Goals and Objectives

The Initiative's long-term goal is to transform how commercial buildings use energy so that renewable energy can meet reduced energy loads to substantially improve building performance. To achieve this long-term goal, the initiative's short-term goal is to change how commercial buildings are designed, built, and operated.

The method the initiative uses to achieve its long- and short-term goals is the whole-building engineering approach, which integrates energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies into buildings for optimum energy consumption while improving other measures of building performance such as occupant productivity, increased reliability, and durability.

Goal:

Objectives:

• Develop high-performance design, construction, and operation processes
• Provide tools for crafting high-performance buildings
• Research new technologies for high-performance buildings
• Define the criteria and methods for measuring building performance
• Measure and document building performance in high-profile examples
• Transform the marketplace.

Strategies:

1. Technical Evaluation and Research. The HPBI works directly with building owners and design teams to optimize the performance of buildings. The HPBi engages projects at two levels — technical evaluation or research analysis. The level of participation in a particular project is based on the team's performance goals.
   • Technical Evaluation. Technical guidance is provided on the integration of innovative technologies, components, and systems. This level of involvement typically applies to projects with goals of 30%-50% energy savings compared to generally accepted good practice. Case study summaries are published for projects participating at this level. In addition, technology workshops are conducted to ensure successful initial planning for new or retrofit building projects. These workshops are useful for introducing the building owners and designers to the processes involved in creating such buildings.

   • Research Analysis. HPBi staff participate on the project design team. Involvement with these advanced projects begins in the early design stages and typically continues through one year of post-occupancy performance monitoring. Detailed technical reports are published for all advanced high-performance projects. Projects whose energy savings are expected to be 50% or more compared to generally accepted good practice are eligible to participate in this level.

2. Building Performance. Detailed technical information is collected and analyzed for outstanding high-performance building projects in which the HPBi was not involved. These studies focus on:
   • design, construction, and commissioning
   • building operation and maintenance issues
   • guidance for next generation buildings

   These high-performance building technical case studies and information are available through a comprehensive database. The database contains example building, brief summaries, and detailed technical reports.

3. Communication/Project Documentation. The initiative supports development of information resources including a comprehensive web site. These materials provide:
   • links to information on green building
   • information about specific technologies, design strategies, and process guidelines for high-performance buildings
   • technical case studies of actual high-performance buildings
   • documentation for energy, economic, and environmental performance
   • incentives for market transformation
   • specifics on working with the initiative.