About Advanced Buildings

Advanced Buildings® is New Building Institute’s suite of technical tools and resources developed to help design teams create high performance buildings that stand out for their energy efficiency and healthy environments. Development of these tools is supported by Advanced Buildings sponsors.

Core Performance® the cornerstone of the Advanced Buildings® suite of technical tools and resources, is a direct, simplified approach to achieve predictable energy savings in small- to medium-sized buildings without the need for modeling.

The nationally recognized, easy-to-use, Core Performance Guide brings together over 30 criteria defining high performance in building envelope, lighting, HVAC, power systems and controls. When applied together in an integrated design process, these measures result in buildings that are up to 30 percent more energy efficient than model building standards.

• Who is using 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? Core Performance offers a direct, simplified design approach to energy efficiency in new commercial construction projects to achieve energy efficiencies of 30 percent more energy efficient than model building standards.
• When should the design team use Core Performance? While 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 Core Performance? Core Performance provides technical guidance on energy efficiency without the expense and uncertainty of the modeling process.
• How will Core Performance help with LEED? USGBC has identified 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? The Advanced Buildings suite of tools and resources is developed and managed by New Buildings Institute, a national nonprofit organization working to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings.