High-Performance Building gives architects a practical guide to excellent, sustainable design, showing how to analyze and evaluate the buildings “as built.” Taking a hands-on view of sustainability, the author provides designers with specific benchmarks for high-performance and energy efficiency. Utilizing the latest methods for analysis, including energy analysis computer programs for climatic responsive design, he asks:

• Where does the building that claims to be “green” or “sustainable” check in on a scale relative to benchmark buildings of the same type?

• How does the building contribute to a sustainable development in its demand for energy and natural materials?

• Does the building provide a high level of thermal comfort to its users?

To illustrate, Lerum takes the reader on an on-site tour of ten buildings around the world that exemplify these standards. Ranging from the West Coast of Greenland to the Sonoran Desert, the buildings are examined as physical built objects. For additional perspectives, the author interviews the architects and speaks with engineers, owners, and users. At the sites, something unexpected often shows up—unknown or hidden features, characteristics, or details are revealed that shed light on the actual performance, in contrast to the predicted—or publicized—performance.

By understanding what works and what does not in notable buildings around the world, High-Performance Building enables architects to discover the challenges and opportunities in their own designs, whether a simple residence or a large commercial structure.