What's New

We're Having an Open House
NBI is celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary and the launch of our new office in Vancouver. We’re hosting an open house on Thursday, June 5, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Many of our board members will be in town, so it will be an opportunity to meet not only NBI staff but our extended family as well. Come join us for some lively conversation, food and drink. For a map and transportation options, click here. RSVP to .

Spring NBI News Is Now Available
NBI is growing and changing. Learn about progress on our latest efforts to improve the efficiency of new commercial buildings by reading our latest newsletter. Want regular updates?

LEED Energy Performance Project
NBI has just released the broadest study to-date of measured energy performance of LEED buildings. The study gathered whole building energy data from 121 LEED NC buildings across the country that had been occupied for at least one year.

On average, LEED buildings are delivering the anticipated savings, performing 25-30% better than national average or modeled baselines. Individual building results, however, display a high degree of scatter, with some performing much better than average and some much worse. These and other results from this exploratory study suggest several opportunities for improved feedback tools, follow-up research on actual performance factors, improved modeling guidelines, and LEED program refinements. For more information, contact .

New Buildings Institute Turns 10!

Since December 1997, New Buildings Institute has worked with national, regional, state and utility groups to improve energy efficiency in commercial new construction. By advancing technologies and design practices, advocating for better codes and providing national leadership, our efforts have contributed to making buildings better for people and the environment. We’ll be sharing with you some of our accomplishments during the coming year. Stay tuned!

Where We'll Be

Cathy Turner and Mark Frankel will be speaking at the West Coast Energy Management Congress in Seattle in mid-May. Cathy’s topic, Post Occupancy Evaluation of Schools, will be presented at 3:00 pm on May 14. Mark will be speaking on Getting to Fifty - Aggressive Building
Energy Performance Strategies and Resources at 9:30 am on May 15. Dan Harris will also be attending both days of the conference.

Cathy Turner will be speaking about building performance measurement at Cascadia’s Green Broker 2008 meeting in Portland, Oregon, on May 22.

Links We Like

Check out Architectural Records recent article on post occupancy evaluations, “Looking Back and Moving Forward”. It summarizes the state of POE and features NBI’s own Cathy Turner.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development asked 1,700 influential people in real estate and construction about the cost and value of green building. According to the report, “Efficiency in Buildings: Business Realities and Opportunities,” respondents on average estimated the additional costs to be 17% rather than the true average cost difference of about 5%. Those surveyed also significantly underestimated the percent of global greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Senior level decision makers from companies that have adopted green building as a regular business practice will gather to share their views at the Cost-Efficient Sustainable Buildings Conference this spring in Philadelphia. Speakers, will offer a look at sustainable practices and technologies, comparing project specificities and emphasizing best practices for cost efficiency.