Energy Engineering

Interface Engineering approaches each project with a proven, step-by-step strategy aimed at best occupant amenity, with the least energy consumption, cost, and pollutant generation, and intended to inform integrated design processes with energy implications of design options.

We know from long experience that Pacific Northwest projects west of the Cascades tend to use more space heating than cooling.  In most of California or the interiors of Washington and Oregon, by contrast, more energy is typically required for space cooling than heating, owing to warmer, sunnier conditions.  For each project, the building program, the site’s climate, and the energy utilities’ billing regimes impose different design constraints; Interface’s strategy is designed to respond to these constraints and make the most of available opportunities.

Wherever possible, we work closely with the design team to integrate free, passive heating cooling and lighting, and to design optimal mechanical and electrical systems that meet these needs when natural approaches cannot.  Where they are available, we assist clients in sourcing funding and tax incentives that support sustainable, energy-efficient and renewable energy design.

Energy Analysis and Building Design Tools
Interface Engineering dedicated Energy Team, has in-depth experience with a broad variety of state-of-the-art energy analysis and building design tools.   Our energy engineers examine the building program, opportunities offered by the site’s microclimate and context, and the precision needed by the design team at different stages of the design process, to identify the tools appropriate to informed design decisions.  Four computer simulation tools form the core of our toolkit:

• ENERGY-10
• TRACE 700
• eQUEST
• TAS