Launching ElevationPassive: A Passive Design Workflow for UAE Architects

I had a hard summer. In fact, it was a hard first half of the year. Business was very challenging, and to make it harder on myself, I signed up to do a backyard ultra in Scotland in July. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a continuous loop of 6.7 km, with the aim of completing a circuit every hour on the hour.

Run fast, you get more rest. Run slow, you get less rest. But no matter what, you must start a loop every hour. The race doesn’t end until there’s only one person left standing. I managed 25 loops. The winner? They went on for another 12 hours after I finished.

To manage those 25 loops, I trained long and hard—running 100 km weeks regularly. And I was tired. Physically, yes. But also mentally. And it showed.

It showed in how I turned up for business, in how I turned up for my family, in how I showed up in every other part of my life. I had traded my will to run for miles and days for subpar performance in everything else.

So, what did I do?

After August, I reevaluated everything: my approach to running, my health, my mindset. I focused on the latter—on being kinder to myself. I reduced my training volume and redistributed my energy to what truly mattered: my family, my health, and, by extension, my business.

Essentially, I reduced the demand on myself. I used the energy I had more efficiently. And that’s now the foundation of how I live my life—balancing progress across all the things that are important to me.

In my work, I want to bring the same approach to the building energy space. Buildings are a massive contributor to global emissions. If we want to tackle climate change, this is one area where meaningful progress can be made.

And just like life, the first step is reducing demand.

This is the classic hierarchy: reduce demand first, then improve efficiency, and finally, consider renewables.

But are we skipping the first part? Are we doing what I did earlier this year—missing the fundamental step and sticking to the same old patterns? Are we designing buildings without really considering how to design out the need for energybefore jumping into the shiny tech and solutions to make buildings more efficient?

I think the answer is yes.

Especially here, in the fast-paced construction world of the UAE. We design fast. Teams are structured with lead designers managing a maze of subs—sustainability, traffic, fa?ades, you name it.

Everyone wants integration. But with so many moving parts and overworked teams, what we get is more segregated than integrated. I’ve lost count of how many times lead designers have told me this is an issue. Yet, it keeps happening.

It’s not a new problem. It’s not even specific to this region. But what if there was a way to truly embed a passive design workflow right at the concept stage?

Sure, there will still be challenges downstream (there always are). But with a major step change like this, we could design out energy demand from the start. That means projects would be set up to hit sustainability goals more easily. Capital costs on systems and services could be reduced—because they’d simply need to be smaller. Operating expenses would drop because the building itself would need less energy to function.

This is exactly why I’m launching ElevationPassive.

ElevationPassive is a standalone passive design service built specifically for lead design architects in the UAE. It’s designed to integrate into your workflow, delivering the tools and insights you need to ensure your concept design explores all the passive measures available.

We focus on six key aspects of passive design:

• 360° Orientation Analysis: Evaluating how orientation impacts solar gains, with clear recommendations.
• Shading Strategies: Analyzing fixed and dynamic shading options to reduce solar exposure.
• Building Envelope: Providing recommendations on U-values, SHGC, and glazing specifications.
• Thermal Mass: Advising on material selection and placement to optimize heat storage.
• Natural Ventilation: Assessing window placement and operability for effective airflow.
• Thermal Bridging: Reviewing risks and proposing mitigation strategies.

All of this is packaged into a comprehensive, actionable report tailored to your project. No fluff, no unnecessary jargon—just the insights you need to make better decisions, faster.

Why Choose ElevationPassive? Here’s the truth: sustainability can’t wait. And neither can your projects. ElevationPassive is designed to integrate seamlessly into your design process. We give you practical, data-driven insights that reduce risk, lower costs, and ensure your project meets sustainability goals—without adding complexity or slowing you down.

So, let’s do it.

If you’re ready to set your designs up for long-term sustainability, reach out.

?? [email protected] ?? WhatsApp: +971 56 626 2518

Or book a call https://calendly.com/greenbuildings/elevation-passive