This paper presents a methodology to monitor the performance of buildings in a Zero Carbon City from the occupant perspective. Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is hailed as the World's pioneering Zero Carbon Zero Waste city. The initial phase of construction is complete and the first students have moved into the residential quarters of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in September 2010. Although the study monitors both Carbon and Waste, this paper outlines a Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) to assess the resident's satisfaction and building performance at MIST. The research focuses on the role that user behaviour and satisfaction plays on energy efficiency. It is hoped that such an approach will allow building performance to be normalized for user behaviour and to examine how best to commission, explain and handover complex low energy developments to new residents. It is hoped that the residents' reaction and adaptation to the first Zero Carbon Zero Waste city will provide valuable insights that can be applied to future low energy developments.

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This paper introduces the method of Post Occupancy Monitoring as an evolution from Post Occupancy Evaluation of the built environment. The technique depends on the qualitative and quantitative aspirations of the stakeholders to apply methods resulting in closing the feedback loop of the built environment. Previous attempts are discussed such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work for architects as well as the Soft Landings approach for handing over the building once commissioned. A gap in literature exists in the manner of continuously analyzing a building once it is handed over. Suitable incentives must be given to each of the stakeholders to participate in the process and learn from past initiatives. The paper suggests the need for energy monitoring, thermal comfort analysis and documenting user satisfaction as a basis for all existing building rating systems.

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