Services

NZBC H1 Advice and Assessments

NZBC Clause H1 (Energy Efficiency) is often left to the last minute; a light touch at the start of a project can save headaches later on. Ecolution offers early-stage advice on direction, providing recommendations for best means of compliance; through to calculation / modelling of heating and cooling energy demands, to demonstrate compliance with H1.

Clause H1 guidance documents [MBIE]

H1 energy demand graph [Ecolution]

Passive Design Reviews

Almost all concepts can be drastically improved from a passive performance perspective. Ecolution can review your concepts, identify project issues and opportunities, and outline changes that can be made (to things like orientation, layout, space grouping, facade design, openings, massing, streamlining, MEP systems) to quickly improve your building's efficiency and experience.

Diagram showing passive design and urban form for natural amenities [Tavis Creswell-Wells, thesis]

Example of a space grouping and energy strategy exercise from a school project [Ecolution]

Site and Climate Analysis

A site's microclimate, and physical constraints/opportunities enables a more informed design, maximizing features and minimizing undesirable elements. Ecolution can overlay climate data and site conditions onto your project (e.g. wind patterns, solar, surrounding buildings, etc.) and devise an appropriate passive design response.

Specific site analysis of solar paths, wind directions and views [Archi-monarch]

Example of a climate analysis [Ecolution]

Sustainability Strategies and Goal Setting

Setting empirical goals, and a strategy to achieve them, helps to provide a project with direction and a firm target. Ecolution can discuss with you your aspirations for the project, identifying the sustainability opportunities and limitations, and devise with you a strategy that captures those elements. This process creates a holistic plan to achieve sustainability in a way that best reflects your ambitions.

Illustration of the various elements discussed and weighed in the development of a sustainability strategy and targets. [Ecolution]

Energy Modelling

Energy models are useful tools to identify design aspects that need attention, as well as benchmarking performance. Ecolution can build whichever energy model that is required for the project and question at hand (there are many methodologies and purposes). Modelling should ideally be used to compliment/follow first principle design, providing empirical evidence and justification for design features and changes.

Example of PHPP software energy balances [Ecolution]

Design PH plugin to SketchUp [DesignPH.org website]

Thermal Comfort and Overheating Analysis

A building built to code does not guarantee comfort, nor does 'air temperature' (e.g. heat pumps) alone. Other factors influence our experience. Thermal comfort, particularly overheating (a growing issue in NZ), is not well understood or practiced in NZ. Ecolution can guide your design with first principles and test it with dynamic thermal simulations to analyse the likely comfort in your building.

Modelled thermal comfort (using PMV) ranges graph for a multi-zone building [Ecolution]

The 6 factors influencing thermal comfort [Simulation Hub]

Basic passive design measures to limit solar heat gain and overheating [Ecolution]

Upfront Carbon Emissions Modelling

Upfront carbon (i.e. embodied in the construction of the building) typically represents a significant portion of a building's life time emissions. Ecolution can help to reduce upfront carbon through design and material selection, as well as undertake upfront carbon modelling to quantify the design's footprint, which can help with more targeted design efforts.

Whole of Life (WoL) carbon modules diagram [MBIE]

Building materials carbon intensity pyramid graphic [GABC]

Natural Ventilation Design and Analysis

The status quo '5% opening area' is an entirely inadequate method of designing for ventilation (especially for overheating purposes). Environmental factors, architecture, and flow dynamics must be understood to design openings effectively. Ecolution can guide a stepped design process, sizing and positioning of openings for effective natural ventilation, fresh air provision and comfort.

Illustration of window opening definitions for natural ventilation [Ecolution]

Illustration of opening locations and ventilation sweeps [Ecolution]

Section showing how restrictors and wall depths impact opening area [Ecolution]

Passive House Certification

Green Star is a sustainability rating tool for non-domestic buildings, which encompasses a wide range of sustainability matters. It is a valuable benchmarking tool for buildings (and businesses) aspiring to demonstrate environmental leadership. Ecolution can support the design team in undertaking this complex and nuanced process, helping to incorporate the necessary features and comply with the range of detailed criteria. Packages can include 'gap analysis', individual credits delivery, or full GSAP project management.

The five key principles of Passive House [PHI]

The three Passive House rating levels [PHI]

Green Star Gap Analysis and Project Management

Green Star is a sustainability rating tool for non-domestic buildings, which encompasses a wide range of sustainability matters. It is a valuable benchmarking tool for buildings (and businesses) aspiring to demonstrate environmental leadership. Ecolution can support the design team in undertaking this complex and nuanced process, helping to incorporate the necessary features and comply with the range of detailed criteria. Packages can include 'gap analysis', individual credits delivery, or full GSAP project management.

Green Star ratings comparison [NZGBC]

The eight categories of credits under Green Star [NZGBC]

Homestar Guidance

Homestar is the domestic equivalent of Green Star. It is largely based on Passive House, which provides a strong basis for health, comfort and efficiency. Broader sustainability matters are also included to make it a holistic rating tool. Ecolution can guide your project to the Homestar requirements, providing expert design for performance advice along the way.

Homestar ratings comparisons [NZGBC]

Graphic highlighting the key performance areas addressed in Homestar [NZGBC]

Daylight Design and Analysis

Daylight is often boasted as a sustainability feature in many building types. However, big windows don't necessarily mean good daylight, and there is such a thing as too much daylight (glare). Ecolution can help you to avoid these common architectural pitfalls through first principal design processes and daylight and glare modelling. This can be for Green Star credits or just best practice capitalisation of a key building feature.

Diagram of various daylighting components [NZEB]

Fully glazed facade with most internal blinds down, contradicting the views intent [MT Copeland]

Health and wellbeing design

Occupants can only be as health as the building they live or work in. Things like poor air quality, mould, dim or artificial lighting, lack of connection to outdoors and nature, all impact occupant's health and wellbeing. In a commercial setting, this has also been linked to poor staff productivity, which can cost businesses in terms of reduced output. Ecolution can provide advice on measures and their suitability for your building (new or existing), from high-level suggestions, through to full detail WELL Building Standard Certification.

General areas of importance for health [WGBC]

The ten Features addressed in the WELL Building standard [WELL]

An example of a light, open, natural elements indoor environment [MIPIM World]

Pre and Post Occupancy Evaluations (POEs)

Occupancy evaluations can be valuable tools to identify issues experienced by users. They are particularly useful in the lead up to a refurbishment or move to a new building, where a Pre-occupancy evaluation will highlight key areas to focus on. Then once the new building/space is in use, a Post occupancy evaluation can help to determine it's success. Ecolution can conduct these evaluations and provide valuable insight to the client, occupants, FM teams, and design teams.

The basic place of a POE in a building project [HMC Architects]

The place of POE in the Soft Landings process [NZC guide]

Circular Design

Circular design is the process of creating products (buildings in this case) that minimize waste, extend lifespan, and support reuse, recycling, or regeneration. Ecolution can support design teams develop building systems, select materials, and design for planned deconstruction.

Diagram outlining Circular design on a building project [GABC]

Diagram outlining Circular economy vs Linear economy

Green Financing

Financing opportunities for buildings that are targeting higher levels of sustainable credentials are becoming more common and accessible. However, they can be difficult to find and understand for a lay person. Ecolution can help you to locate and navigate the relevant options for your project, and determine which options are likely to be beneficial.

Additionally, if you are putting together a business case for an asset proposal, Ecolution can help you to source data and develop legitimate evidence for the benefits of 'going green' to use in your business case.

[OpenGrowth]

Services - General:

All service fees are to be discussed and agreed on a project-to-project basis.

Please enquire to book a consultation via the contact form on the 'Contact' page, or by sending an email to EcolutionSBS@outlook.com

Ecolution SBS

Tailored solutions for healthier, environmentally responsible buildings.

EcolutionSBS@outlook.com

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