Discover leaks and inefficiencies before you start building, or evaluate existing buildings – down to the last detail.
New Zealand’s houses are notoriously energy-inefficient: Either damp and cold, or over-insulated and prone to overheating. We apply expertise rooted in Europe’s ‘energy passport’ to maximise energy-efficiency – whether you are planning a new building or seeking to improve an existing one.
This ‘energy passport’ refers to the annual heating (or cooling) energy required to maintain a dwelling at a desired temperature. In Europe, this is a standard requirement for any dwelling, be it an apartment, townhouse or a stand-alone home. The techniques involved in assessing energy levels effectively identify energy leaks and inefficiencies using simulation. Perhaps New Zealand is ready to adopt its own energy passport, but regardless, we have the experience to apply these European techniques and the same meticulous quality standards.
Using a range of specialist software packages, we can model the thermal performance of a building, taking into account building materials, location and orientation, together with time-dependent solar gain experienced by the building over the year. This evaluation lets you optimise entire buildings for maximum energy efficiency, from top to bottom, even during the planning stage.
Whole house energy simulation process
Define goals
Define goals and methods with the client
Create model
Create model based on structural plans and/or measurements
Shading map
Create shading map based on location and orientation data
Energy model
Prepare energy model of the building using NZ climate files and projected ventilation rates
Discuss results
Discuss results with the client, as well as possible design changes and resulting actions