Services
Energy Code Consulting
With energy codes rapidly getting more complex, new energy requirements coming into place continuously and jurisdictions moving towards net zero carbon and energy goals by 2030, it is more important than ever to clearly understand the energy code requirements from the earliest steps of a project.
reLoad’s team of experienced energy engineers are well versed in the various energy codes, whether it’s for rezoning, building permits, green building requirements, district energy, or step code. We have a deep understanding of ASHRAE, NECB, and step code applications. We map out the energy codes and targets applicable to your project, lay out the requirements for each permit stage, explain what design implications exist, and clarify a path forward from concept through to project completion, finding synergies and alignments to deliver project energy efficiency through to the final design.
Energy Modeling
reLoad’s approach is to use energy modeling as a tool to provide value to each project we work on. We truly believe in a process where energy modeling is completed to provide design guidance as an integrated part of project delivery, rather than a just a point on a check list. We are known for the value we bring to the team, using an energy model with a collaborative and communicative methodology to guide the trajectory of a project to energy reduction success. We work collaboratively with the full project design team to test options and provide recommendations based on efficiency and cost-benefit scenarios.
LCA & Embodied Carbon
Our communities are being impacted by climate change and reduced carbon emissions from buildings are key to mitigate the worst effects. reLoad’s team of professionals can put the whole-building carbon picture in perspective. We conduct Life Cycle Assessments focused on embodied carbon to support projects in using lower embodied carbon materials, design strategies, and construction methods to help mitigate climate change.
Policy and regulatory frameworks are rapidly changing in response to the climate crisis. We have expertise in guiding teams through design standards such as the Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Design by CaGBC, LEED, Living Building Challenge, and jurisdictional low carbon requirements for buildings. We can assist in taking your project to near or net-zero carbon emissions with our holistic approach on strategic design guidance.
Passive Design
reLoad believes that each building project should be approached from a “passive first” principle. A view where every kWh saved is the cheapest and most sustainable path that we should aspire for in all of our buildings and communities. reLoad’s passive design toolbox includes a deep understanding of passive strategies and technical experience ranging from building science, thermal comfort, and the importance and complexities of designing for daylight. We use a mix of technical resources and software to ensure a design uses its environment to its greatest potential.
Climate Adaptation & Resilience
As our climate warms, policy and regulatory frameworks are increasingly recognizing the need to study overheating in buildings. Using state of the art modelling software and future predicted climate data, we can predict, design, and optimize for the thermal comfort of building occupants. At reLoad we pride ourselves in being able to bring the full picture to overheating studies including implications on building life-cycle costing, occupant comfort, and ventilation.
reLoad formed part in a 2020 task force, initiated and led by the BC Health Authorities, to advise on future climate data implementation and design strategies for new facilities. The combined works led to the Climate Resilience Guide for BC Health Facility Planning and Design V1.1, 2020.
Whole Systems Design
Building performance is an integral part of community sustainability, resilience planning, and the health of human and ecological systems. We can’t think of buildings or systems in isolation. A truly successful project considers the synergies within its program and surrounding ecology while aligning technical solutions to tread as lightly on the environment as possible. Water, energy and waste are three succinct technical metrics where co-existence should be explored. reLoad’s team is unique in its experience, thinking about projects as a piece contributing to a whole-system of a larger network. reLoad’s Martina Soderlund is a Regenerative Practitioner™, and through a strategic collaboration with Archineers, our team provides clients with truly performance-based design strategies for water, energy and waste systems. We explore connection points from the technical system side with social sustainability and education at its core.