Recent findings from the Better Buildings Partnership raise serious questions about the efficacy of energy efficiency ratings used in the United Kingdom.
The study found that buildings that have received the highest rating—an A Energy Performance Certificate—use more energy than some of their peers rated C, D, E, or F. The analysis of self-reported energy data in 2020 for more than 1,100 commercial properties found that the median energy intensity for all B-rated buildings is higher than for C-rated buildings.
The disparity between how buildings are designed and their actual greenhouse gas emissions is widespread in the U.K. The findings are in line with past evidence that green building certifications based on predicted energy use don’t necessarily translate to energy savings in the field.
Some studies have found that LEED certification yields better energy efficiency, but others have found that certified buildings use more energy than non-certified buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council maintains that its own research shows certified buildings are overall more efficient.
Part of the explanation for the disparity between ratings systems and real-world results could be due to the limitation of assessments that only predict potential energy efficiency. In practice, building management systems may not be set up or used properly. In addition, people sometimes undo the efficiency design by bringing fans into buildings or installing additional air conditioners.
Related Stories
| Jun 11, 2014
Federal bill would promote shifting to energy-efficient roofs
A bipartisan proposal from U.S. Reps. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., would make roof replacement cost less and would help commercial building owners adopt energy-efficient systems.
| Jun 5, 2014
Over budget Homeland Security headquarters project may be canceled
A massive new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security is more than $1.5 billion over budget, 11 years behind schedule, and may never be completed.
| Jun 5, 2014
Insurance giant sues nearly 200 Illinois communities for failing to prepare for climate change
Farmers Insurance filed nine class action suits against nearly 200 communities in the Chicago area, saying that local governments should have prepared for rising global temperatures that have led to heavier rains and flooding.
| Jun 4, 2014
Dikes, water pumps, and parks will help New York City area be more resilient
The Obama Administration has pledged $1 billion in federal funding to protect the New York City region from flooding like the area experienced from Superstorm Sandy.
| Jun 4, 2014
Green initiative may scuttle high-rise projects in Berkeley, California, critics charge
Volunteers in Berkeley, Calif., are collecting signatures for the “Green Downtown & Public Commons Initiative,” a controversial measure that critics charge would halt some development in the city.
| Jun 2, 2014
Parking structures group launches LEED-type program for parking garages
The Green Parking Council, an affiliate of the International Parking Institute, has launched the Green Garage Certification program, the parking industry equivalent of LEED certification.
| May 28, 2014
Commercial building measurement standard could meet resistance from owners
For some building owners, a new measurement standard could mean that their building would shrink in size and lose value.
| May 28, 2014
Resiliency measures for hurricanes can help with tornadoes
Architect Butch Grimes, who examined the wreckage after a half-mile tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., believes toughening building codes can reduce damage from twisters.
| May 28, 2014
Rooftop wind turbines becoming green status symbol in New York City
New York City developers are using rooftop wind turbines in an effort to attract buyers by highlighting a building’s green credentials.
| May 28, 2014
Peer review process under way for the WELL Building Standard
The standard is the first protocol of its kind that focuses on improving human wellness within the built environment by identifying specific conditions that, when holistically integrated into building interiors, enhance the health and wellbeing of the occupants.