[go beyond code]

Environmentally Sustainable Development

We know sustainability. From feasibility through to certification, we translate technical requirements into clear steps so you can focus on delivering a successful project.

see how we work

Trusted by companies
big and small

[here's how we can help you]

People call us when ‘good enough’ is not an option. Call us when you need an experienced team to deliver something great. Every. Single. Time.

The simple

You, our clients, involve us from the beginning to the end. Not just to complete a project, but to deliver the right one. You engage us for services across many sectors and locations. Through these partnerships, we've gained insights into what truly makes a project successful beyond just meeting basic requirements. But we can help you with the basics, too.

Navigating planning approval

+ Green Travel Plans
+ Sustainable Design Assessment
+ Sustainable Management Plan
+ Environmentally Sustainable Development
+ Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
+ Stormwater Management (STORM and MUSIC)

‍Ask us how →

Navigating building approval and performance

+ Water Efficiency Audits
+ Sustainable Materials Selections
+ NCC Section J Code Consulting
+ Commissioning and Tuning Reviews
+ NatHERS 7-star Energy Ratings
+ Indoor Air Quality Testing
+ JV3 Energy Efficiency Reports

We can help →

Smarter waste management

+ Construction and Demolition Waste Management
+ Operational Waste Management Plans
+ Swept Path Analysis (Waste Collection)
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Talk to us about your enclosure →

Discuss your project with us

Water Sensitive Urban Design / Stormwater Management Strategy / Drainage Strategy Report

The intermediate

Looking for services that: Provide clear, easy-to-understand metrics? Want to make your project stand out and be a source of pride for your team? Need something that truly represents your intentions and goals? Let's talk today.

Virtual buildings, real insights

+ Daylight and Glare Modelling
+ Stormwater Quality Modelling
+ Façade and Shading Analysis
‍
‍Need to meet code without overdesigning?

‍Ask us how →

Energy efficiency in buildings

+ NABERS Assessments
+ Building Energy Efficiency Certificates
+ Artificial Lighting Assessment
+ Building Energy Audits
‍
‍Planning for low emissions or Green Star targets?

We can help →

Harness renewable energy

+ Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies
+ Embodied Carbon Assessments
+ Biophilic Design
+ Smart Building Technology
‍
Talk to us about your renewable energy strategy →

Certification support

Whether you’re targeting Green Star, LEED, or other certifications, we provide the modelling, documentation, and strategy to secure credits—without overengineering the solution.
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+ Green Star
+ LEED
+ WELL and Fitwel technical input
+ BESS
+ NABERS
+ Living Building Challenge
+ Infrastructure Sustainability
+ Cross-framework coordination and documentation

Pursuing certification across multiple frameworks?

We’ll help you navigate it →

Discuss your project with us

The advanced

In your projects, as in life, balance is key. Too many standout elements can hurt, not help your metrics. The advanced services we offer are designed to help you separate the robust from the brittle. Perfect for projects where longevity, legacy, and lasting impact are your north star.

Get to Net Zero

+  Climate Adaptation Plans
+  Carbon Neutrality Audits
+  CO2 Emissions Baseline and Reduction Roadmaps
+  Net Zero Strategy Development
+  Energy Procurement Strategy
+  Carbon Neutrality Certification at a Facility or Brand Level
+  City Water Inlet Water Saving Measures

Your building owes you money

+ Electrification Studies
+ Condensation Analysis
+ Power Quality Evaluation
+ Thermal Comfort Analysis
+ Acoustic Analysis
+ Performance Solutions
+ Air Quality Assessments
+ Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
+ Thermal bridging analysis

We can help →

Dream it, then build it

+ Precinct and master planning
+ Key Stakeholder Workshops
+ Long-term Sustainability Strategy
+ ESD Concepts and Feasibility Studies
+ Precinct-wide Sustainability Plans
+ Passive Solar Design
‍
Talk to us about your sustainability strategy →

Lead the way

Whether you’re targeting Green Star, LEED, or other certifications, we provide the modelling, documentation, and strategy to secure credits—without overengineering the solution.
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+ Tailored Research or Studies
+ Sustainability Standards Development
+ Policy Review and Recommendation
+ Climate Risk Assessment Frameworks
+ Building Performance Research
+ Lifecycle Assessment Research
+ Industry 4.0n

Pursuing new boundaries?

We’ll help you navigate it →

Discuss your project with us

[better buildings]

Life is too short for low-performance buildings.

Our cities and urban centres are changing fast—in both size and speed. And achieving sustainable solutions in our urban environment is a growing challenge. Parallel to this, we're increasingly aware of our impact on our surroundings and scarcity of resources.
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To help you help you navigate the complexity of creating sustainable developments, Makao provides a wide range of services. We want to make this simple as you focus on shaping our built environment.

solar
potential

water sensitive
urban design

building performance

climate
resilience

waste
management

indoor
comfort

[markets we work in]

Sustainability challenges look different depending on where you sit. Designing a new building, delivering a city precinct, or guiding an organisation-wide strategy. We bring technical depth and practical solutions that meet your project's unique needs.

See the sectors we help

[Got questions?]

Frequently Asked Questions

We know every project and organisation is different, so you might be wondering how Makao fits with your goals. If you don’t see your question here, we’d love to hear from you directly.

get in touch

What industries does Makao specialise in?

We partner with you across the built environment — education, industrial, residential, retail (large and small format retail), community and religious buildings, precincts, and infrastructure.

If you’re an organisation looking to strengthen your sustainability strategy at a company or portfolio level, we can support you there too.

Can you help us meet regulatory or sustainability targets?

Yes. We help you navigate complex standards like building codes, NatHERS, LEED, Green Star, and NABERS. And we don’t stop at compliance — we work with you to set and deliver on ambitious goals such as energy efficiency, electrification, and net zero.

How is your approach different from traditional consulting firms?

We bring rigorous technical modelling together with a practical, collaborative style. Instead of just handing you a report, we involve you in the process so sustainability becomes part of how your project is designed, approved, and delivered. And because we value trust, we’re always happy to connect you with existing clients who can share their experience of working with us.

Do you offer technical implementation or just strategy?

Both. We can help you in the early stages with concept design and policy development, and we also get hands-on with detailed energy modelling, technical reports, and approvals.

Put simply, we meet you where you are — whether you need consulting only, consulting plus strategy, or full strategy and implementation (including procurement).

Are your solutions scalable?

Absolutely. Whether you’re delivering one high-performance building or rolling out a multi-city program, our methods scale with you. We adapt to your context while still aligning with leading global benchmarks.

How do we start working with Makao?

It usually begins with a discovery email or call where we get to know you and your goals. We’ll clarify your sustainability objectives and outline the pathways we can support you with. From there, we provide you with a tailored scope and next steps.

We are Makao Group Pty Ltd, an Australian-registered firm specialising in ESD engineering, sustainability, and energy performance modelling. The content on this site is shared to give you useful insights and information, but it shouldn’t be taken as tailored professional advice. Every project is unique, so always seek specific guidance before making decisions. We work hard to keep our information accurate and up to date, but we can’t guarantee that everything will be perfect or suitable for every situation. Makao isn’t responsible for any loss or outcomes that come from relying solely on what’s here.