Retrofit Planning for the Performance Gap: Results of a Workshop on Addressing Energy, Health and Comfort Needs in a Protected Building

Eugene Mohareb, Arman Hashemi, Mehdi Shahrestani and Minna Sunikka-Blank
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Eugene Mohareb: School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DF, UK
Arman Hashemi: School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4GJ, UK
Mehdi Shahrestani: School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DF, UK
Minna Sunikka-Blank: Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Research on the performance gap suggests that the actual energy consumption in buildings can be twice as much as expected from modelled estimates. Energy models rely on predictive indicators and assumptions that are usually done at the design stage, without acknowledging behavioral patterns of actual users, amongst other uncertain elements. Moreover, in the context of the performance gap, it is evident that energy efficiency is overemphasized while other key issues such as health and comfort of occupants associated with indoor air quality, noise levels etc., have been less stressed and discussed. This paper discusses physical measurements of indoor temperature in a case study building at the University of Cambridge and reports findings of a workshop with researchers, building professionals and graduate students working on environmental performance in the built environment. The workshop addressed research issues related to energy, comfort and health (couched in terms of thermal performance), used as a means to understand the complexities of and trade-off between different aspects of sustainable buildings. Retrofit measures were suggested while considering how to balance energy and comfort needs, with some these measures being modelled to determine their efficacy. This research concludes with a reflection on how to implement these retrofit measures in a manner that addresses the performance gap.

Keywords: performance gap; building simulation; energy retrofit; health; thermal comfort; listed buildings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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