Net Zero Consultancy Progress Through Design
DB3 Net Zero Offering
With the construction industry currently contributing to over 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint, we at DB3 strive to take a hold of our responsibility as architects and engineers in achieving the UK’s Net Zero targets through the work we do.
As such, DB3 Group have combined our existing expertise and services under the new umbrella known as DB3 Net Zero.
Net zero carbon buildings should have much lower annual energy demands than typical existing buildings or even standard (PART L compliant) new buildings. In order to achieve this we promote reducing a building’s energy demand and reliance on fossil fuels through implementation of a fabric first approach, passive design measures and incorporation of renewable and sustainable energy sources.
Embodied carbon that is associated with the building materials and installed building services including the production, transportation, installation on site, replacement, demolition and disposal stages must also be considered.
The aim of our Net Zero service is simple – helping you to deliver low and zero carbon projects that make a real impact on our planet.
Road to Net Zero
We focus on passive design measures and a “fabric first” approach, leading to overall energy efficiency and quality in construction. The energy that is not required for a building’s operation and maintenance in the first place, whether new build or retrofit, is the greenest energy of all!
With existing buildings, a detailed survey will highlight whether retrofitting instead of demolishing and re-building is the best option.
For new projects, the first stages in achieving net zero carbon buildings involve reducing the building’s operational and embodied carbon. Followed by incorporating renewable and sustainable energy supplies and offsetting the remaining carbon, which complete your net zero journey.
DB3 Net Zero services can ensure your project achieves its journey to zero or its lowest potential carbon emissions. Our experts are here to guide and advise you on the best design practices, bespoke to the aspirational goals of your development.
Our team
The DB3 Net Zero team includes Engineers, Architects, Low Carbon Energy Assessors, Passivhaus Designers, Passivhaus Trainers and Sustainability Champions who have many years of experience in their fields.
Our DB3 Building Services Engineering team is led by Associate Director, Matt Ganley, who has over 20 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer and is also a qualified CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessor. Matt has worked on many new build and refurbishment projects that meet the client’s aspirations to reduce energy demand and consumption, improve energy efficiency and drive towards lowering overall carbon emissions.
DB3’s Sustainability Team is headed by Director, Matthew Savory, the chairperson of DB3’s Sustainability Working Group. Through his deep involvement in multiple Passivhaus and Retrofit projects, Matthew’s leadership and expertise drive our team of Sustainability experts and Passivhaus designers to consistently push the boundaries of design.
We also have Formation 3D Co-Founder, Ross Hamilton, on our team, who uses drones to deliver thermal imaging assessment services. These are used to identify possible thermal fabric deficiencies where insulation has not been installed as expected and also to review building services energy losses whereby insulation can be reviewed and advice given on improvements.
Whether your project’s target is to achieve low or zero carbon, our experts are here to guide you on your journey of reducing carbon.
This entails a detailed analysis and advice on the best decarbonisation strategy for your project, such as moving away from fossil fuels by utilising sources of renewable energy that lower carbon emissions.
DB3 CARBON SERVICES
Whole Life Carbon
Operational Carbon
Embodied Carbon
New Build vs Refurbishment Analysis
Decarbonisation
Efficiency 2
At DB3 we apply the Fabric First approach by designing buildings with a healthy indoor environment that require less energy usage in the first place. Factors such as high insulation, thermal bridge free design, airtightness and optimum mix of mechanical and natural ventilation are incorporated to ensure the buildings are as energy efficient as possible.
With existing buildings, we can provide a ‘health check’ report highlighting the performance of the building services and fabric against published benchmarks and identify the most suitable solutions that will reduce carbon emissions.
DB3 EFFICIENCY SERVICES
Energy Modelling
▫ Static
▫ Dynamic Simulation
Building Fabric Analysis
▫ U Value Calculations
▫ Thermal Bridge Calculations
Step-by-step Retrofit
Smart Building Design
Passivhaus 3
Passivhaus is a tried and tested solution that enables us to deliver net-zero-ready new and existing buildings, optimised for a decarbonised grid and augmented for occupant health and wellbeing. Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort using very little energy for heating and cooling and also can guarantee to eliminate the performance gap between design and operation.
If you are looking at developing a Passivhaus project then our Certified Passivhaus designers are at hand. We also have an inhouse qualified Passivhaus Trainer who delivers CPDs on the Passivhaus standard and methodology.
DB3 PASSIVHAUS SERVICES
Passivhaus Design
Passivhaus Pre-assessment
Enerphit
Enerphit Step-by-step
Passivhaus Training / CPDs
Passivhaus Peer Review
Wellbeing 4
Considerations of the end users’ experience of a building and its impact on their wellbeing is at the heart of our design work at DB3. With wellbeing we take into account not just health and wellbeing, but also community and social impact.
Our consultants will identify and advise on factors that have a significant impact on users’ health such as indoor air quality. We deliver projects that achieve the chosen standards and ensure that the right balance between wellbeing and the associated costs is met.
DB3 WELLBEING SERVICES
WELL Standard Design
BREEAM Standard Design
LEED Standard Design
NABERS Standard Design
Biophilic Design
Social Value Analysis
Has your project delivered the low carbon targets it set out to achieve? Our qualified assessors will evaluate and ensure that completed constructions are actually delivering.
This assessment service is not just for RIBA Stage 7 of your project but can also be utilised for older properties.
The assessment will identify the most appropriate decarbonisation actions to be taken along with ensuring buildings are operating within their design parameters to avoid excessive energy demand and consumption.
DB3 PERFORMANCE SERVICES
Thermal Imaging
▫ Building Envelope
▫ Building Services
Building Operation
▫ Building User Guide
▫ Operating Manual
Occupancy
▫ Post-occupancy Evaluation
▫ End-user Behaviour Assessment
U-value Measurement
EPC for Private Residential
Compliance 6
Our DB3 Net Zero team are fully accredited to provide energy and carbon emission calculations, Energy Performance Certificates and are ‘Low Carbon Consultants & Low Carbon Energy Assessors’ with CIBSE Certification Register
Compliance is not only essential for your reputation but on the outcome of your project. Our team will assess and ensure that your project meets all required criteria and complies with the relevant building regulations.
DB3 COMPLIANCE SERVICES
PART L Compliance
PART O Compliance
Day Light Assessment
Over-heating Assessment
Thermal Comfort Assessment
