Sustainable Architecture

Corporate Carbon Footprint Asssustainable Architecture & Eco-friendly Design Solutionsessment

Our sustainable architecture services focus on designing buildings and infrastructure that minimize environmental impact, utilize green technologies, and create healthy living spaces. We emphasize energy efficiency, resource conservation, and innovative design to achieve green building certifications.

Green Building Certification

ESAC GROUP has taken pride in its commitment to customer satisfaction, with the variety of 3 & 4 Pearl rated projects and LEED platinum projects delivered.

ESTIDAMA

Estidama is a holistic framework created by Urban Planning Council – Abu Dhabi as a vision of sustainability for new developments in the Emirate with four angles; environmental, social, economic and cultural.

MOSTADAM

MOSTADAM is the sustainability regulation used to govern all construction projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

LEED

LEED is the most recognized and widely used green building rating system in the world offered by US Green Building Council. LEED offers buildings an opportunity to be certified based on their building operation’s actual performance.

WELL

A global rating system that recognizes buildings designed and constructed to support the health and well-being of their occupants. WELL certification evaluates the performance of buildings toward sustainability, health, and well-being

BREEAM

BREEAM is the world’s leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for sustainable built environment.

DUBAI SA’FAT

An abstract concept or mental impression Al Sa’fat is the sustainability regulation used to govern all construction projects within the Emirate of Dubai.

Building Commissioning And Performance Evaluation

01 Daylighting Analysis

Assessing the natural lighting within a building to
maximize its use, reduce reliance on artificial lighting, and enhance
occupant well-being and productivity.

02 Thermal Comfort Analysis

Evaluating and optimizing the thermal environment within buildings to ensure occupant comfort without compromising on energy efficiency. Strategies may include adjustments to HVAC settings, insulation improvements, and passive solar design.

03 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing

Assessing and improving the quality of indoor air to enhance occupant comfort and health. This service includes monitoring CO2 levels, humidity, particulates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

04 Performance Contracting and Monitoring

Implementing measures to monitor and verify the performance of building systems against designed benchmarks. This includes ongoing performance contracting to ensure that energy savings are maintained over time.

Energy Audits and Assessments

Detailed evaluations of a building's energy use with recommendations for improvement. These audits help identify areas where energy efficiency can be enhanced, leading to reduced operational costs and lower environmental impact.

Retro-Commissioning

Similar to commissioning, but applied to existing buildings to improve their operational efficiency by identifying and fixing problems that have developed over time. This service ensures that aging infrastructure can meet current and future sustainability standards.

Building Commissioning

A systematic process that ensures all building systems are designed, installed, tested, and capable of operating according to the owner's operational requirements. This includes HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and renewable energy systems to guarantee energy efficiency and optimal performance.

Eco-friendly Construction Material Selection And Sourcing

Acknowledge The Environmental Impact

Understand the negative effects of traditional construction on ecosystems, particularly from overusing resources like sand.

Adopt Sustainable Materials

Shift towards using eco-friendly materials such as ready-mix plasters and tile adhesive cement, which conserve natural resources.

Choose Certified Suppliers

Partner with suppliers that have sustainability certifications (e.g., GRIHA, IGBC GreenPro) to ensure the use of sustainable materials.

Implement Green Practices

Embrace environmentally friendly construction practices to minimize carbon footprint and promote sustainable development.

Evaluate Material Impact

Shift towards using eco-friendly materials such as ready-mix plasters and tile adhesive cement, which conserve natural resources.

Select Sustainable Criteria

Prioritize materials based on renewability, energy efficiency, recyclability, and low toxicity.

Opt For Durable Materials

Choose durable, low-maintenance materials to enhance long-term sustainability.

Conduct Cost-benefit Analysis

Recognize that the benefits of ecofriendly materials often outweigh initial higher costs.

Use Biodegradable And Non-toxic Materials

Incorporate materials that are environmentally friendly and promote healthy living spaces.

Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement

01 Assessment

Assessment to understand the current indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and identify areas for improvement. This includes evaluating the building’s ventilation system, air quality, temperature and thermal comfort, and damp and humidity levels.

02 Source Control

Eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. This can be achieved by sealing or enclosing sources like asbestos, adjusting gas stoves to decrease emissions, or using natural ventilation to dilute indoor airborne pollutants.

03 Improved Ventilation

Increasing the amount of outdoor air in the building can lower the concentrations of indoor air pollutants. This can be done through natural ventilation, mechanical means such as outdoor air intakes associated with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, or through infiltration.

04 Continous Motivation & Automation

Continuously monitoring Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and maintaining ventilation systems are essential for a healthy indoor environment. Furthermore, automating climate controls for efficiency and enhancing natural lighting can significantly improve indoor environmental C quality, ensuring productivity and well-being.

sustainable Site And Landscape Design

Maintain and Protect Valuable Stands of Vegetation

This involves preserving and protecting existing vegetation to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health.

01

02 Minimize Impacts of Run-off to Adjacent Water Bodies

Implement practices to reduce the negative effects of run-off on nearby water bodies, such as using permeable surfaces and green infrastructure to manage stormwater.

Reduce Contribution to the Urban Heat Island Effect

Utilize appropriate landscape materials, minimize paved and impermeable surfaces, and reduce energy consumption to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve thermal comfort

03 Restore the Health of Degraded Urban Sites

Implement strategies to rehabilitate degraded urban sites, enhancing their ecological value and functionality

04 Reduce Water Consumption and Protect Water Body Quality

Implement waterefficient landscaping practices and measures to safeguard the quality of water bodies in the vicinity.

05 Encourage Access to Public Transportation and Facilitate Non-Motorized Commuting

Promote sustainable transportation options by designing landscapes that support public transit use and non-motorized commuting, such as walking and cycling.

06 Interdisciplinary Design ollaboration:

Foster interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals involved in the project from the outset to maximize the project’s sustainability potential and ensure all aspects are considered from the beginning.

07 Early Involvement of Landscape Architect

Ensure the landscape architect is involved early in the design process to capitalize on opportunities and integrate sustainable site design principles effectively.

08 Compliance with Regulations and Laws

Adhere to city, state, and federal regulations and laws governing site design to ensure compliance and address specific requirements related to sustainable design practices.

09 Creation and Maintenance of Open Site Areas

Emphasize the importance of creating and maintaining open site areas with native or adapted vegetation to enhance 0 biodiversity, ecosystem services, and overall sustainability

10 Lifecycle Analysis And Resource Optimization

By using LCA and resource optimization principles, ESAC GROUP can create buildings that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally friendly and socially responsible. These principles can help architects make informed decisions about materials, energy use, and design strategies, ultimately reducing the building’s overall environmental footprint.

Lifecycle analysis (LCA) is a method used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or service throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal or recycling. Architects can use LCA to design more sustainable buildings by considering the environmental performance of different systems and strategies in their projects. LCA can provide architects with valuable information and insights to support their design decisions, help identify hotspots and trade-offs, optimize the balance between environmental, economic, and social aspects, and communicate the environmental benefits of their design to clients, stakeholders, and users.

Resource optimization is a principle that aims to minimize excess materials and energy consumption during construction, resulting in cost savings and reduced waste. This can be achieved through precise planning and technology, as well as the use of recycled, reclaimed, or locally sourced materials. Design for deconstruction is also an important aspect of resource optimization, as it ensures that buildings are designed with the end in mind, making it easier to disassemble and recycle components at the end of their lifecycle, rather than sending them to landfills.

Building Retrofit And Energy Efecincy Enhancement

Energy Assessment / Audit

Evaluating The Building's Energy Performance, Identifying Energy-consuming Systems, And Quantifying Energy Use And Costs

Retrofit Planning and Design

Based on the energy assessment results, a retrofit plan is developed, which outlines the specific energy-saving measures to be implemented. This plan includes a cost-benefit analysis, identifying the most cost-effective measures, and determining the return on investment

Implementation

This involves the actual installation of the energy-saving measures identified in the retrofit plan. This may include upgrading lighting systems, improving insulation, installing energy-efficient HVAC systems, and implementing renewable energy technologies

Monitoring and Evaluation

After the retrofit, it's essential to monitor and evaluate the energy savings achieved. This step involves tracking energy use, costs, and savings, and verifying that the retrofit measures are performing as expected

Continuous Improvement

Building energy efficiency is an ongoing process. After the initial retrofit, it's essential to continue monitoring energy use, identifying new opportunities for energy savings, and implementing additional measures as needed