Sustainable Construction Consultancy

Ecos has a track record offering consultancy to a range of organisations and professionals.

If you are a homeowner and you need help making your home more sustainable please click Ecos Renew

Ecos offers a comprehensive range of consultancy services based on our extensive knowledge base built up over ten years of advising architects, clients, developers, housing associations, local authorities and others on sustainable construction and direct experience of building and refurbishing our own award-winning sustainable developments, including one of the first Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 developments in the country.

We advise on all sizes of developments, ranging from individual buildings to sustainable neighbourhoods and urban extensions.

For further information or to discuss contact 01458 259400 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    Please  Click here to download the Ecos Consultancy brochure

Recent work

• East Devon District Council and South Hams District Council
  

Advice and support to the local authorities on sustainable construction for two proposed new mixed-use urban extensions of nearly 8,500 homes, including helping them develop sustainable construction policies and the supporting evidence base, reviewing the developers’ sustainability strategies for them, acting as an expert advisor during their discussions with the developers and their sustainability consultant.

• Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA)

A project looking at locally produced sustainable construction materials in the Greater Exmoor area, including a materials audit and usability assessment, analysis of any barriers and opportunities, supply chain development and production of a locally produced sustainable construction materials directory.

• TQ9 Partnership

As sustainability consultants for a proposed mixed-use development of up to 250 homes, a retirement village and offices and other commercial buildings we prepared a sustainability statement to accompany the planning application for the development.

Past clients include:

Blackdown Hills AONB, Bridport Property Trust, Countryside Commission, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Development Trusts Association, Devon County Council, Energy Saving Trust (EST), Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Little Keyford Developments, Moose Roper Developments, North Somerset Council, Raglan Housing Association, Renewable Energy 4 Devon (RE4D), Somerset College for Arts and Technology, South Hams District Council, South Somerset Homes, South West Climate Change Impact Partnership (SWCCIP), Surrey County Council, SW Co-op Housing Society, Town & Country Planning Association (TCPA).

We can advise on a wide range of sustainable construction issues, including:

• Low and zero-carbon buildings• Meeting the Code for Sustainable Homes• Sustainable building costs• Waste management and minimisation• Renewable energy technologies

• Meeting policy requirements• Maximising energy and water efficiency• Rainwater harvesting• Green roofs• Using and sourcing sustainable and reclaimed materials

• Sustainable timber• Orientation and passive solar design• Timber-frame construction• Natural insulation products• Ecological landscaping

Click here to download the Ecos Consultancy brochure

Introducing our Consultants

Charles Couzens - (BA MA Environmental Management) is Executive Director of Ecos and a specialist in sustainable development. He is also a director of Ecos Homes, Wessex Reinvestment Society and Regen SW. Formerly an environmental manager in the public and third sector and an advisor to local authorities and regional development agencies on sustainable regeneration initiatives for urban and rural development.

Gareth Walton - is Director of the Devon Sustainable Building Initiative (DSBI) and has extensive knowledge of national, regional and local sustainable construction policies. He has provided advice to a number of local planning authorities: reviewing developers’ sustainability strategies, helping develop sustainable construction policies, embedding sustainable construction into design guides, acting as an expert advisor during discussions with developers and developing a sustainable construction evidence base. Other recent work includes a sustainable construction skills needs analysis and an assessment of the demand for onsite renewable energy in Devon over the next 20 years. Gareth also organises highly successful seminars, training events and conferences on various sustainable construction topics.

Tom Heel - Was Project Manager for Ecos Homes and is experienced in the practical implementation of sustainable construction projects. He was responsible for ensuring compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes, incorporation of sustainable materials and technologies and managing their cost and programme implications. He managed the continued development of Ecos’ sustainable supply chain and the introduction of contractors to new materials and techniques. Tom has also worked as a private developer in mainstream building contracting and commercial property, with a specific interest in sustainable construction.

Julian Brooks - (BSc Hons Environmental Studies) is a Director of Brooks Devlin, Environmental Design Consultants. Julian is one of the most experienced consultants in this field. He has provided sustainable construction advice to major developers and housebuilders as well as a number of local authorities. He has been appointed to the UK Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Task Force and advises the Energy Saving Trust on the market for sustainable homes. He is a Code for Sustainable Homes assessor and a renewable energy advisor.