Climate Analysis
Understanding the local climate is key to designing a highly performing urban setting. By using historic weather databased on the project location, we develop an in-depth report of the climate on site, along with broad guidelines and recommendations on how to approach an energy efficient and comfortable design. This allows collaborating designers and planners to carefully assess their project potential from the very first stages of the design process. Accounting for the climate in the design process will reduce the energy demand and hence the operational cost of the final product.
Bloc consultants aim to provide economically feasible energy concepts that minimize the impact of the project on the environment. We focus on identifying synergies and hybrid systems that lead to a unified end product inducing cost savings. By using a conscious approach to energy and building components; energy consumption and emissions are reduced over the entire project lifecycle. We present our clients and fellow architects with geometric and material recommendations while conserving the building’s architectural character.
Energy Concept
Renewable Energy Potential
Our engineers are always up to speed with the latest technical and economic developments of renewable energy technologies. By analyzing the climate and surroundings of the building, we attempt to capture and generate energy from natural resources to minimize the consumption of traditional energy carriers. Understanding the local climate aids in sizing the building and district systems.
Water Concept
Our founders regard water to be one of the greatest current and future global challenges. We believe that architecture should not only be energy efficient but should also incorporate water saving strategies. The reuse of grey water is a perfect example of how to reduce water consumption. Grey water systems can vary in design and complexity based on the end use of the water. Our strategy at bloc aims to provide our customers with the simplest and most cost-effective system design.
Indoor and Outdoor Comfort Analysis
Strategies for high thermal comfort in outdoor and indoor areas increase social conviviality and overall quality of life in living spaces. At bloc, we use state of the art International standards and tools to assess comfort while reducing energy consumption. Comfort analysis predicts the satisfaction of users with the space given certain thermal and physical conditions. By testing different situations, we are able to devise solutions to ensure the most favorable comfort conditions for the users.
Dynamic thermal simulations allow us to predict with high accuracy buildings performance in the different design stages. Based on the weather data and building properties, we are able to evaluate indoor conditions and comfort levels. This enables us to assess different design measures and to choose the best-fitting scenarios for the project at hand. Through this procedure, not only are we able to develop guidelines for the building properties, but also select and size energy efficient building systems in order to achieve optimum results.
Thermal Analysis
Daylight Analysis
Daylight studies help us understand the distribution of natural light within building spaces. Achieving adequate daylight requirements ensures a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. By choosing the appropriate window to wall ratio, shading and glazing properties, we are able to optimize indoor lighting conditions while minimizing the electricity demand.
Outdoor radiation studies can be applied on a building or urban scale. The resulting radiation maps help identify critical points which encounter great solar and heat stress. In hot climates these locations require shading, whereas in cold climates these points are favorable. In both cases, these locations are perfect for solar harnessing and energy production.