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Building Performance Monitoring

CNT Energy believes that designing and building to LEED standards is merely one milestone in our building’s history and that sustainable strategies must be implemented throughout its lifespan. Sustainability must be integrated into ongoing operations and maintenance practices. “Constructing to LEED® Platinum was a natural choice given CNT’s longstanding commitment to sustainable development”, says CNT‘s CEO Kathy Tholin. “But our job is far from complete. Now that we’re utilizing the space, sustainability means focusing on ongoing operations and maintenance. We’re striving for continuous improvement.”

CNT Energy has turned this philosophy into action. In an ongoing partnership dating back 2008, with the US Green Building Council, CNT Energy analyzed the post-occupancy performance of LEED projects in Illinois in the study, “Regional Green Building Case Study: Year Two Report”. Of the 51 buildings in this report, 19 also participated in the first phase of this project in 2009.

The report examined USGBC’s LEED certification that rates green building projects on a point system for features that improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water use, and other areas. CNT Energy analyzed how projects performed over multiple years in areas including energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs, commute transportation and occupant comfort.This research led to the following conclusions:

  • The focus on sustainability should not stop after the design and construction phase.
  • You cannot improve what you do not measure.
  • A building’s best benchmark is its own performance.
  • Ongoing performance evaluations should provide relevant and actionable feedback to building owners, operators and occupants.

    • Below is a presentation given by Kathryn Eggers of CNT Energy and Doug Widener of USGBC – IL, from Greenbuild 2011, that outlines the findings of the report as well as provides a great example of how CNT Energy takes our mission to key stakeholders.

    Analyzing Post Occupancy Performance: A Replicable Model for Engaging Stakeholders

    View more presentations from cntenergy.
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