About Eco Blueprints Building Designer

About

Ross Campbell (principal of Eco Blueprints) has provided Building Design services primarily to the Toowoomba & Darling Downs region in Queensland, since 1990. His passion for energy efficient building design is reflected in his contribution to the built environment over these years of operation. A business built on reputation and attention to client’s different needs, has resulted in a wide variety of architectural styles. A number of Design Awards including BDAQ State Awards recognize the high quality of Ross’s design skills.

Qualifications & Experience

Ross Campbell has completed the necessary training to conduct Thermal Performance Assessments for dwellings (star ratings) using BERS Pro software. With in-house design plus thermal performance assessments, clients can expect the optimum outcome in terms of thermal comfort for their new home design. For those clients wishing to achieve standards beyond legislative requirements, Ross’s in depth understanding of passive heating & cooling principals can lead to star ratings in excess of 6 stars.

Ross is an active member of the Toowoomba Branch of Renew (formerly Alternative Technology Assoc. of Australia). His involvement with the Toowoomba branch includes organizing educational forums for the general public & design professionals in the fields of sustainable housing, renewable energy etc. He is also actively involved in organizing the annual Sustainable House Day event, which has seen several of his leading sustainable home designs open to the public in recent years.

Advice to clients extends beyond design for optimum thermal comfort to other sustainable principals such as rainwater collection, solar voltaic systems, energy efficient appliances etc. As well as new house design, retrofitting of existing houses, particularly Toowoomba’s heritage character houses, form an important part of the work carried out by Eco Blueprints. Ross’s experience of upgrading his own circa 1900 dwelling has given him invaluable hands-on experience in this field.

Looking to get in touch?

To find out more about what Eco Blueprints can do on for your building project.

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Frequently Asked Questions.

Does energy efficient design cost more to build?

Not necessarily. Good design can often lead to higher energy ratings at reduced cost. Getting the basics right in terms of orientation, balance of glazing & thermal mass etc. may avoid the need for expensive improved glazing to achieve the same thermal rating.
Will we need double-glazing to achieve a high energy rating?

Generally, no. High energy ratings can generally be achieved with single glass windows & doors. The energy rating carried out by Eco Blueprints has the ability to demonstrate what benefit different glazing configurations can have on the energy rating. If double-glazing or low E glass is shown to have minimal or no benefit to a particular house, thousands of dollars can be saved in avoiding the additional cost for minimal benefit.
Do concrete slabs have an edge over timber-framed floors for energy ratings?

Yes. Thermal mass is an important consideration for energy efficiency & thermal comfort. Slab on ground construction provides a very economical way of providing adequate thermal mass for most sites other than steep sites. If slab on ground construction is not practical due a steep sloping site for example, achieving a high star rating will be much more challenging.
Do I need to have a basic floor plan when I first engage Eco Blueprints?

No. A brief consisting of the required rooms, preferred type of construction e.g. brick veneer, clad timber frame etc., approximate room sizes etc. is sufficient to start the design process.
Can you recommend builders?

Yes. Eco Blueprints works closely with a number of highly recommended builders.
Does an energy rating include the energy used by appliances?

No. A thermal performance assessment or star rating is for the building fabric only so relates to predicted heating & cooling loads for thermal comfort of the occupants.