ABSTRACT
The performance gap is the common term used for the gap between predicted and as-built performance. It has been demonstrated by a wealth of evidence, including a government-funded £8 million research programme by Innovate UK into building performance. To reduce the performance gap, we need a change in culture across the industry to place greater importance on in-use energy performance. Energy performance needs to be valued as highly as other issues such as acoustics, fire and access. Poor energy performance is symptomatic of poor design and construction quality. As-built energy performance is directly related to the wider aspects of construction quality. A development that achieves good thermal performance requires high levels of quality assurance, that delivers good performance in the other criteria. Performance of a new home in terms of energy efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality is relatively difficult to see and evaluate.
