Building Performance Evaluation
Building performance has emerged as a cornerstone of modern building design; and nowhere is its importance as sharply felt as in the field of MEP. Not only do high performance buildings reduce both construction as well as operational costs, but they also generate minimal impact on the environment.
In a world with a rapidly growing population and shrinking resources, such buildings will undoubtedly have a major role to play.
The energy consumption within the buildings varies based on geographical locations and activities. Generally, the performances are evaluated in terms of energy consumption, measured in units per area per year (kWh/sq.m./yr). A number of international government bodies and organizations (International Energy Agency, USGBC) are compiling the data and publishing it on their websites, which serves as a tool to establish benchmarking of building performance.
In today’s scenario, we find that with increased local and international regulations such as the Dubai Green Building Index or the Saudi Al Safat, new buildings are optimally designed for maximum performance. With certifications in the LEED AP, Estidama and DM Green Building regulations, Team Consistent is well-equipped to create high-performance designs.
Building Performance, however, is not only restricted to the energy usage but also addresses the health and well-being of the occupants. Considering this, USGBC has come up with the WELL building standards, that track the key parameters to ensure the overall wellness of the occupants. For instance, in office buildings, high performance is believed to ensure the comfort and wellness of the occupants, thereby increasing productivity. Similarly, there is a growing awareness in the residential sector about the impact of building performance upon daily life as well as the environment. Team Consistent also has in-house WELL APs to provide a wellness perspective to their designs. The importance of evaluating and optimizing building performance is thus evident everywhere.
However, the guidelines for maintaining the high performance and tracking it throughout the life cycle of the building are less prevalent, leading to sharp declines.
‘Dubai Building Index’, suggested by our Managing Director, Mr. Sagar Kulkarni, will have a Dubai-specific building performance scorecard post project completion. This will assist all stakeholders in developing sustainable projects with consistency and establish areas of improvement wherever possible.
The EGBC is working on similar lines to establish the data for various building functions, as well as the requirements for the unique geographic and climatic conditions of the Gulf.
Consistent is also working on various projects in India to implement a sustainable design, in accordance with the IGBC and Griha standards. Mr. Sagar has also addressed high-performance buildings and how they will define our future at various events such as the Big 5 Dubai and the HVAC R Expo Saudi.
The evaluation and optimization of Building Performance will soon be an inevitable aspect of building design globally. To stay ahead of the curve, contact us at info@consistentconsultants.com to figure out how you can evaluate the performance of your buildings.