Why do award-winning green buildings so often have higher energy bills than ordinary buildings? Why do expensive refurbishments deliver outcomes that are far from the promises of improved sustainability? Why does your building have high running costs and still the occupants complain about being too cold or too hot and are otherwise dissatisfied? The failure of many countries to produce buildings that are comfortable with excellent energy performance is a scandal.

Achieving low energy buildings does not involve learning rocket science: just some basic building physics, a clear...