What is Advanced Buildings?

Advanced Buildings™ is a recognized suite of technical resources, trainings and information that provides a prescriptive path for the design team wishing to create high performance commercial buildings that stand out for their energy efficiency and healthy environments.

Core Performance™ is Advanced Buildings’ step-by-step simplified approach to achieving predictable energy savings in small to medium-sized buildings without the need for modeling. It also provides work-saving tools for professionals already experienced in sustainable design.

Advanced Buildings Core Performance also offers extensive training and reference materials covering best practices centered around cost-effective, off-the-shelf building technology.

• Who is using Advanced Buildings Core Performance? Architects, engineers and building owners who want improved energy performance and indoor air quality (IAQ) on their new commercial construction projects while working within tight design and construction budgets.
  
• How does it help? Advanced Buildings offers a simplified design approach to energy efficiency in new commercial construction projects to achieve energy efficiencies of 20 to 30 percent better than ASHRAE 90.1-2004.
  
• When should the design team use Advanced Buildings? While Advanced Buildings Core Performance can be applied to any building, it’s ideal for the 95 percent of buildings up to 70,000 square feet. It’s also appropriate for your first step toward higher efficiency or for fully engaged “green,” or sustainable, design projects.
  
• Why are people interested in Advanced Buildings? Advanced Buildings provides technical guidance on energy efficiency without the expense and uncertainty of the modeling process.
  
• How will Advanced Buildings help with LEED? USGBC has identified Advanced Buildings Core Performance as an alternate path to building simulation for EA Credits LEED NC. The process is worth up to five points on most building types.
  
• Who is behind Advanced Buildings? Advanced Buildings was developed by New Buildings Institute, a national nonprofit organization working to improve energy efficiency in new commercial buildings, as a tool for smaller projects to achieve better energy performance.