what is high-performance building?

In general, it is hard to value or appreciate what is behind the walls and how each building component work together in a way that's complimenting instead of competing one another.  High-performance building in general is umbrella term for a building engineered to exceed code-minimum performance across multiple metrics simultaneously — typically energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water use, and durability — rather than any one specific and certified standard. 

Building performance could be measured or through a specific certification path (Passive House, LEED, ENERGY STAR, DOE Zero Energy Ready), should it be appropriate to implement some kind of metrics that is somewhat quantifiable.  For high-performance building to be realized, it is critical for all stakeholders to be on board sharing a same goal, resources, and responsibilities for achieving something remarkable beyond minimum standards that can endure the test of time while providing comforts and long term financial benefits.