What we do

Sustainability consultancy

Ridge considers the impact of all its designs on the environment and has achieved ISO14001 environmental accreditation Our multi disciplinary team can provide as much or as little project advice as you require including thermal modelling, cost in use, comparison exercises and general environmental consultancy.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

Ridge has provided EPC for a large number of commercial clients. We have 4 EPC assessors on our staff, all accredited by the CIBSE to produce EPCs using Hevacomp as the approved calculation tool.

Display Energy Certificates (DEC)

DEC are only required for publicly accessed buildings, and our assessors have provided DECs for a variety of clients within the public and education sector.

Air Conditioning System Inspections

AC system inspections are required for all systems over 250kW output. Our experience gained through providing these has shown that many buildings have the potential for large energy savings to be made with respect to AC systems.

Energy Audits

Ridge has a wide experience of providing energy audits for clients across a number of sectors. Whilst each audit would be tailored to match the client's specific needs, our approach includes the following elements:

Identification of high energy users or sectors.
Establish the potential for savings by comparison with benchmarks.
Identify practical measures to achieve the savings.
Confirm the financial case.
Select appropriate measures and equipment.
Identify any additional benefits.
Assist with the identification of grants to support the funding requirements.
Implement the measures in conjunction with the client to minimise disruption to users.
Arrange monitoring of measures to ensure that savings are achieved.

Thermal Modelling

The accurate prediction of a building's thermal performance is an increasingly important requirement. Ridge engineers are skilled in the use of IES Virtual Environment software which allows the thermal, daylight and ventilation performance of a building to be simulated and predicted.

Thermal models are used to predict a building's Part L performance and in production of Energy Performance Certificates for naturally ventilated (level 5) buildings. Ridge Engineers have a wide experience of building models for new and existing buildings, to simulate performance under as new and actual working conditions

Sustainability

BREEAM Assessment

An increasingly important part of our work load is the provision of BREEAM assessments for clients and building operators in a number of market sectors.

Ridge assessors can provide BREEAM assessments in the following areas:

Offices
Education
Higher Education
Bespoke
Communities
In Use
Code for Sustainable Homes
Operational Engineering

A number of our clients appoint Ridge to assist with the operation of the services installations within their buildings. These are diverse in nature but generally have an impact on the building's environmental performance.

Typical examples include:

An investigation of the reasons for high space temperatures in a "retirement village" building.
Monitoring the strip out and replacement of mechanical and electrical services in a building which is being re-furbished as a consequence of a structural failure.
Monitoring the compliance of maintenance contractors work when measured against specifications
Assisting two clients to understand their requirements under the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
Assisting a large local authority to assess the value of their energy management systems and to plan their replacement.

For more information please contact Andrew Greenwood or Graham Blackburn, Oxford Office. Contact us