to be in place to enable delivery of the ‘nearly zero energy’ new buildings mandated from 2020 by the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Click here to read the paper.