The Actual Thermal Performance of a Building can be Measured

We live in a world where people have finally begun to take notice of their wasteful energy habits. I would like to believe that this trend is the result of an increased appreciation of the affects our wasteful use of energy is having on the environment, but the reality is that increases in fuel costs have hit our pockets hard. But whether it is environmental or monetary concerns that drive you, the fact that we are finally becoming concerned with our energy use is undeniable, and government led initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocol are further focusing our minds on the issue. As a result, this book looks at the current methods for assessing the energy performance of buildings in their "as built" state, primarily the Building Energy Rating (BER) system. The aim of this book is to develop and test an initial model for assessing the actual thermal performance of buildings based on field measurements of the structure, as opposed to using theoretical or laboratory results for the fabric of the building. A live test rig will not overlook extenuating factors such as craftsmanship and the quality of materials used in a building, allowing accurate performance assessments.