DEC, EPC, SBEM & SUDS Flashcards
- Can you name some of the sustainability measuring systems?
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – A green building certificate scheme
BREEAM – Building Research Establishment, Environmental Assessment Method
SKA – Operated by the RICS, SKA rating is an environmental assessment tool for sustainable fitouts)
CEEQUAL – Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme, infrastructure and landscaping
- Can you tell me a little bit about CEEQUAL?
- CEEQUAL is a self-assessment tool carried out by a trained CEEQUAL Assessor which is then independently verified by a CEEQUAL appointed verifier. The Verifier should be independent of the originations undertaking the project being assessed.
- Uses a standard EXCEL sheet for the assessment.
- Results are weighted
- What are the CEEQUAL headline assessment categories?
- Project environmental management –
- Land Use – Minimal land-take. Flood risk, previous use of the site and contam land remediation
- Landscape –
- Ecology and Biodiversity – Site of high ecological value, protected species conservation and enhancement
- Archaeological and cultural heritage –
- Water issues - Projects control of impacts on & protection of the water environment
- Energy –
- Use of Materials – Minimising environmental impacts, minimising waste & reusing materials
- Waste – Waste minimisation including site prep and on site waste management
- Transport – Covers where the project is located
- Nuisance to neighbours – Minimising construction activities
- Community relations – Cover community consultation and relations
- What are the advantages of CEEQUAL assessments?
- Its objective is to encourage the attainment of environmental excellence in civil engineering and thus to deliver improved environmental and social performance in project specification, design and construction
- The scheme rewards projects and contract teams who go beyond the legal, environmental and social minimum to achieve distinctive environmental and social performance in their work.
- Can you define the term “net zero carbon” in the context of new build construction?
UK Green Building Council Definition:
“when the amount of carbon emissions associated with the buildings product and construction stage up to practical completion is zero on negative, through use of offsets or the net export of on-site renewable energy”
- Can you define the term “net zero carbon” in the context of operational energy for a building in use?
UK Green Building Council Definition:
“when the amount of carbon emissions associated with the buildings operational energy on an annual basis is zero or negative. A net zero carbon building is highly energy efficient and powered from on or off site renewable energy sources with any remaining carbon balance off set”
- How can solar gain be prevented in buildings?
- Horizontal shading to glazing (brise soleil)
- Limiting the area of glazing
- Orientating the glazing away from the south face of the building
- Use of reflective glazing
- Which building regulations (approved documents) apply to sustainability?
Approved Document Part L – Conservation of fuel and power
- What is an environmental impact assessment?
- Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project
- The assessment will consider the inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human health impacts both beneficial and adverse
- What is the SBEM tool?
- Simplified Building Energy Model
- A government defined process in accordance with Part L Building Control Regulations
- It is a calculation of the energy performance of new commercial/industrial/retail buildings
- It is also used to generate and EPC for non-domestic buildings on construction and at the point of sale or rent
- What is DEC?
- Display Energy Certificate – Are designed to show the energy performance of public buildings
- They use a scale from A – G with A being the most efficient
Public Authorities must have a DEC for a building if all the following are true? - It is at least partially occupied by a public authority (council, leisure centre, college, NHS trust)
- Has a total floor area of more than 250m2
- Is frequently visited by the public
- What is EPC?
Energy Performance Certificate
- What does an EPC contain?
- Sets out the emergency efficiency of a property on a traffic light system of A – G with A being the most efficient
- Indicates how much it will cost to heat the property (denotes the amount of energy used not the cost)
- Also includes recommendations of energy efficient improvements the of carrying them out and the potential savings in pounds and pence that each one could generate.
- Can you explain what SUDS are?
Urban Sustainable Drainage Developments are systems designed to efficiently manage the drainage of surface water in the urban environment. SUDS can provide an alternative to or in addition to traditional systems where the surface water is drained directly and quickly into underground piped drains
