Energy and water consumption during the post-occupancy phase and the users' perception of a commercial building certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Building certification performance has been on the research agenda, and studies from all over the world present different results. Some authors state that the certified buildings are more efficient, while some argue they are not. In Brazil, little is known about the performance of certified buildings, since relatively few are the buildings actually certified, most of them from the private sector. This study analyzed the first years of post-occupancy phase of a Brazilian commercial building, certified by LEED/gold level, version 2.2. Besides energy consumption, the research covered water consumption and the commitment of users' in the adoption of sustainable practices and their perception of the certified building, as well. As main results, the study points that: measured consumption are quite higher than predicted at the design, however show a reduction trend over time; some of the credits scored due to design solution are not effective during the post-occupancy; the majority of the interviewed users are satisfied with thermal and lightning comfort and think that the certification promotes work quality.