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Sustainable Engineering

Green buildings have lower operating costs, less depreciation in value, reduced risk of future legislative compliance and are more attractive to investors and tenants. Delivering these buildings in challenging economic times requires sustainable design and analysis skills, experience and commercial pragmatism.​

To achieve your green vision and goals, Seneca Group will work with you to ensure that sustainability requirements are integrated into the project from the outset. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, we will advise and guide the process to ensure costs are minimised and benefits are fully realised.

Approach

Our approach to sustainable, low carbon design:

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Site

  • Does the site receive sufficient sunlight and not impact on neighbours?

  • Is the site flexible enough to maximise good building orientation?

  • Can the prevailing winds be used to maximise the availability and use of natural ventilation?

  • Does the site receive consistent rainfall throughout the year to consider collection for re-use?

Envelope

  • Is the building to be sealed tight or is the envelope able to breathe?

  • What glazed area is desired: full height, strip or punched? How does this affect mechanical and electrical services?

  • Is external shading suitable? Should this be fixed or adjustable?

  • What is the whole-of-life cost of the façade system?

  • What are comfort and daylight implications of different façade options?  

Resources

Built Form

  • Does the floor plan suit the use of daylighting and natural ventilation?

  • Can courtyards or atria be used to increase natural light/ventilation?

  • How does the built form affect services design?

  • Can it be used to exploit prevailing site conditions?

Services

  • Do the systems complement the envelope, thermal inertia and built form?

  • Have internal loads been reduced as much as possible?

  • Does the air distribution system provide a high quality environment?

  • Can artificial lights be integrated with glare-free natural lighting?

  • Can waste energy be captured and reused?

  • Has life cycle costing been used to test different options?

  • Has a commissioning plan been developed?

  • How can potable water demand be reduced?

  • Have alternative energy sources/systems been explored?

  • Renewable energy - wind, solar, geothermal micro-hydro

  • Biomass - chip, pellet, wood, animal waste

  • Co-generation - natural gas, biomass

  • District heating/power systems

  • Can rainwater be harvested, treated and reused?

  • Is greywater or blackwater collection and treatment feasible?

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