成千上万的建筑都是以节能为目标设计和建造的。其中一些被正式认定为可持续结构，使用了包括能源性能在内的各种标准，例如，那些具有USGBC LEED认证的标准。然而，其中许多建筑的运行效率并不理想，通常在施工后很短的时间内。通过ASHRAE拨款，一个学生小组正在对两个现有可持续建筑的能源使用进行检测、监控和模拟。本文介绍了本研究中途的结果，重点介绍了两个调查领域的初步研究。研究中的建筑包括:位于中西部大学校园内的LEED银色学生服务中心。这是一座有四年历史、约42000平方英尺（3900平方米）的建筑，带有绿色屋顶、地热热泵、无水小便器、雨水冲洗厕所和生物墙。 一栋住宅大小的建筑，旨在展示中西部私立小学校园的节能效果。该建筑已有30多年的历史，有土堤，被动太阳能加热和通风，最近更换了绿色屋顶、光伏系统和风力发电机。这是几篇详细讨论仪器和模拟结果如何有助于改善持续可持续性的论文之一。引文:ASHRAE会议论文，2010年，第116卷，pt。新墨西哥州阿尔伯克基2号

Thousands of buildings have been designed and built with a goal of energy performance. Some are formally recognized as sustainable structures using a variety of criteria including energy performance, e.g., those with USGBC LEED certification. However, many of these buildings offer less than desirable operating efficiencies, often a short time after construction.Through an ASHRAE Grant, a student group is instrumenting, monitoring and simulating energy use in two existing sustainable structures. This paper presents results midway through this research, highlighting the beginning research for two areas of investigation. The buildings under study include:A LEED® Silver student services center located on a Midwestern university campus. This is a four year old, approximately 42000 ft2(3900 m2) structure with a green roof, geothermal heat pumps, waterless urinals, rain water flushing toilets, and a bioswale.A residential-sized structure designed to demonstrate energy conservation on a Midwestern private elementary school campus. The building is over 30 years old, earth-bermed, passively solar heated and ventilated with a recently replaced green roof, recent photovoltaic system and wind generator.This is one of several papers to discuss the details of how the results of instrumentation and simulation contribute to improved on-going sustainability.