Ambient Energy & Environment / Services / Ecohomes

Ecohomes

EcoHomes is a standard method for assessing the design of dwellings in relation to environmental performance. The scheme can be used to set standards of performance for new housing as part of the brief or tender documents, and can also be used to assess the performance of design proposals.

Ambient has licensed assessors available to assess schemes across the UK. Our assessors provide guidance to the design team throughout the assessment process, ensuring that the highest possible rating is achieved, whilst managing cost and risk.

Scope of Services

Ambient offers a full Certification with Design Review service to ensure schemes achieve the highest Ecohomes ratings.

Ambient's Approach

  1. An assessor will attend a Design Review meeting with the design team to review the proposed design and to run through opportunities for improving its performance and EcoHomes rating. The meeting will review the Ecohomes criteria and identify whether the current design proposals would meet them. Where they would not, advice will be given on the most cost-effective method of doing so.

  2. A provisional rating document will be produced detailing which credits are likely to be achieved and which could potentially be achieved. A likely and potential EcoHomes rating will be estimated. This document will include guidance in the form of standard specification clauses, design advice, etc

  3. Ambient can offer more detailed input to the scheme's design. This would be tailored to the individual scheme, but could include the following:

    • Energy calculations
    • Daylight calculations
    • Selection of materials and products including sustainable timber, water conservation measures etc.

  4. The EcoHomes worksheets will be distributed at the Design Review meeting. Once complete, Ambient will then determine the scheme's rating. A summary of the current rating will be returned to the design team along with suggested actions for improvement. The client can then decide if they wish to follow up any of the additional credits.

  5. A certification report will be produced and sent to BRE, the BRE then issue an EcoHomes certificate to the client.

In order to discuss a specific project and gain an overview of the likely BREEAM rating a specific scheme will achieve contact Ambient at info@aeeuk.com or call 0114 266 5704.