RIAI Research and Policy: Design for Performance
The urgency of the climate crisis demands a fundamental rethinking of how we design, construct, and operate our projects in the built environment. Until now, the focus of building procurement has been on compliance with operational energy regulations, often leading to a significant difference between predicted and actual building performance – the ‘performance gap’ – and not considering all of the other ways our industry interacts with the ecosystems that support it (and everything else) at all. It is in direct response to this critical challenge that the RIAI and the IGBC present the Design for Performance Framework and Guidance, funded by the SEAI.
The RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge, launched in 2021, was the first step in setting targets across four environmental indicators: embodied and operational carbon emissions, water use, and indoor environmental quality. This framework marks a pivotal shift in our collective approach. While regulatory compliance remains essential, this guidance champions a move beyond a ‘Design for Compliance’ culture towards verifiable ‘Design for Performance’, where we define the targets we aim to achieve and equip the delivery team with a structured framework to measure our success.
By embedding these principles, Design for Performance supports a sector-wide shift from a focus on compliance and efficiency to a mindset of circularity; tackling building performance comprehensively and promoting the regenerative use of natural resources, resulting in healthier, more resilient indoor environments. Design for Performance is for all building types; you will find suggested targets for homes, offices, and schools in the guidance, but we encourage you to develop your own targets specific to the unique circumstances of your project.
This suite of guidance and tools provides the practical methodology to embed the targets from the earliest design stages through to post-occupancy measurement and feedback.
Published: May 2025
This project has been supported with financial contribution from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2022, Grant number 22/RDD/820.
