BGES Group is welcoming the launch of a new ‘Design for Performance’ frameword for office developments that tackles the energy performance gap between design and operation of buildings.
The highly anticipated Design for Performance scheme helps developers ensure that projects deliver against their design intent. This is achieved by requiring project teams to target an operational NABERS Energy rating during the project design and verify it once the building is occupied. Design for Performance is part of the NABERS UK rating scheme, administered by BRE, in partnership with NABERS and the Better Buildings Partnership. The framework was officially launched last November, but up until now project registration has only been open to a selection of leading commercial property developers who funded the development of the scheme.
Any new office development or major refurbishment project is now able to register by signing a Design for Performance Agreement with a target NABERS Energy rating of 4.0 stars or above. By signing up, projects can promote their target rating to investors, occupiers and wider stakeholders, demonstrating the sustainability ambitions of the project and its alignment with net zero carbon targets.
Projects are then required to design the building to operate at the target rating, using advanced simulation to test the design against a range of expected operational conditions. The framework spans a number of years and remains in effect until the building has received its NABERS Energy Rating, after 12 months of operation.
Measuring impact, not intent
The success of the Design for Performance approach has been acknowledged by the UK government where it is highlighted as best-practice in an ongoing consultation on mandatory in-use performance disclosure for commercial buildings.
Gareth Barber, Managing Director of BGES Group said “As experts in smart building technology, we’ve seen first-hand the energy saving potential for buildings that function at peak performance. We’ve long been advocates for tackling the gap between a building’s design and its performance in-use. We are delighted that Design for Performance has been launched to meet the challenge.”
For more information on the scheme, visit the BRE website.
If you’d like advice from the BGES Group team on how to improve the energy efficiency of your building, get in touch.