Our Resources

The Better Buildings Partnership regularly publishes blog pieces, news articles, toolkits and case studies that highlight the latest sustainability developments in the UK commercial real estate industry. The resources can be filtered hereunder by topic, type and member.

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  • London Calling

    London Calling

    28 October 2016

    In October 2016 Paul Bannister, the Australian expert who designed the NABERS Energy rating scheme for commercial offices, came to the UK to review the pilot studies for the Design for Performance project. The pilots are testing a process to improve base buildings energy performance in operation...

    Topic: Design for Performance

    Type: Blogs

  • Design for Performance Pilots: Six Months Progress Under Australian Scrutiny

    Design for Performance Pilots: Six Months Progress Under Australian Scrutiny

    03 November 2016

    Rob Cohen provides an update on the Design for Performance pilot studies which had a six month check-up from Paul Bannister, the Australian expert who designed the NABERS Energy rating scheme for commercial offices. The pilots are testing in real UK development projects key ingredients which support the NABERS Energy Commitment Agreement, a process which helps office buildings there to achieve base building operation in line with the energy performance targeted at project initiation.

    Topic: Design for Performance

    Type: Blogs

  • Design for Performance Feasibility Study

    Design for Performance Feasibility Study

    24 May 2016

    This is the final report of a feasibility study into the potential for UK implementation of a Design for Performance approach, similar to the NABERS Commitment Agreement used in Australia since 2002 to promise and then achieve high in-use energy efficiency levels in new prime office buildings. It sets out the justification, structure and forward actions for creating a UK Commitment Agreement whereby a developer of a new building or major refurbishment commits to achieving a specific, measured in-use energy target. Its findings result from extensive input by Australian and UK experts and widespread consultation with the many stakeholders from both property and construction industries who are involved in creating and then managing large, new office buildings.

    Topic: Design for Performance

    Type: Publications

  • Design for Performance Not Compliance: Making Measured Energy In-Use the Objective for New Office Buildings

    Design for Performance Not Compliance: Making Measured Energy In-Use the Objective for New Office Buildings

    24 May 2016

    The paper describes the transformation that has taken place over the last 15 years in the energy efficiency of new office buildings constructed in Australia and considers if and how countries across Europe could follow suit. The success in Australia has been greatest for the ‘base building’: the energy used by the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) and hot water supplies serving the whole building...

    Topic: Design for Performance

    Type: Publications