BSRIA has released a new guide to domestic building performance evaluation, intended to improve energy efficiency and comfort in homes and residences
The research and consultancy association BSRIA has this week announced the release of its new ‘Building Performance Evaluation in Domestic Buildings Guide’ (BG64/2016).
The guide, which is now available to download from BSRIA’s website or as a hard copy, is specifically aimed at improving the domestic building performance evaluation process. It follows the release of a ‘Building Performance Evaluation in Non-Domestic Buildings’ guide in September 2015.
Building performance evaluation (BPE) is the process of evaluating how a building performs and can be carried out on both new and existing buildings.
A press release from the association says that, despite having genuine good intentions when it comes to developing efficient homes and other residential buildings, the industry is still “missing the mark”. With recent research from academia and industry showing that buildings do not always perform in the way that was originally intended, there is definite room for improvement.
Understanding domestic building performance
This guide is intended to support the industry by explaining how to use BPE to understand how homes and other residential buildings are performing. It will enable stakeholders to investigate and address these issues and avoid the pitfalls that result in inefficiencies in energy performance, and occupant dissatisfaction.
The document acts as a general introduction to BPE, explaining why it is important and how it can be carried out. The target audience of clients, designers, developers, contractors, housing associations and social landlords should be able to improve their understanding of BPE and how they can benefit from it using the guide.
“This guide is a general introduction to building performance evaluation in domestic buildings said BSRIA’s Sustainability Consultant, Dr Michelle Agha-Hossein. “It explains how BPE should be carried out and what activities and methods can be used on projects to address issues related to energy efficiency and occupant comfort. If you are to deliver an efficient and healthy building, we recommend that you get your copy.”
