Seminar to present case studies of Green building energy performance

When it comes to high-performance buildings, the proof is performance. Measuring actual energy performance, however, can be challenging.

By Staff November 30, 2007

When it comes to high-performance buildings, the proof is performance.
Measuring actual energy performance, however, can be challenging due to inadequate modeling practices, failure to include operations staff in goal setting, and lack of adequate budgets for commissioning, evaluations and ongoing benchmarking.
“As more actual energy performance data become available on high-performing buildings, clearer and more realistic expectations will help establish confidence within the building design and construction industry about costs and savings,” said Donald Winston, The Durst Organization, New York.
Winston is one of three speakers who will provide a look at the role of performance measurement in high-performing buildings presented in a seminar at ASHRAE ’s 2008 Winter Meeting, to be held Jan. 19-23 in New York. The seminar, Green Building Energy Performance: Some Experience and Data from the Field, takes place from 9:15-10:45 a.m. Jan. 23 at the New York Hilton.
Winston will focus on his experiences with Class A office space in midtown Manhattan, including the Conde Nast Building at 4 Times Square and recent high-rise green residential buildings. His experiences with this building also are featured in High Performing Buildings magazine.
“Energy cost savings are often cited as offsetting any additional first costs of green buildings,” said Adam Hinge, a member of ASHRAE’s Technical Committee TC 7.6, Systems Energy Utilization, which is sponsoring the seminar. “Many times the cited energy benefits are based on predicted, not measured, savings. In some cases actual energy performance can be quite different from predicted performance. Accurate reporting of the actual performance of green buildings is important, as sharing operating results and lessons learned earlier rather than later can avoid repeating potential mistakes as the green buildings movement proceeds. This seminar presents experience and data on several high-profile projects.”
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