Building performance evaluation (BPE) is the inspection of a building after occupancy to assess the building’s performance in terms of design goals. This includes not only occupant satisfaction, but also resource consumption including water and energy usage. The BPE process is continuous and systematic, analysing a building’s performance, including accessibility, aesthetics, cost-effectiveness, functionality, productivity, safety and security, and sustainability. Additionally, other terms have been used for BPE, such as: facility performance evaluations, environmental design evaluations, environmental audits, building-in-use assessments, building evaluation, and facility assessment.
Performance evaluation data/information
Essentially, building performance evaluation is a method for data gathering on facilities performance. It is useful for analysing data and making recommendations for facilities improvements. The application of performance evaluation information to the building delivery process assist in closing the information loop in facilities management (Preiser, 2003). This is particularly useful when the evaluation results are fed into data bases focusing on building performance from the perspective of the user. An important feature of building performance evaluation is its emphasis on the ultimate customer/user and usable space. Facilities management applies the building performance evaluation measures as a tool for spatial efficiency.
Purpose/Benefits
The primary purpose of BPE is to improve design practice and to ensure the continuous improvement of design methods, through the provision of feedback to designers on the effectiveness of their design choices. BPE is also useful to property managers, building operators, and building occupants through its collation of detailed measurements and occupant feedback, which highlight which building features are operating optimally, and which features have the potential to be enhanced. BPE efforts can lead to a better understanding of the relation between design decisions and long term efficiency and effectiveness of a building.689 This knowledge can make for a more efficient, better functioning building for reduced operating costs and increased occupant satisfaction.
