A high-performance building is a structure designed and constructed to maximize efficiency in multiple areas, including energy use, water use, indoor environmental quality, and overall sustainability. These buildings are typically characterized by:
- Energy Efficiency: They use advanced technologies to reduce energy consumption and minimize environmental impact, often incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines.
- Sustainability: High-performance buildings prioritize sustainable materials, green building certifications (like LEED), and environmentally friendly construction practices to reduce carbon footprints.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: These buildings are designed to optimize indoor air quality, lighting, acoustics, and temperature, improving the comfort and health of occupants.
- Resource Efficiency: They focus on minimizing waste, water consumption, and other resource use, implementing systems like water recycling, low-flow fixtures, and efficient waste management.
- Long-Term Durability: The building materials and design choices are selected to ensure the building lasts longer and requires less maintenance, contributing to lower long-term costs.
High-performance buildings aim to offer a better quality of life for their occupants while being environmentally responsible and cost-effective over time. Simply put they are more efficient to construct, operate, and live in.
