Energy-efficient building design
Design support that sets a building's energy use while the drawings are still open: orientation, envelope, daylight, HVAC strategy and code compliance, checked with simulation.
- Codes
- ECBC 2017, ECSBC, ASHRAE 90.1
- Method
- Whole-building energy and daylight simulation
- Outcome
- An energy-use target and the specs to meet it
Why design stage matters
Nearly every major energy decision is made before tender: how the building faces the sun, how much of the facade is glass, what the walls and roof are made of and how the HVAC system is sized. Changing those later costs far more than getting them right on paper.
We work alongside your architect and MEP consultant, test options with simulation, and turn the results into specifications the contractor can price and build.
What we look at
- Orientation and massing. Solar exposure and self-shading compared across options.
- Envelope. Wall and roof U-values, glazing SHGC and visible light transmittance, window-to-wall ratio and external shading.
- Daylight and glare. Daylit area and glare risk so lights stay off for more of the day.
- HVAC strategy. Right-sized loads, system choice, heat recovery and controls.
- Lighting. Lighting power density and controls.
- Energy Performance Index. A target in kWh per square metre per year that the design is held to.
Code compliance
The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC 2017) from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency sets minimum energy performance for commercial buildings, and its successor, the Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC), extends that to sustainability measures. States adopt the code through their own notifications, so the requirement for your project depends on its location and connected load.
We check which version applies, demonstrate compliance through the prescriptive or whole-building route, and prepare the documentation your approving authority needs.
How we work with your design team
- Concept reviewMassing, orientation and facade options tested.
- Energy targetAn EPI target agreed with the owner.
- Design developmentEnvelope, HVAC and lighting specs refined with simulation.
- Tender specificationsPerformance values written into the BOQ.
- Submittal reviewContractor products checked against the specification.
Questions clients ask
Does ECBC apply to my building?
ECBC applies to commercial buildings above a connected-load or contract-demand threshold in states that have notified it. The thresholds and adoption differ by state, so we confirm it for your site.
Which simulation tools do you use?
Whole-building energy simulation built on established engines such as EnergyPlus, plus daylight simulation. The tool matters less than a correctly built model, so we share the inputs with you.
Can you review a design that is already drawn?
Yes. A design review still finds savings in glazing, shading, HVAC sizing and lighting, even when the massing is fixed.
Related services
Energy and comfort decisions built into the drawings while they are still cheap to change.
Talk to us about energy-efficient building design
Send us the project type, location and built-up area. We'll suggest the rating route that suits it and what it involves.