The paper considers aspects of the energy dissipation response of selected realistic forms of torsionally balanced and torsionally unbalanced building systems, responding to an ensemble of strong-motion earthquake records. Focus is placed on the proportion of the input seismic energy which is dissipated hysteretically, and the distribution of this energy amongst the various lateral load-resisting structural elements. Systems considered comprise those in which torsional effects are discounted in the design, and systems designed for torsion by typical code-defined procedures as incorporated in the New Zealand seismic standard. It is concluded that torsional response has a fundamentally significant influence on the energy dissipation demand of the critical edge elements, and that therefore the allocation of appropriate levels of yielding strength to these elements is a paramount design consideration. Finally, it is suggested that energy-based response parameters be developed in order to assist evaluations of the effectiveness of code torsional provisions in controlling damage to key structural elements in severe earthquakes.