CONTEXT
Despite the improvements in building fabric and the deployment of innovative services and systems, there is a growing gap observed between intended and actual performance of buildings, leading to higher than expected energy use. Studies show that the reasons behind this gap are related to issues with a lack of inputs for building energy modelling at the design stage, changes to the specifications before construction, construction omissions, and unanticipated user behaviour. Improving building performance is possible after understanding the reasons for the gap and how it can be minimised. Independent evaluation of post occupancy building performance is rare.
BPE studies are starting to occur in UK, which adopt a systematic approach for collecting and evaluating the performance of building fabric and systems, management, occupant satisfaction, and monitoring of energy use and environmental conditions. This collaborative project seeks to customise, trial and embed UK’s BPE related knowledge, tools and skills in engineering teaching (academic) and industry in India, to improve the actual performance of green buildings.
Learning about the role, methods and application of BPE is non-existent in India, despite the Indian construction industry experiencing a sustained annual increase in gross built-up area of 10%. To ensure that buildings perform as intended, it is paramount that accurate feedback is provided to designers and engineers on the actual performance. This will ensure a robust learning leading to improvement in future building design and engineering.