Energy Efficiency and High-Performance Buildings

Abstract

In the United States and internationally, buildings represent a significant proportion of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Individual building owners, policymakers, and building occupants have shown increased interest in reducing this energy use. Making progress relies on understanding the current nature of energy use, existing strategies to reduce such use and identifying new approaches that look holistically at building energy across a project's life cycle. While an important building attribute, energy performance is just one important characteristic. Assuring the design, construction, and operation of high-performance buildings requires a focus on all high-performance attributes. To effectively meet the needs of building owners, occupants and their communities, buildings must be considered holistically.

The original version of this chapter was revised: For detailed information please see Erratum. The erratum to this chapter is available at

https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57446-6_11