10 - Sustainability

Question 1

Why I sustainability important ?

Answer 1

Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 2

Are you aware of any RICS campaign regarding this ?

Answer 2

RICS Value the planet - Our Value the Planet campaign promotes the preservation of the planet through the implementation of the UN’s sustainable development goals. We encourage our professionals to implement the SDGs. The campaign also offers us a great opportunity to highlight the public interest responsibility of RICS and demonstrate the benefits that the surveying profession provides in offering solutions to society’s most challenging issues.

Question 3

Are you aware of any national or international agreement sin relation to this ?

Answer 3

Paris Agreement - The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and support them in their efforts.
Kyoto Protocol - The Kyoto Protocol – a milestone in global efforts to combat climate change. With the Kyoto Protocol, the international community agreed for the first time on binding targets and measures for combating climate change. The Kyoto Protocol stipulates global ceilings for greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Change Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act makes it the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for all six Kyoto greenhouse gases for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline, toward avoiding dangerous climate change

Question 4

What is an EPC, What does it measure, When is it applicable ? When is it not applicable ?

Answer 4

Energy performance certificates are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of buildings. The building is given a rating between A - G, the EPC will also include tips the most cost effective ways to improve your homes energy rating.

Energy performance certificates (EPCs), set out the energy efficiency rating of buildings. They are required when buildings are built, sold or rented, if they have a roof and walls and use energy to condition an indoor climate. If a building contains separate units (for example a block of flats), each unit needs an EPC, but they are not required for shared bedsit type accommodation.

Buildings that do not need an energy performance certificate include:

Places of worship.
Temporary buildings.
Stand-alone buildings with a floor area of less than 50 square metres.
Industrial and agricultural buildings with low energy requirements.
Protected buildings, where compliance with energy efficiency requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
Rented dwellings that continue to be occupied by the same tenant since before 1 October 2008.
Buildings that are suitable for demolition.

Question 5

What are u values ?

Answer 5

A U-value is a sum of the thermal resistances of the layers that make up an entire building element – for example, a roof, wall or floor. It also includes adjustments for any fixings or air gaps

Question 6

What are SAP calculations ?

Answer 6

SAP stands for ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’ and is the government’s method for calculating the energy performance of dwellings. These calculations are only necessary for residential properties

Question 7

What is BREEAM ?

Answer 7

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s first sustainability rating scheme for the built environment and has contributed much to the strong focus in the UK on sustainability in building design, construction and use.

Question 8

What approved documents can be linked to sustainability ?

Answer 8

Approved Doc L - conservation of fuel and power

Question 9

What are the principles of sustainable construction ?

Answer 9

sustainable design
 durability
 energy efficiency
 waste reduction
 indoor air quality
 water conservation
 sustainable building materials

Question 10

What are the principles of sustainable construction ?

Answer 10

Environmental Protection Construction work should be environmentally friendly and pollution free.
Safety Construction work has to be carried out in safety and comfort, with a method that implements the highest safety criteria.
Speed Construction work should be completed in the shortest possible period of time.
Economy Construction work must be done rationally with an inventive mind to overcome all constraints at the lowest cost.
Aesthetics Construction work must proceed smoothly and the finished product should portray cultural and artistic flavour.

Question 11

What is the application of MEES ?

Answer 11

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), first introduced in 2018, EPC for commercial premises and soon to be residential lettings.

Question 12

When does MEES not apply ?

Answer 12

Non rental residential

Question 13

What does BREEAM stand for ?

Answer 13

Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method

Question 14

What is BREEAM ?

Answer 14

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s first sustainability rating scheme for the built environment and has contributed much to the strong focus in the UK on sustainability in building design, construction and use.

Question 15

What or who are the BRE group ?

Answer 15

We are an innovative group of researchers, scientists, engineers and technicians who share a common goal – to make the built environment better for all. We generate new knowledge through independent research

Question 16

What is LEED ?

Answer 16

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world (USA)

Question 17

What do you know about MEES?

Answer 17

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), first introduced in 2018, EPC for commercial premises and soon to be residential lettings.

Question 18

Are there any exceptions?

Answer 18

Places of workshop
temporary properties (less than 2 years)
Building that are to be demolished
Certain listed buildings

Question 19

What does SAP stand for?

Answer 19

Standard assessment procedure

Question 20

You mention BREEAM, what does this stand for?

Answer 20

Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method

Question 21

What ratings can you achieve with BREEAM?

Answer 21

BREEAM Rating % score
 OUTSTANDING ≥ 85
 EXCELLENT ≥ 70
 VERY GOOD ≥ 55
 GOOD ≥ 45
 PASS ≥ 30
 UNCLASSIFIED < 30

Outstanding: Less than top 1% of buildings (innovator)
Excellent: Top 10% of buildings (best practice)
Very Good: Top 25% of buildings (advanced good practice)
Good: Top 50% of buildings (intermediate good practice)
Pass: Top 75% of buildings (standard good practice)

Question 22

Why is sustainability important?

Answer 22

Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources.

Question 23

What are the government targets for reducing emissions?

Answer 23

On 20 April 2021, the Government announced that it “will set the world’s most ambitious climate change target” to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels as part of its sixth carbon budget.
The Government is required to set carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act 2008

Question 24

Specifically, what does UK planning policy stipulate in relation to sustainability of new buildings?

Answer 24

Development with high levels of sustainability should not be refused on the grounds of incompatibility with the existing townscape (where mitigated by good design);
Local planning authorities should support energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings;
Development should comply with the Local Plan requirements for decentralised energy supply;
Development should take account of landform, layout, building orientation, massing and landscaping to minimise energy consumption;
Local authorities should have a positive strategy for promoting energy from renewable and low carbon sources, and design policy to maximise renewable and low carbon development while ensuring adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily.

Question 25

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 25

Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method

Question 26

What is the building carbon database?

Answer 26

The aim of the database is to allow users to identify where associated carbon emission reductions can be made, during all stages of a building’s life cycle. For organisations who submit their data, the database is free to use and registration is available here. To access the data, users are required to input construction project data into the database (both theoretical and completed projects), which in turn allows users to estimate/benchmark whole life carbon emissions.

Question 27

Give me some examples of how the energy performance of existing building can be improved using a recent project as an example (or your case study)?

Answer 27

Increase in insulation, newer more efficient heating system, consideration of renewable energy.

Question 28

Give me an example of a sustainable construction technique you are familiar with.

Answer 28

Sustainable building material
Construction waste recycling
Sustainable energy

Question 29

Give me some examples of other sustainable technologies you are aware of

Answer 29

PV
 Ground source heat pump
 Air source heat pump
 Wind turbine
 LED lights

Question 30

Explain what you understand by the term “Cold Bridging”.

Answer 30

A thermal bridge, also called a cold bridge, is an area of a building construction which has a significantly higher heat transfer than the surrounding materials. This is typically where there is either a break in the insulation, less insulation or the insulation is penetrated by an element with a higher thermal conductivity. Where the building is situated in a cold climate (such as the UK) this can result in additional heat loss at these points

Question 31

Give me some examples of how you can avoid Cold Bridging.

Answer 31

Increase insulation in certain area

Ensure correct detailing

Question 32

What is the purpose of EPCs and when is one required?

Answer 32

Energy performance certificates are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of buildings. The building is given a rating between A - G, the EPC will also include tips the most cost effective ways to improve your homes energy rating.

Question 33

What is the purpose of DECs and when is one required?

Answer 33

A DEC must be provided for a building with a total useful floor area of over 250 m2 which is occupied by a public authority. The building must also be frequently visited by members of the public to receive a public service.

Question 34

What recent changes are you aware of to the Approved Documents?

Answer 34

O = Overheating, applies to new residential buildings, institutions and student accommodations. Comes into force on 15th June 2022 alongside new Part L.

S = Infrastructure for Charging Electric Vehicles, applies to new residential and non-residential buildings; buildings undergoing a material change of use to dwellings; residential and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation; and mixed-use buildings that are either new, or undergoing major renovation.