Mandatory - Sustainability (L1) Flashcards
What percentage of carbon emissions are buildings responsible for?
40% of all emissions.
What have you read recently that demonstrates the RICS’s commitment to Sustainability?
- The RICS produces a Sustainability Report each year which details the progress made in this area along with key metrics such as barriers to achieving net zero in buildings (e.g. high initial costs), what can be done (e.g. government policy making) and the net demand for green buildings
- The RICS is a member of the Society For The Environment which has it’s own Royal Charter to accredit professionals that meet the standards required to call themselves Chartered Environmentalists
What are our legally binding commitments to Carbon Emission Targets, and in what Act were they set?
- Climate Change Act 2008 (updated 2019) to acheive net zero by 2050
- Climate Change Act 2009 - Scottish government are aiming for net zero by 2045
Does the Energy Efficiency of a Building Effect it’s Value?
Yes, investors and occupiers are increasingly conscious about the carbon footprint of the buildings they own and occupy. Property professionals are increasingly conscious of the responsibility the built environment has. Additionally an inefficient building is likely to be a fiscal (and therefore CAPEX) liability in future.
Why do we have Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)?
The EU Directive: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2010); which lead to the UK Government implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings (England & Wales) Regulations (2012).
What were the EPC requirements set out in MEES 2015?
You cannot let a building with an EPC rating of F or G as of 1st April 2023
Where do you find EPCs?
On the EPC register called the Energy Performance of Buildings Register from the Gov.Uk, there is a domestic and non-domestic register.
EST in Scotland.
What’s the Scale for EPCs?
Domestic and commercial are different. England and Scotland not comparable.
A+ to G
Net Zero to 100+
When are EPCs Required?
When a commercial building over 50m² is;
- Newly built
- Sold
- Leased for longer than 6 months
- Refurbished
- Heating/air conditioning is altered
- Lease is assigned / sub-let
And also for the Leasing and sale of residential property
Under what circumstance might you not need an EPC?
- If the building is listed
- buildings that have no heating
- religious buildings
- temporary buildings
- buildings that are due to be demolished
What are the requirements in relation to EPCs when marketing a property?
You must commission the EPC within 7 days of beginning the marketing of the property (28 day limit for procurement). Agents are responsible for this, and only the letter must be displayed not the actual number if there is not enough space to do so.
All online marketing material must have a link to show the front page of the EPC document.
What is included on the front page of an EPC Certificate?
Property address, EPC reference number, Technical information on the property, estimated running costs, energy performance rating, benchmarking information.
How long is an EPC Valid for?
An EPC is valid for 10 years.
What are the Penalties for Non-Compliance with EPCs?
Local authority will fine you. For commercial the limit is 12.5% of the Rental Value of the Property (Collared at £500, and Capped at £5,000).
What are MEES?
MEES is the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (2015)
