Closing building energy performance gap: design factors and coping strategies

The disparity found between the predicted energy consumption in the design stage of buildings and the energy use during operation is known as energy performance gap. This study identifies the design factors that contribute to this gap, and explores strategies for closing it. Literature review and case study were applied as groundwork for designing semi-structured interviews with 13 building energy professionals to gather 8 influencing factors and to propose a framework of strategies. It is envisioned that the findings will inform designers on the factors that cause the gap and help them identify and manage them in future projects.