A Vision for Energy Performance - Integrating performance-monitoring initiatives to improve building sustainability

摘要

This lack of understanding by key decision makers leads to a lack of energy-performance focus in the design, construction, and day-to-day operations of buildings. A worldwide scientific consensus has established that potentially catastrophic changes in climate as a result of human contributions to greenhouse-gas emissions are likely within the next century if the current growth in emissions is not reversed. To help meet this challenge, a growing number of cities, states, corporations, and organizations have pledged large reductions in their green-house-gas emissions. However, many of these initiatives undertaken with respect to buildings are almost certain to fall far short because they are based on flawed or unrealistic assumptions about building-industry processes and technologies. These shortcomings are the result of a gap in understanding between the unique technical and economic characteristics of the building industry and the development of policy that seeks to drive these energy-efficiency initiatives forward.