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Thermal and environmental design

Thermal and environmental studies that inform design decisions, from the first sketches to the consolidated design.

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Bbio the bioclimatic demand of the RE2020, covering heating, cooling and lighting: it follows from the shape of the building, its envelope and its openings, before any plant is chosen DH the degree-hours of summer discomfort of the RE2020: how long the periods of discomfort last, and how severe they are Ic construction the climate impact of the building components and of the construction site, over the whole life cycle of the building

Orientation, compactness, envelope, glazed areas and solar shading act directly on the energy demand and the comfort of the building.

The RE2020 applies to new buildings. After housing, offices and school buildings, its scope has covered, in mainland France and since 1 May 2026, specific tertiary-sector buildings and industrial and craft buildings : thirteen further building types, among them hotels, retail premises, healthcare facilities, sports facilities and air terminals. The list is exhaustive, and what triggers it is the date the building permit or prior declaration was filed. We work with the design team on the analysis of these parameters, then run the calculations and the simulations each stage of the project calls for. The scope · the RE2020 indicators

NESW
Drawing a building together with its surroundings is the bioclimatic approach: the path of the sun, the shading cast by the site and the orientation of the façades decide the winter gains, the summer overheating and the daylight available inside. These choices are made on the plan, before any plant is sized.

Our work, stage by stage

The earlier an option is studied, the more room there is to improve the project.

  1. Esquisse (concept design)

    First simulations and the architectural concept

    Orientation, compactness, openings, envelope, daylight, comfort, and the first energy and carbon balances.

  2. APS (outline design)

    Comparing the options and making the trade-offs

    Simulation of the architectural and technical options, with analysis of energy use, comfort and environmental performance.

  3. APD (developed design)

    Performance consolidated

    RE2020 calculations, thermal simulation, life cycle assessment, daylight, and assessment of the systems selected.

  4. PRO · DCE (technical design)

    The targets written into the project documents

    Performance requirements set out, critical points identified, and technical support for the review of tenders.

  5. Réception (handover)

    Checking the building against the studies

    Control of the main characteristics as built, against the assumptions used in the calculations and simulations.

Esquisse, APS, APD, PRO-DCE and Réception are the French design stages. They run from concept design to handover, and correspond broadly to RIBA stages 2 to 6.

Our studies

Bioclimatic analysis and design support

Analysis of the choices of form, orientation, envelope and openings from the earliest stages of the project, to establish what each one does to the energy demand and to comfort.

RE2020 regulatory calculation

Calculation of the bioclimatic demand, the regulated energy consumption, summer comfort and the life cycle assessment, at each design stage.

Dynamic thermal and energy simulation

Hour-by-hour modelling of the thermal behaviour of the building over a full year, from occupancy scenarios built for the project. Dynamic thermal simulation, STD in France and SED when the whole energy balance is modelled, compares design options, studies summer comfort and explains the behaviour of an existing building.

Summer comfort and overheating risk

Assessment of how often discomfort occurs and how severe it is, then a comparison of the levers available: solar shading, thermal mass, night ventilation and cooling.

Daylight

Calculation of the daylight factor and of the dynamic daylight autonomy indicators, together with an analysis of the risk of glare.

Label bâtiment biosourcé (bio-based building label)

Calculation of the bio-based material content built into the building, and preparation of the technical evidence required for the application.

BREEAM and HQE technical studies

BREEAMHQE

We carry out, in English and in French, the technical studies required for BREEAM New Construction V7, BREEAM In-Use and HQE Bâtiment durable. The reports are structured so that the team running the certification can use them as they stand.

25 points of the BREEAM New Construction V7 score can be reached through the technical studies we carry out, under the French weightings

For a Very Good rating, where the threshold is 55%, those 25 points are close to half the score. They fall in seven issues: Mat 01, Ene 02, Hea 01, Ene 01, Hea 05, Ene 04 and Man 02. Our calculation · the weight of each issue

Bar length: the weight of each issue in the score, under the French weightings. The credits in detail

Issue by issue

The studies are carried out for the team that runs the certification. We do not act as a licensed assessor.

Method

Setting the targets

Identification of the regulatory requirements, of the client’s environmental targets, and of the main technical, architectural and economic constraints of the project.

Modelling the project

The model is built from the data available and from the level of definition the project has actually reached at that stage.

Comparing options

The options are compared on a common basis, so that their effect on the indicators studied can be measured.

Performance requirements

The choices made are written into the project documents as technical criteria that can be measured and checked.

Further reading

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