The energy and sustainable development skill group brings together a number of different skills focused on sustainable development, conservation of resources and the reduction of energy use.
Our involvement in low energy buildings and sustainable development stretches back over many years and covers a wide range of projects.
From an initial focus on building services systems and energy use our expertise now covers all areas of the development process and includes:
- building physics
- natural ventilation and passive cooling
- thermal modelling and building simulation
- renewable energy
- daylighting and solar control
- water conservation and rainwater harvesting
- reed beds and sustainable sewage treatment
- whole life cycle costing
- materials sourcing and recycled materials
- ecology
- pollution control
We work closely with clients and other designers to provide innovative solutions to minimise the environmental impact of buildings and development. We aim to provide our clients with an open minded, flexible and creative approach to building design.
We have also developed a bespoke system – HalSTAR – which supports decision making on sustainability issues in any given context, helping to reduce risks and highlight opportunities for innovation, efficiency and added value.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is a well established tool for assessing the environmental impact of new and existing buildings. It not only covers energy, materials and water conservation issues but also addresses the ecology of the site, transport, and the health and wellbeing of people using the building.
Halcrow has several trained assessors who are currently working on BREEAM projects as designers, advisers and assessors. Our expertise lies in working with clients and design teams at all stages of a project. From inception through to commissioning and management we can advise how to meet environmental challenges and obtain the best possible BREEAM rating.
We are licensed under all BREEAM schemes:
- BREEAM Offices
- BREEAM Schools
- BREEAM Industrial
- BREEAM Retail
- Bespoke BREEAM
- EcoHomes (a special BREEAM assessment for dwellings)