GreenWorks Studio

Services // Projects

Our Mission

The mission of GreenWorks Studio is to use our professional skills to help our clients plan sustainable land use and urban environments, design high performance buildings that minimize carbon emissions, energy and water use and create higher user productivity in a healthy environment for all those who use it. In particular, we assist clients to achieve the goal of net zero energy use over the life of the building, a zero carbon footprint and the lowest possible water use.

Our Services

GreenWorks Studio offers a unique set of consulting services to help our clients plan sustainable land use and urban environments; design high performance buildings that minimize carbon emissions, energy and water use; and create higher user productivity in a healthy environment for all those who use it. In particular, we assist clients to achieve the goal of net zero energy use over the life of their building, a zero carbon footprint and the lowest possible water use.

We design buildings to work with nature not against it, to use energy efficiently instead of wasting it and to give back to the environment rather than take from it. Our staff consists of architects, engineers and building scientists who are committed to bio-climatic design and exploring every opportunity to take advantage of passive and low energy solutions. We combine our design experience with rigorous analysis using state-of-the-art building simulation tools.

Zero Net Energy and Grid Neutral Design

We are industry leaders in developing strategies for: reducing energy consumption, using on-site renewable energy, enhancing occupant comfort, minimizing the operational carbon footprint and reducing life cycle costs.

High Performance Technology Consulting

We evaluate potential energy savings through the use of advanced technologies in the areas of: thermal storage, displacement ventilation, radiant heating and cooling systems, high efficiency lighting and plug load controls.

Measurement and Verification Techniques

We can assist with setting up systems to facilitate economical and ongoing measurement of building systems and climatic conditions. This data can then be used to identify and diagnose building systems performance.

Energy Benchmarking and Modeling

We help to set performance goals and to collect data from existing buildings and industry databases to create a building energy model to study the effects of alternative configurations, technologies and operational profiles.

Energy Master Planning

Working with the entire project team we can assist in developing an energy-use oriented space program analysis. This analysis develops profiles for occupant, lighting, plug and process loads based upon schedules and densities.

Sustainable Design Workshops

We facilitate sustainable design workshops for project teams to help them to select the appropriate best practices for their projects. Our integrated coaching process educates the entire project team and builds consensus.

Daylighting & Solar Shading Analysis

We use solar modeling software to run an analysis from the design team’s BIM model, giving them the information needed to design on-site solar renewable energy systems and solutions to manage heat gain and access to daylight.

Building Commissioning Services

Our team provides commissioning plan and peer review services through the design phases which then continues during construction to facilitate pre-occupancy testing of building systems assuring they will operate as intended.

Detailed Climate Analysis

We evaluate the hourly, daily, monthly and seasonal climatic information essential to developing strategies for low energy usage, natural ventilation, free cooling, geothermal and passive solar measures.

Analysis for Natural Ventilation

We develop CFD models to analyze airflow profiles that can be used to test alternative building configurations leading to a systems control strategy to maximize the beneficial aspects of achievable natural ventilation.

Projects

GUIDING A BUILDING’S PERFORMANCE The path to sustainability and high performance is a unique partnership in each project. Our team provides the appropriate processes and strategies to facilitate project team expertise to assure the achievement of long-term goals. We have the knowledge and experience to improve the environmental and economic performance of projects and to help organizations realize their sustainable goals.

• Southern California Edison - Multiple Net Zero Energy Studies
• West Branch Library, Berkeley - Net Zero Energy Design
• Lake View Terrace Branch Library
• Ford Rouge Visitor Center
• Charles H. Kim Elementary School
• A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center
• Sun Valley Branch Library
• Wentworth Commons
• UCSB Graduate Student Housing
• Hertzberg-Davis Regional Forensic Science Institute
• City of Chicago, Household Materials Collection, Recycling and Training Center
• Oak Park Joint-Use Library
• Los Angeles Police Administration Building
• Fetzer Center for Renewal
• Mothers’ Club Family Learning Center