2.0 Sustainability

Question 1

How many Sustainability goals do the UN have?

Answer 1

I believe it is seventeen

Question 2

What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Answer 2

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good health and well being
4. Quality Education
   5.Gender Equality
   6.Clean Water and sanitation
5. Affordable and clean energy
6. Decent work and Economic growth
   9 Industry innovation and infrastructure
7. Reduced Equalities
8. Sustainable cities and communities
9. Responsible production and consumption
   13 Climate action
10. Life below water
    15 Life on Land
11. Peace Justice and strong institutions
12. Partnerships for the goals

Question 3

What building materials can be used for a sustainable method of construction

Answer 3

Natural stone
Cross laminated Timber

Question 4

What incentives are there for developers for sustainable construction.

Answer 4

None

Question 5

What incentives are there for developers for sustainable construction.

Answer 5

None
They could implement a fast track system in planning to help developers

Question 6

How can we retrofit our homes to save energy?

Answer 6

Triple glazed windows
PV Solar windows
Ground Source heat pumps
Loft insulation
HVR

Question 7

What is sustainable developments

Answer 7

Buy Land in sustainable locations so users can walk to shops

Question 8

The Construction industry is responsible for 40% for climate issues why is this?

Answer 8

Building from concrete and steel could be one of the major problems we have

Question 9

Minimum EPC required to LET a building?

Answer 9

E – New Leases from 1st April 2018 and all existing leases from 1St April 2023

Question 10

Why is sustainability important

Answer 10

Reduce the bills for customers

Better for environment

Site waste

Question 11

What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 11

A
Relates to the UK’s binding commitment to cut carbon emissions by 80% from 1990 levels to 2050.

The above ties in the 5 yearly ‘carbon budgets’ – the UK was the first country to implement a legally binding climate change target. This is to be achieved both at home and abroad and aims to reduce the requirement for imported fossil fuels, this will also future proof the UK against increasing energy prices in the future.

Question 12

Are you aware of any sustainable schemes ?

Answer 12

Passiv Haus- more expensive
Code of sustainable housing- now abolished

No leader in sustainability.

Question 13

What is the definition of sustainability ?

Answer 13

Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Question 14

What is the key themes of the planning and energy act (2008) ?

Answer 14

Allow local councils to set targets in their areas for on-site renewable energy, on-site low carbon electricity and energy efficiency standards in addition to national requirements

Question 15

What Act relates to the carbon neutral target ?

Answer 15

Climate Change Act 2008

Question 16

What are the concepts of sustainability

Answer 16

Economic
Social
Environmental

Question 17

Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?

Answer 17

UN, Kyoto treaty summit, Paris Agreement

Question 18

What is the minimum energy efficiency rating for residential units and when is it effective ?

Answer 18

New tenancies on or after 1st April 2018 had to meet a minimum of E

From 1 April 2020: All existing domestic tenancies will be required to achieve a minimum EPC rating of E.

Question 19

What are exceptions of the MEES?

Answer 19

A suitably qualified expert provides written advice that the improvements would result in a devaluation of the property by 5% or more, or that the works would damage the property

Consent to undertake works is refused by a third party, such as a Local Authority or an incumbent tenant.

Places of worship, non-residential agricultural buildings, industrial sites and workshops, selected listed buildings and temporary properties

All cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, either within a seven year payback or under the Green Deal’s “Golden Rule”, have been carried out

Exemptions last for five years and will need to be lodged on a centralised register to be created by Government.

Question 20

What year is the UK expected to be zero carbon neutral ?

Answer 20

2050

Question 21

How often should an EPC be carried out ?

Answer 21

Carried out every 10 years

Question 22

What law/ regulation relates to MEES ?

Answer 22

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Sector) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015

Question 23

How do local authorities set their own targets ?

Answer 23

Under the planning and energy Act 2008 the Council has set their own C02 emissions saving target at 36%. Reference is also made to their core strategy, London plan and national planning policy framework.

Question 24

What does sustainability mean to you ?

Answer 24

Carrying out day to day activities with regard to the environment. Travelling using public transport, recycling and online meetings

Question 25

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 25

The Paris Agreement central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

160 UNFCCC parties have made voluntary pledges to reduce emissions up to 2030, including China, the US and the European Union (on behalf of the UK and other EU nations).

The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Overall, the current pledges would lead to lower global emissions compared to previous expectations. But further action will be required to keep warming to below 2°C or 1.5°C.
How well did you know this?

Question 26

What are the penalties of not complying with MEES?

Answer 26

Landlords renting out a non-compliant home for up to three months may be fined up to £5,000 or 10% of the rateable value up to a maximum of £50,000, whichever is greater.

Landlords renting out a non-compliant home for more than three months may be fined up to £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value up to a maximum of £150,000, whichever is greater.

Fines of up to £5,000 can also be handed down for providing false or misleading information or failing to comply with a compliance notice.

Question 27

When is an EPC required

Answer 27

Before a property is let.

Question 28

What are the minimum energy rating for commercial and when is it effective ?

Answer 28

New tenancies on or after 1st April 2018 had to meet a minimum of E

From 1 April 2023: All existing non-domestic tenancies will be required to achieve a minimum EPC rating of E.

Question 29

MEES Exemptions

Answer 29

• Places of Worship
• Industrial Units or workshops
• Tenancy less than 6 months
• Tenancy more than 99 years
• When Payback is not feasible – improvement works within 7 years.
• Landlords of residential properties are required from April 2019 to spend up to £3500 on a property and cannot improve the rating entitled to file for exemption.

Question 30

What does the NPPF say about sustainability

Answer 30

Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three overarching objectives, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways (so that opportunities can be taken to secure net gains across each of the different objectives):

a) an economic objective – to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity; and by identifying and coordinating the provision of infrastructure;

b) a social objective – to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by ensuring that a sufficient number and range of homes can be provided to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by fostering a well-designed and safe built environment, with accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities’ health, social and cultural well-being; and

c) an environmental objective – to contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, helping to improve biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy.

Question 31

What was the Kyoto Protocol and what were it’s targets?

Answer 31

A
UNFCCC negotiations led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol set a target for 37 industrialised countries to reduce their emissions by an average 5% below 1990 levels, for the period of 2008 to 2012. As part of this group the UK committed to a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The targets were met successfully. Overall, the 37 countries reduced global emissions by over 10%. But this was not enough to offset the increasing emissions from other industrialising countries (such as China), meaning total global emissions grew over the period.

A second Kyoto commitment period has been agreed from 2013 to 2020. Fewer countries have signed the second commitment agreement, although the UK and the EU are participating.

Question 32

How can buildings impact upon the environment?

Answer 32

Built environment accounts for 1/3 of the world resource use and energy use.
Heating, and cooling, and drainage and water SUDs,

Question 33

What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 33

Relates to the UK’s binding commitment to cut carbon emissions by 80% from 1990 levels to 2050.

The above ties in the 5 yearly ‘carbon budgets’ – the UK was the first country to implement a legally binding climate change target. This is to be achieved both at home and abroad and aims to reduce the requirement for imported fossil fuels, this will also future proof the UK against increasing energy prices in the future.

Question 34

What are the concepts of sustainability

Answer 34

Economic
Social
Environmental