Services

We help clients develop an overall zero carbon, sustainability, or experience-focused vision or strategy for a single project, an entire campus or neighborhood, or a portfolio. This can even include applying an ESG lens to real estate decisions, such as comparing leasing or site selection options.

We help clients develop carbon, energy, and sustainability requirements for design competitions, requests for proposals, and similar project briefs. Briefs go beyond numeric targets and certification, describing the vision for the project and clarifying the ambition expected of design teams. We then serve as the owner’s advisor, reviewing how well teams respond to the requirements of the brief. In some cases we also act as a design advisor to all participating teams.

With a POE (Post Occupancy Evaluation), we analyze a building in real‑world operation. The goal is to assess how well the building’s technical systems perform and to identify potential improvements. This helps maintain or increase the long‑term value of the property. Above all, we address key questions: Do occupants feel comfortable and satisfied? Do the systems operate as intended, and do they consume or generate the expected amount of energy? What can be optimized? To answer these questions, we use a combination of long‑term monitoring, on‑site measurements, surveys, and targeted interviews.

We support owners in reaching their sustainability certification goals, beginning with early evaluations of the feasibility of different certifications, advising on what’s appropriate, and deciding on the right target for each project. We support the certification process for a variety of certifications, including ILFI Zero Energy, Zero Carbon, CORE, Living Building (petal or full certification), LEED, WELL, DGNB (Germany), CaGBC Zero Carbon (Canada), and more. In some cases we work with long-term partners to support detailed administration of the certification process.

We help identify potential funding sources, primarily by recommending state or federal energy efficiency grants or tax incentives. We provide technical support when applying for these programs, such as required whole building energy models or explanations of the strategies and technologies applied on the project.

Low‑Tech focuses on robust, easy‑to‑use, and user‑centered solutions as an alternative to overly complex and failure‑prone building systems. It does not mean avoiding technology, but applying it thoughtfully and context‑specifically, with a focus on comfort, durability, and intuitive operation. We advise on Low‑Tech strategies that enable short commissioning phases, reduce long‑term maintenance risks, and increase user acceptance and spatial quality — especially for existing buildings.

We provide energy planning for campuses, neighborhoods, and city districts, including comparison of both thermal (heating/cooling) and electricity generation, storage, and distribution options. We focus on the interaction with buildings, and how building efficiency influences the choice of options – a perspective often missed by traditional utility engineering. We also study system dynamics, and how both building design and energy storage can change load profiles, especially reducing peak loads and resulting system size.

Institutional owners and real estate portfolio managers need to plan for a zero carbon future now. What actions have the most impact on their carbon emissions today? Which actions might be combined with planned renovation projects? We define scenarios, help owners understand their options for reaching their carbon emissions goals, ultimately deciding on a roadmap for implementation or framework for ongoing decision-making.

We provide detailed engineering analysis, test measurements, surveys, and more for funded research projects in our areas of expertise. This work is often in collaboration with universities or non-profit research agencies.