Many existing building energy performance assessment frameworks, quantifying and categorizing buildings post occupancy, offer limited feedback on design decisions. An environment providing decision makers with pertinent information to assess the consequences of each design decision in a timely, cost effective and practical manner is required to promote viable low-energy solutions from the outset. --This paper outlines a performance-based strategy utilizing building effectiveness communication ratios stored in Building Information Models (BIM). Decision makers will be capable of rating the building's energy performance throughout its natural life cycle without imposing adverse penalties on facilities located in dissimilar climatic zones subjected to stringent building codes and regulations. With this advancement in building energy assessment in place, a progressive improvement in energy efficiency for the building stock is a feasible and realistic target.