Project teams committed to curbing the effects of climate change typically establish a quantifiable performance target at the beginning of a project. While frameworks like Architecture 2030 and standards like ASHRAE 90.1 are frequently to generate benchmark targets for energy performance, there is no magic bullet for defining the right energy consumption goal for each unique project. This presentation will be a moderated panel of high-performance experts and architects to discuss strategies for quantitative goal setting—when, who, and how aggressive. The panel will explore the following questions: How do teams arrive at goals that stick? What makes teams rally around them? What are the risks with setting ambitious goals? How do teams know when they are being aggressive enough? Are quantitative goals essential for innovative building performance? The panelists will share their lessons learned from leading exemplary high-performance projects from start to finish.