ndesign consulting engineers

 

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Sustainable design

ndesign is committed to preventing the waste of our earths natural resources. To this end we have our own sustainable policy and implement sustainable measures within all our designs.

 

We have extensive experience with Part L compliance for both new and existing buildings. For residential schemes we have experience of ECOHOMES assessments as well as the new CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING - we are currently providing advice for achieving level 3, 4 and 6 compliance on a number of schemes.

 

For commercial we have experience working on a variety of BREEAM projects including offices and schools. We are able to assist on a number of sections of BREEAM within the Energy, Health and Wellbeing and Pollution modules. We can assist the design team by assisting in the design process to maximise the building potential in obtaining credits and provide the supporting evidence. Ultimately this leads to a more sustainable building.

 

Through our software, we are able to carry out dynamic thermal modelling which is of importance when carrying out sustainable design. We can accurately calculate day lighting, solar gains, and the general thermal performance of the building and systems enabling us to optimise the building to gain the best energy efficiency.

 

 

ndesign has engineers who are registered as LOW CARBON CONSULTANTS with the CIBSE, a scheme supported by the Carbon Trust.  Registered Low Carbon Consultants (LCCs) are construction professionals that have demonstrated extra skills and abilities to be able to deliver more energy efficient buildings, both new and existing. Please refer to the section below.

 

Each project is different and therefore low energy solutions will be individual for each building.  ndesign endeavours to work with the client and the design team to include such systems that will work within the building design and the clients expectations.  Whether simple heat recovery on ventilation systems or a full scale combined heat and power scheme, ndesign will look at the options for the building and propose suitable schemes.

 

Sustainable or low energy design does not have to mean high capital costs, ndesign believes that simple low cost measures can be introduced into any design to reduce energy consumption. ndesign has worked on private large district heating biomass schemes down to small scale energy reduction measures for implementation into schools through a scheme by a local county council. 

 

For a new building we believe that for sustainability to work and to achieve the optimum energy effectiveness, the principles need to be integrated at the beginning of the project and implemented by all members of the design team.

 

At ndesign we try to implement sustainable measures within our own practice - from simple measures such as turning off computers and lights, turning down the heating controls, to recycling and using recycled products, and distributing information electronically. 

 

Low carbon consultancy

Low Carbon Consultants are an essential part of a design team and essential to the efficient operation of buildings. They take design and building management beyond minimum standards of energy efficient design and operation.

Low Carbon Consultants on the register can confirm compliance with the Building Regulations, particularly Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) for buildings other than dwellings.

Members of the Low Carbon Consultants Register are professionals with demonstrated competence to deliver buildings which exceed minimum standards of energy efficient design and operation and to confirm compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations.

Accredited members of the register are also able to provide Energy Performance Certificates. As accredited members, we are able to offer the full range of certificates for levels 3, 4 and 5.

Benefits to Clients

Low Carbon Consultants skills cover design for energy efficiency and conservation, low carbon and renewable technologies, and passive design. They can also provide the information needed to manage the building and ensure that it continues to perform to its design intent after handover.

As a client you should seek a Low Carbon Consultant from the Register if:

  • You want a new building designed to the conservation of fuel and power specifications of the Building Regulations Part L (2006).
  • You want a building that exceeds minimum standards of energy performance and significant savings in running costs.
  • You are undertaking refurbishment of an existing building to the extent that it falls under the requirements of the conservation of fuel and power specifications of the Building Regulations Part L (2006).

Low carbon Consultants can liaise with Local Authority Building Control to ensure that your plans and later on your building complies with Part L of the Building Regulations.

Help for Building Control Officers

Members of the Low Carbon Consultants Register are professionals with demonstrated competence to deliver buildings which exceed minimum standards of energy efficient design and operation and to confirm compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations.

The CIBSE Low Carbon Consultant scheme is an approved scheme by the DCLG as a Part L Competent Persons scheme. For more information see CIBSE website.

Registered Low Carbon Consultants have the expertise and qualification to provide services relating to Part L. This register, developed by CIBSE and supported by the Carbon Trust, trains and examines professionals in the construction industry to design and operate to Part L standards and beyond.

LCCs use robust and auditable checking methods to ensure compliance under Part L and beyond and cover all five criteria in the approved documents, not just the national calculation method in isolation.

As a Building Control Officer you can accept information from a Low Carbon Consultant with confidence in its accuracy because:

  • they have passed a rigorous examination covering the requirements of Part L (ADL2A and ADL2B) of the Building Regulations
  • they use specific auditable checking procedures to establish Part L compliance
  • their work will be monitored by CIBSE
  • they have signed and operate to a code of conduct that requires them to work only within their sphere of professional competence
  • they are undertaking further training as a condition of remaining on the Register