Services We Offer

We bring together architecture, engineering and building physics to assist you through all phases of a building project - from meeting Town Planning requirements to achieving best practice voluntary certification.

Sustainable Master Planning

Sustainable Master Planning involves considering the future by integrating sustainability and regenerative strategies into all phases of a master plan.

To ensure successful sustainable project outcomes are achieved, SBE recommends that an ESD framework be developed at early concept planning design phase to guide the evolution of the master plan. This framework is then developed and refined through the planning, design, construction and operation or management phases of the project.

SBE has developed a matrix that we can use to develop a framework specific to your project. Alternatively we can use official frameworks such as One Planet Living, Sustainable Development Goals, and EnviroDevelopment to guide the project towards the desired ESD outcome.

Town Planning

An increasing number of Local Governments are requiring Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) reports to be submitted as part of the Planning Permit Application. This requirement is formalised by the Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process (SDAPP) which refers to the consistent inclusion of key environmental performance considerations into the planning permit approvals process.

SBE is experienced in providing ESD reports (also called Sustainability Management Plans and/or Sustainability Design Assessments) to the satisfaction of the Responsible Planning Authority. We complete these assessments using the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS), Green Star tools, STORM, MUSIC and other industry tools as required. As a part of these assessments we also conduct energy and daylight modelling simulations and develop Green Travel Plans.

Building Permit

Compliance with Energy Efficiency requirements of the National Construction Code is an integral part of the building permit process. Where a building is proposed to comply with Section J or Part 2.6 of the NCC two methods are generally available to meet the Performance Requirements:

SBE provides assessments following both the DTS and Performance Solution approaches. We regularly complete assessments following the JV3 and V2.6.2.2 Verification Methods, NatHERS modelling, DTS solutions, as well as specialised alternative compliance engineering calculations. As part of these assessments we actively seek to provide value-adding recommendations, optimisation measures and independent verification of contract documentation.

Voluntary Certification

Achieving third party sustainable building certification is an excellent way to demonstrate a project’s robust sustainability credentials. Certified sustainable buildings regularly outperform other non-certified buildings in social, economic and environmental indicators, and can benefit building owners by allowing them to market their assets as industry leading facilities.

SBE has extensive knowledge and experience in delivering voluntary certification services under a number of third party schemes including Green Star, LEED, WELL and the Living Building Challenge.

When working on a certification project, our staff will provide consulting services throughout the concept, planning, design and construction phases in order to guide the design team towards an holistic environmental design which achieves the client’s desired target.

Building Simulation

SBE provides a comprehensive suite of building simulation services designed to assess and optimise building performance. Some of these services include:

Depending on the project’s requirement, the results obtained from simulations can be used to compare design solutions, validate design choices, predict performance outcomes, and report performance outcomes to relevant authorities and bodies.

Building Physics

Building physics analyses the physical behaviour of buildings in their particular geographical contexts and how this impacts resource efficiency, comfort, indoor environmental quality and durability. 

SBE starts by evaluating the climatic conditions of a proposed site and then uses analytical tools and building simulation software to optimise building orientation, layout and form. As part of this process we adopt the building as a system concept which recognises the interactions between the building enclosure, the building services, its inhabitants, the site and the external environment.

This holistic analysis process allows SBE to assist design teams harmonizing the various building elements and physical mechanisms (e.g. heat flow, air flow, moisture flow and solar radiation) to create high-performing buildings.

Energy Audits

SBE is experienced in conducting energy audits of existing buildings and develop business cases to support the implementation of energy efficiency measures which can result in financial, operational and environmental benefits.

SBE offers Level 1 and 2 energy audits according to Australian/New Zealand Standard. These audits range from simple desktop studies aimed at determining whether energy use is reasonable or excessive, to more detailed audits involving both desktop and field studies aimed at identifying areas where savings may be made, recommending measures to be taken, and providing a statement of costs and potential savings.

Research

As a forward-looking company, SBE believes in taking an innovative approach to improving the environmental outcomes of the built environment. We believe that research is the key to innovation and are keen to be active in the space and further pursue our links with academia. Over the years we have been involved in a broad range of research projects to inform ESD guidelines, tools, and policies, and to broaden our understanding of ESD solutions and the built environment.

Our research ability covers a broad range of topics including materials, climate change impacts, climate adaptation, policy and ESD tool development, eco-city and smart cities, building systems and technologies, and building physics.

Some of our research projects include:

Passivehaus

At SBE we use the Passive House approach and tools to support the delivery of high-performing buildings. Whether a project aims at Passive House certification, or at maximising thermal and comfort performance, or simply understanding the impacts of particular design decisions or product selection we can assist clients achieve their goals.