💚 Human-Centric Building Design

Achieve Comfort and Sustainability with ZEB

Moving beyond energy austerity to create spaces where people thrive — comfortable, healthy, and productive.

Energy certification alone is not the goal.
We deliver buildings that prioritize occupant health and well-being.
🌱

Human Centric ZEB

From enduring energy savings to people-first comfort and health.

Philosophy

The ZEB Inc. Philosophy

We go beyond conventional ZEB certification to put people first

Conventional ZEB
🏢

Focused solely on energy balance

  • Achieving energy reduction targets is the primary goal
  • BEI compliance takes top priority
  • Occupant comfort often sacrificed
  • Health and productivity not evaluated
Our Approach
✦ ZEB Inc. Approach
🌱

Balancing comfort and environment in people-first buildings

  • Energy targets achieved as a matter of course
  • Full BEI compliance guaranteed
  • Occupant health and productivity come first
  • Sustainable energy savings without sacrifice
🏢 Corporate Perspective — Offices

Forced austerity hurts the bottom line

Uncomfortable environments cause health issues and reduced focus. Comfortable spaces boost employee retention, productivity, and directly impact profitability.

Productivity loss = Business loss
🏫 Social Perspective — Schools

Healthy children benefit everyone

Proper ventilation and humidity control prevent infections and reduce absences. Parents take fewer sick days, and healthcare costs decrease — reducing societal costs overall.

Schools as the most comfortable place → Minimized social costs
Creating comfortable spaces through ZEB is the most economically rational choice
Benefits

Three Key Benefits of ZEB

🧡

Comfort & Health

Enhanced Intellectual Productivity

Optimal thermal and lighting environments boost focus and creativity.

Improved Quality of Life

Uniform temperatures reduce stress and protect physical and mental well-being.

🌿

Environmental Harmony

Decarbonization Responsibility

Minimize CO₂ emissions and build a sustainable social foundation.

Community Resilience Hub

On-site energy generation and storage support business continuity during disasters.

📊

Economic Value

Minimized Life-Cycle Cost

Reduced utility bills dramatically compress the building’s total cost of ownership.

Premium Building Status

High BELS ratings enhance tenant appeal and asset value.

Services

Our ZEB Support Services

Comprehensive ZEB consulting for new construction and existing building retrofits

1

ZEB Feasibility Study

  • Assess existing buildings for ZEB retrofit potential including CO₂ reduction, energy savings, cost estimates, and implementation schedules
  • Identify the most cost-effective ZEB candidates from multiple buildings
2

ZEB Design Support

  • Advisory from schematic design through detailed design for ZEB compliance
  • BEI calculation using the Standard Input Method at each design stage
  • Specific equipment and specification recommendations to achieve ZEB targets
3

Energy Code Compliance & BELS

  • Energy conservation compliance assessment and BELS (ZEB) registration
  • BEI recalculation and ZEB compliance verification for design changes
  • Support during inspections and minor modifications
4

Subsidy Program Support

  • Identify optimal government subsidy programs for your project
  • End-to-end support from application preparation through final reporting
5

Commissioning & Operations

  • Verify that designed ZEB performance is achieved through construction and operations
  • BEMS implementation, energy monitoring, and ongoing optimization support
6

Seminars & Training

  • ZEB awareness seminars for stakeholders, government officials, and designers
  • Practical workshops on BEI calculation and ZEB design methodology
Technology

Engineering Excellence

High-precision simulation and performance management to guarantee real results

Building Energy Simulation

We create detailed 3D building models and run 8,760-hour annual simulations for optimal design
EnergyPlusBEST
  • Hourly simulation combining 3D building models with local weather data — 8,760 hours per year
  • Precise HVAC load calculation for each zone to optimize equipment sizing and prevent over-investment
  • Annual prediction of temperature, humidity, and energy consumption to confirm comfort and efficiency at the design stage
  • Quantified energy savings visualization for subsidy applications and stakeholder reporting

ZEB Performance Management

Ensuring designed ZEB performance is achieved and maintained from construction through operations
New ConstructionExisting Retrofit
  • Design: Review specifications and design documents for ZEB compliance
  • Construction: Recalculate BEI with every design change to maintain ZEB targets
  • Completion: Post-construction BEI verification and equipment performance testing
  • Operations: BEMS-based energy monitoring, analysis, and operational optimization
📈

Impact Visualization

Clear quantification of energy savings before and after retrofit

⚙️

Optimized Design

Right-sized equipment selection that prevents unnecessary capital expenditure

📋

Subsidy Support

High-quality documentation for government grant applications

Process

Path to ZEB Realization

Click each step to see the details

🏗 New Construction ZEB
1Planning
2Design
3Construction
4Completion
5Operations

1 Basic Planning

Decide to pursue ZEB and plan with an estimated 10% cost premium. We provide early-stage advisory on design considerations critical for ZEB achievement.

2 Design

Incorporate ZEB requirements into bid specifications. We calculate primary energy consumption (Standard Input Method) from the schematic design and propose equipment to achieve ZEB targets, verifying compliance through any design changes.

3 Construction

Verify selected equipment meets ZEB performance requirements. Recalculate BEI with every design change during construction to ensure ZEB standards are reliably maintained.

4 Completion

Obtain ZEB certification (BELS) upon completion. We handle energy code compliance submissions and BELS applications based on the final design documentation.

5 Operations

Leverage BEI input sheets and BEMS for ongoing energy monitoring, analysis, and operational optimization to sustain energy savings and CO₂ reductions over the building’s lifetime.

🔄 Existing Building ZEB Retrofit
1Feasibility
Study
2Challenge
Analysis
3Plan
Development
4Retrofit
5Comfort
Achieved

1 ZEB Feasibility Study

Thoroughly investigate the building’s current energy performance and equipment conditions. Visualize potential and challenges, including CO₂ reductions, energy cost savings, estimated retrofit costs, and economic viability — the most critical first step toward ZEB realization.

2 Challenge Analysis

Identify specific barriers including cost-effectiveness, construction constraints, and phasing requirements. Assess occupied-building retrofit feasibility, phased renovation approaches, and available subsidy programs.

3 Plan Development

Create the optimal, achievable renovation plan based on our expertise. Economic analysis comparing ZEB retrofit vs. standard renovation provides key evidence for stakeholder decision-making.

4 Retrofit Execution

Execute construction with realistic planning for occupied buildings. Prepare bid documents ensuring designed energy performance, and verify ZEB compliance is maintained through any construction changes.

5 Comfort Achieved

Verify ZEB performance is maintained in as-built documentation. Through testing and adjustment, guarantee the balance of comfort and energy savings. BEMS-based monitoring drives continuous improvement.

💡

For existing buildings, start with a ZEB Feasibility Study

By quantifying barriers and visualizing the path forward with data, we dramatically increase the likelihood of successful ZEB realization — delivering actionable plans, not paper exercises.

Clients

Selected Clients

Obayashi Corporation
Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Kurume City, Fukuoka
Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki
Kotoura Town, Tottori
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I consult even if we haven’t decided to pursue ZEB yet?

Absolutely. A feasibility study is the first step in determining whether ZEB is viable and the most realistic path forward. Simply share the building use, floor area, and location — initial consultations are free of charge.

Do you support both new construction and existing building retrofits?

Yes. For new construction, we provide advisory from the schematic design stage through BEI calculation and design support. For existing buildings, we cover the full scope from feasibility studies through design, construction-stage performance management, and operations.

How much additional cost does ZEB require?

For new construction, approximately 10% above standard costs is a typical benchmark. For existing buildings, costs vary by condition, but insulation and energy recovery ventilation enable HVAC downsizing — and life-cycle costs (LCC) are often lower than standard renovation.

Are government subsidies available?

Yes. Multiple subsidy programs from the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Education are available. We provide comprehensive support from feasibility study through application, post-award administration, inspections, and final reporting.

Can you handle only BEI calculation or design support?

Yes. We accept partial engagements — BEI calculation only, energy code compliance only, BELS application only, and more. We also provide design advisory for architects unfamiliar with ZEB and BEI recalculation for design changes.

Can retrofits be done while the building remains occupied?

Yes. Occupied-building retrofit feasibility, required closure scope, phased renovation approaches, and construction schedules utilizing school breaks or other low-occupancy periods are all assessed within our feasibility study.

What information do I need for an initial consultation?

Building use, total floor area, location, year of construction (for existing buildings), and current major equipment status are most helpful. Even if drawings and energy data are not yet available, please feel free to reach out.

Let’s Discuss Your ZEB Project

Feasibility studies, design support, subsidy applications — we’re ready to answer any question.