Mandatory - Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainable development?
Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the future generation.
What are the pillars of sustainability?
Social, economic and environmental.
What is being spoken about in the White Paper with regards to sustainability in the future?
Achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in accordance with the Climate Change Act.
Interim target of 78% reduction by 2030.
How is the RICS contributing to a more sustainable environment in practice?
- Evidence-based research
- Rules of Conduct 2021
- Guidance Notes e.g. “Sustainability: improving performance of existing buildings”
- Training e.g. “Environmental Clauses in Commercial Leases”
- Certification e.g. “SKA”
What considerations are outlined in the RICS Sustainability Guidance Note?
Outlines appropriate options for clients with consideration of:
* Design
* Legal
* Financial
* Commercial
Why is sustainability important to understand as a surveyor?
Best the built environment industry accounts for 40% of all global carbon emissions.
What are the principles of sustainability in construction?
Carry out activities without depleting resources or having a harmful effect on the economy, society and the environment.
What are the challenges of sustainability in construction?
Enacting change in existing practices.
More expensive.
Client requirements.
Can you name some sustainable construction practices?
Off-site manufacturing.
Reduction of waste and proper waste management on site.
Consideration of transport of materials to and from site.
What are the methods of measuring sustainability in a building?
EPC rating
BREEAM
SKA
What is an EPC rating?
Energy Performance Certificate – assessment of a building’s energy efficiency.
When is an EPC certificate required?
On a commercial property over 50sqm which is being let for a term of more than 6 months.
When a building is constructed, sold or let or alterations which could impact the EPC rating are carried out.
When would a building be exempt from an EPC?
A temporary building used for 2 years or less.
A place of worship.
An industrial building with minimal energy usage.
A detached building of less than 50sqm.
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years.
What is MEES?
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.
Currently applies a minimum EPC rating of E for all new builds and new leases.
How could you improve a building’s EPC rating?
LED lighting.
PIR sensors.
Solar panels.
New double glazing.
Insulation.
What are the changes to MEES as of April 2023?
Minimum EPC rating for all existing commercial property leases will increase to E or above.
When is a landlord exempt from MEES?
- ‘7 Year Payback’: Improvement measures do not pay for themselves within 7 years of implementation.
- ‘All Improvements Made’: All recommended improvements have been made and it remains below an E.
- ‘Wall Insulation’: Insulation not appropriate due to the potential negative impact on the fabric or structure.
- ‘Consent’: Third party consent for energy efficiency measure was sought and refused.
- ‘Devaluation’: Improvement measures would devalue the property by more than 5%.
- ‘New Landlord’: If a person becomes a landlord suddenly and unexpectedly – exemption is valid for six months.
Who enforces compliance with MEES?
Local Authority.
Financial penalties imposed for non-compliance.
What are some further potential changes to MEES in the future?
Increase minimum EPC rating to C by 2027 and B by 2030 for non-domestic properties.
Domestic plans have been postponed/scrapped.
What is BREEAM?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
Voluntary global sustainability assessment for new build or refurbished buildings.
What are the environmental considerations in BREEAM?
Energy consumption
Water use
Transport links
Waste management
Health & wellbeing
What is a SKA rating?
RICS led scheme which rates fit out of commercial premises against a set of sustainability good practice criteria.
What are some other industry sustainability ratings?
LEED (USA)
DGNB (Germany)
HQE (France)
NABERS (Australia)
WELL (International) – optimises health & wellbeing of users
What is a DEC?
Display Energy Certificate.
Public buildings over 250m2 are required to display DEC instead of EPC.
Are you aware of any monetary / tax incentives to improve energy efficiency?
Reduced VAT on installation of energy-saving measures.
What is a CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility. Business model that helps companies become environmentally, economically and socially responsible.
What does your company do to promote sustainability?
- Follows RICS best practice.
- Follows ISO 9001 which sets requirements for environmental management systems.
- Have a dedicated environmental and sustainability team to advise clients
Are there any Building Regulations that cover sustainability in buildings?
Approved Document L – conservation of fuel and power
What are some key aspects of Part L?
Regulation 28 – consequential improvement
Regulation 23 – thermal elements
Tell me what you know about Regulation 28 under Part L?
The regulation under Doc L relates to Consequential improvements to energy performance.
The intention is that when a building useful floor area exceeds 1000m2 consequential improvement which are technically, functional and economically feasible if the proposed works are:
A. An extension
B. New fixed building service (first time installation)
C. Increasing the capacity of a fixed building service.
What are consequential improvements and when does it apply?
Requires energy efficiency improvements to be made of buildings larger than 1000m2 when certain works are undertaken.
Works: extension, improvement of services or installation of new services.
What is regulation 23 and when does it apply?
When a thermal element is being replaced and its replacements constitutes a major renovation or is more than 50% of the surface area, the whole of the element must be replaced to achieve or improve the u-value of the element.
What is a u-value?
Measure heat transmission through an element of a building. Lower = better.
