DASH: Database for Analyzing Sustainable
and High Performance Buildings

(Formerly the High Performance Building Database Protocol and Repository)

Please note: DASH is a project in the works, and we are in the process of finalizing its structure. The goals and organization of DASH are being reviewed and refined, as are the proposed content and collection methods. Initial data input is scheduled to begin in late 2009.

With the current uncertainty of worldwide energy availability, accompanied by a burgeoning interest in sustainability, there is an increasing interest in green, sustainable, and high performance buildings. While much as been done to increase building performance, the effectiveness of these measures has not yet been determined on a broad scale.

Consequently, the effort to create a Database for Analyzing Sustainable and High Performance Buildings (DASH) aims to address this interest by collecting building information and making it publically available. By linking green building information to real estate and financial data, cost effectiveness and financial incentives of building performance will also be addressed. While many research efforts to collect building performance data are currently underway,

  • Existing project databases are limited in scope (by developer, owner, company, and/or region).
  • Metrics are often limited to one of the following categories, with little or no cross-over:
    • Real estate or financial
    • Energy/Operations
    • Productivity

With so many existing databases and research studies, data collection methods are not consistent. The DASH building information database and repository would address these issues while offering valuable information to a wide range of clients.

DASH Mission
The Mission of DASH is to facilitate consistent collection of quantitative data about green, sustainable, and high performance buildings through collaboration of existing building information databases, organizations, companies, and researchers.

DASH Scope
Increase the quantity of, quality of, and access to information about green, sustainable, and high performance buildings by creating an building metric information clearinghouse, identifying gaps in currently collected building data, developing consistent protocols for data collection and reporting, and establishing a national green, sustainable, and high performance building data repository that will support independent assessment and analysis of investment, operation, and occupant-related building metrics.

History of DASH
DASH was initiated by Green Building Alliance (GBA) in 2004 as the “High Performance Building Database Protocol and Repository” (HPBDPR). GBA managed the collaborative effort from 2004 through 2008, but starting in 2008, GBA has co-managed the project with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Both GBA and ASHRAE have received consistent and strong support for their role as facilitators and catalysts for this much-needed project. National stakeholders from real estate, industry, consulting, academia, national laboratories, and government continue to be involved in DASH through the DASH Consortium, DASH Working Groups, and DASH Corresponding Committee.

Audience
The DASH audience includes the following stakeholders, listed in order of focus:
(1) Real Property Industry (decision makers, developers, investors, owners, property management firms, and owner/operators)
(2) Researchers & Analysts (colleges, universities, nonprofits, & government agencies)
(3) Consultants, Services, & Products (architects, engineers, , contractors, other specifiers, facility managers, product/technology developers, and energy advocacy groups)


DASH Components
DASH Working Groups


To join the DASH Corresponding Committee, through which you will get emails and updates regarding DASH, email your contact information to dash@gbapgh.org with the subject line "Request to join DASH Corresponding Committee".
For more information, please download the DASH Executive Summary or contact GBA via dash@gbapgh.org or at (412) 431-0709 x6012.