ESD Consulting
Environmental Sustainability - ESD Advisory, Reports, and Plans
Proposal focused and pragmatic
Our property developer clients require various types of Environmental Sustainability – ESD (Ecologically Sustainability Development) reports and plans to meet both corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals and predominantly planning assessment and approval requirements.
Efficient Living specializes in delivering client- and proposal-focused ESD advice, reports, and plans that meet or exceed regulatory and industry standards. Our reports are designed to identify the merit of your proposal for planning assessment, meet regulatory requirements, and uncover the lived benefits for buyers or occupants of the building, which is valuable when marketing the project.
As a ‘concept to delivery’ consultancy, our ESD recommendations are pragmatic and informed by observing opportunities and constraints as they arise through the design and procurement stages. It is essential that we always collaborate effectively across disciplines on the project team given the wide reach of ESD across most elements of the built form.
Matched to the task
Clients frequently require comprehensive ESD reports and plans to meet planning and regulatory requirements. The requirements and scope of these plans vary depending on the specific proposal but often include:
- ESD and Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) reports required for property development proposals by NSW, Victorian, and Queensland councils in local development control plans (or equivalent).
- ESD reports required for State Significant Development (NSW) to satisfy Secretary issued Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARS).
- ESD plans to satisfy the general requirements of the Sustainable Buildings SEPP 2022 in NSW (any non-residential project over $5M capital value).
- ESD plans to satisfy specific ESD outcomes determined via Design Excellence reviews or competitions.
- Green Star rating outcomes for typically larger-scale projects required as part of local development control plans or negotiated in planning agreements with councils or the state.
- NABERS rating outcomes.
Efficient Living has produced ESD reports tailored to apartment buildings, large, detached homes, master-planned communities, retirement villages, lifestyle communities, commercial buildings, schools, childcare facilities, community centres, and industrial buildings.
Clients often specify ESD reports and plans beyond regulation to meet internal corporate or personal goals, including:
- Certified rating outcomes for buildings or communities – most often Green Star ratings.
- Reduced or net zero carbon emissions.
- Climate change resilience.
- Human health and wellbeing – for occupants and staff of future projects.
Climate change adaptation and resilience plans are also now frequently required to satisfy council planning controls and to meet requirements to achieve satisfactory Green Star ratings.
Efficient Living is also often asked to produce Environmental Sustainability Marketing and Education content for our clients to ensure that the effort made on strong ESD outcomes transfers into end customer understanding and uptake.
Key types of reports requested
Our ESD advisory, reports, and planning services can be categorized into the following groups based on common client needs, but ultimately we will deliver a report or plan tailored to the proposal’s needs:
- ESD reports/plans tailored to meet council local planning control (DCP) requirements and/or to meet specific requirements of Design Excellence processes and reviews.
- ESD reports/plans tailored to meet NSW State Significant Development environmental assessment requirements.
- ESD reports and plans to meet the needs of the Sustainable Buildings SEPP in NSW (any non-residential proposal with a capital value over $5M).
- Green Star-related services including: a. Green Star Buildings and Communities rating strategies/pathways for proposal DA submissions or as requested by the client. b. Green Star Buildings and Communities submission project management and preparation (conducted on an hourly basis). c. Green Star Buildings and Communities analysis, initiatives, and evidence to achieve various environmental sustainability-related credits.
- Bespoke ESD reports/plans on specific environmental sustainability outcomes – for example, targeting the energy, carbon, and climate efficiency of a large architect-designed home, or targeting the health and wellbeing outcomes of a community or education building.
- Focused Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience reports/plans.
- Environmental Sustainability Marketing and Education content and reports for client marketing and sales teams.
Research & Policy Guidance
Efficient Living has specialised in building thermal performance since 2000. We invest heavily to ensure we maintain an expert understanding of assessment tools and protocols. Coupled with the fact that we are well known and highly regarded throughout the industry make us the perfect research partner.
Read more about our research and policy projects below.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool for quantifying the environmental impacts of a building across its entire lifespan — from raw material extraction through construction, use, and end-of-life. By modelling these impacts, LCA helps design teams make informed decisions that reduce embodied carbon and support responsible material selection.
At Efficient Living, we deliver LCAs using industry-leading tools such as eTool, One Click LCA, and Tally. Our assessments are Green Star–ready and tailored to meet MAT-01 and MAT-02 credit requirements, Net Zero targets, and broader ESG reporting goals. We model baseline and alternative design scenarios to identify meaningful carbon and resource savings, and integrate LCA early in the design process to maximise impact.
Why choose LCA?
– Reduce embodied emissions and align with climate goals
– Support Green Star certification and carbon-neutral aspirations
– Back your sustainability claims with robust, reportable data
– Gain insights that balance environmental impact with performance and cost
Ideal for:
– Large-scale projects aiming for Green Star or net zero
– Developers and engineers exploring low-carbon design
– Government or civic projects with sustainability mandates
Sustainability Management Plan (SMP)
A Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) is a comprehensive report that outlines how a development will meet best-practice environmental performance standards. Required by many councils at the Development Application (DA) stage — particularly for larger residential and non-residential projects — an SMP is critical for demonstrating a project’s commitment to sustainable design and long-term environmental resilience.
At Efficient Living, we prepare council-compliant SMPs tailored to each project’s unique design, location, and planning requirements. Our reports cover all major sustainability categories including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, sustainable transport, waste management, urban ecology, and responsible material selection.
Where required, we integrate modelling and rating tools such as NatHERS, BASIX, JV3, STORM, Green Star, and NABERS. Our approach balances practical performance strategies with planning compliance to help streamline approvals and reduce project risk.
Our SMP services are ideal for:
– Architects submitting DAs for residential or mixed-use developments
– Developers seeking to embed sustainability from early design stages
– Civic, healthcare, and education projects with broader social impact
Sustainable Design Assessments (SDAs)
A Sustainable Design Assessment (SDA) is a planning-stage report that demonstrates how a smaller development will meet key environmental sustainability objectives. Required by many councils across Victoria and some in New South Wales, SDAs are typically submitted alongside a Development Application (DA) for residential and small-scale non-residential projects.
At Efficient Living, we prepare SDAs that are practical, policy-compliant, and easy for councils to assess. We cover the full spectrum of sustainability principles — energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, stormwater, waste, transport, and urban ecology — and often use tools like BESS, NatHERS, and STORM to support the assessment.
When is an SDA required?
An SDA is generally required for projects such as:
Residential developments with fewer than 10 dwellings
Small non-residential or mixed-use buildings under 1,000 m² GFA
How is an SDA different from an SMP?
While both reports assess sustainability, an SDA is a lighter-touch assessment suited to smaller projects. A Sustainability Management Plan (SMP), by contrast, is required for larger or more complex developments and involves more detailed modelling (like JV3, LCA, daylight, Green Star) and strategic analysis. Think of SDA as a fit-for-purpose checklist, and SMP as a comprehensive roadmap for sustainability.
Why choose us?
– Fast turnaround for early-stage approvals
– Reports tailored to local council requirements
– Clear, actionable advice for integrating sustainability into your design
Sustainable cities of the future require efficiency on many levels. Efficient Living can work with councils and developers at master planning stages to help set Sustainability and Livability Guidelines that ensure thriving communities are created with a balance of built and natural environments.
Research & Policy Projects
Local Sustainable Housing Study
Efficient Living were engaged by Ramboll Environ Australia as industry experts to investigate the role of NSW local councils and developers in driving the adoption of ecologically sustainable practices in the residential sector.
Solamate Study
Tracey Cools, Managing Director of Efficient Living, was selected to work with Ventis and the CSIRO in the delivery of the Solamate Study looking into the effectiveness of solar heating and cooling technologies.
Archistar Performance Tool
Efficient Living is currently providing high-level guidance to the Institute of Digital Design Australia on the challenges and opportunities in launching their Archistarr tool into the thermal performance space.
NatHERS Annual Workshop
Tracey Cools, Efficient Living’s Managing Director, was one of a select few Assessors invited to attend the NatHERS Annual Workshop to provide input and feedback to help shape future House Energy Rating Policy.
Carbon Emissions Measurement
Efficient Living has provided guidance to Energy Inspection as they work on development of the 3rd generation thermal performance assessment tools which will include energy and carbon emission measurements.
Ventis Study
Ventis, a home ventilation system supplier, engaged Efficient Living to assist in a study to calculate the energy savings of their ventilation systems in reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling.
Sydney City Sustainability Policy
Efficient Living worked closely with Mirvac to conduct a peer review of a study commissioned by Sydney City Council to implement policy beyond the minimum compliance so as to reduce energy demands.
BASIX Target Increase
Efficient Living conducted extensive research into the likely built outcomes and cost implications in response to the NSW BASIX team’s proposed target increases that were eventually implemented July 2017.
