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Mandatory Comps > S Questions > Flashcards

S Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of sustainable development?

A

To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future, generations to meet their own needs.
(Bruntland Commission — Our Common Future 1987)

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2
Q

What are the different categories of land use?

A

Greenfield (agricultural), brownfield (previously developed)

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3
Q

What relationship does the NPPF have to sustainability?

A

They are intrinsically linked; 3 overarching ‘pillars of sustainability’ which include:

social - building communities with sufficient numbers and range of buildings

economical - strong, responsive, competitive economy.

environmental - contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment

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4
Q

What are the key pieces of international legislation relevant to sustainability?

A

Paris Agreement 2016, Kyoto Protocol 1997

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5
Q

What are the key pieces of national sustainability legislation?

A

Climate Change Act 2008, Environmental Protection Act 1990, The Energy Act 2011

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6
Q

What key changes did the Energy Act 2011 introduce?

A

Introduction of MEES and residential landlords unable to refuse a reasonable request for consent to carry out energy efficiency improvements where finance package available

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7
Q

What are the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)?

A

From April 2018 unlawful to grant a new tenancy to properties with EPC of ‘F’ or ‘G’. From April 2020 this will apply to existing leases/tenancies for domestic buildings. From April 2023 this will apply to existing leases/tenancies for non domestic buildings.

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8
Q

What does COP stand for?

A

Conference of the parties - attended by those that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - Treaty agreed in 1994.

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9
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term sustainability?

A

To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

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10
Q

What are the key principles of sustainability?

A

Social - healthy communities. Economical - Strong, competitive. Environmental - Protecting natural environment.

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11
Q

What are the core principles of Planning and Decision making around sustainability?

A

Creative, proactivity, high quality, consider surroundings, support climate resilience and low carbon, conserve natural environment, use brownfield.

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12
Q

What are the most common environmental issues experienced on construction sites?

A

Water pollution, air and noise pollution, energy consumption, carbon emissions, land contamination, damage to habitats, waste, gases.

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13
Q

What are the key pieces of legislation that affect sustainability in construction?

A

Agricultural Land Act, Building Act Part L), Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act.

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14
Q

What is the climate change act?

A

This is a legally binding framework to tackle climate change. It imposed targets to cut greenhouse emissions compared with 1990 levels 34% by 2020 and 100% by 2050

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15
Q

What is the clean air act?

A

This legislation provides local authorities within England to introduce measures in order to control air pollution.

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16
Q

What is the agricultural land act?

A

Enables land to be acquired for a particular purpose for example to control pests and weeds, for use as woodlands or to support agricultural activities

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17
Q

What are the Key Building Regulations that relate to sustainability in construction?

A

Building Regulations Part L — Conservation of Fuel and Power. Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.

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18
Q

What does the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations require?

A

EPCs to be produced, quantifies energy efficiently, required when buildings are built, sold or rented, commercial buildings over 500sqm need to display a display energy certificate.

19
Q

What are the different forms of taxation relating to sustainability?

A

Landfill tax.

20
Q

What different code of practice are you aware of for measuring sustainability?

A

BREEAM, SKA Ratings, LEED (Life Cycle Assessment)

21
Q

What is BREEAM?

A

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method:
Sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings through specification, design, construction and operation.

22
Q

What is SKA Ratings?

A

RICS Environmental assessment method for non-domestic fit outs such as office refurbishments.

23
Q

What is LEED?

A

It is a USA equivalent of BREEAM

24
Q

What procedures does your firm implement to promote sustainability?

A

Recycling of cardboard, paper and plastics. Cycle to work schemes.

25
Q

What is the Paris Agreement?

A

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty concerning climate change adopted in 2016. The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius whilst targeting levels below 1.5 degrees Celsius when compared to pre-industrial levels.

26
Q

Name some sustainable building methods?

A

Use of recycled materials such as reclaimed timber, recycled tiles and plastics. GSHP, ASHP, SOLAR.

27
Q

What is your understanding of the term ‘Green Roofs’?

A

A green roof is a roof covering that is partially or completely covered with vegetation that is placed over a waterproof membrane

28
Q

What are Photovoltaics and how do they work?

A

When photos hit solar modules within the solar panel they cause electrons to flow through the bottom layer, movement generates electricity.

29
Q

What is a soakaway and how do they work?

A

Soakaways offer a means of surface water drainage attenuation.

30
Q

Can you explain your understanding of the term carbon neutral?

A

Carbon neutrality is to have a balance between the carbon emitted and the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.

31
Q

What is meant by the term solar gain?

A

The name given to the increase in temperature in a space, object or structure due to solar radiation (the heat from the sun).

32
Q

How can solar gain be managed in buildings?

A

Limiting the size and area of openings such as doors and windows, shading, reflective materials.

33
Q

How does a ground source heat pump work?

A

Heat from the ground is absorbed at low temperatures into a fluid inside a loop of pipe (a ground loop) buried underground, fluid then passes through a compressor that raises it to a higher temperature.

34
Q

Please explain your understanding of the term SUDS?

A

SUDS will slow down surface water run off by allowing it to infiltrate and soak into natural contours and landscapes.

35
Q

What are the benefits of a BREEAM certified building?

A

Lowering the running costs of their built assets and minimising the impact on the environment.

36
Q

What is an EPC?

A

introduced in 2007 and are a legal requirement for a building to be sold, let or constructed. Efficiency of the built asset along with the potential efficiency following improvements are identified.

37
Q

What sustainable initiatives are you aware of that are being implemented by the RICS?

A

The RICS SKA ratings encourages green codes of practice for commercial properties. ‘Value the Planet’ campaign and committed to forming a climate change expert panel to implement the UN’s sustainable development goals.

38
Q

What things do you implement to promote sustainability?

A

Printing only when necessary. Car sharing.

39
Q

What is COP 28? What was agreed?

A

Happened in United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023. Headline outcome of the conference was an agreement to “transition away from fossil fuels” as part of the global stocktake (First global stocktake, an assessment of action towards the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement.)

40
Q

When is the next COP and where is it being held?

A

The next COP (Conference of the parties) is COP 29 being held in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

41
Q

How do PV Panels work?

A
  1. Absorb sunlight - When sunlight hits a PV cell, the cell’s semiconductor material absorbs the energy.
  2. Create an electrical charge- The absorbed energy transfers to electrons in the material, giving them extra energy to flow through the cell.
  3. Extract the current- The electrons flow through conductive metal contacts, or grid-like lines, on the cell.
  4. Convert to AC- The direct current (DC) electricity produced by the cell is converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. AC is the type of electricity used in most household appliances.
42
Q

What is the difference between BREEAM, SKA, LEED?

A

BREEAM and LEED have a broader scope covering entire buildings and various project phases, whereas SKA is more specialised, focusing on the fit-out stage of commercial buildings.

43
Q

What is the benefit of lifecycle costing? (LCC)

A

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an economic analysis tool to determine the most cost-effective option to purchase, run, sustain or dispose of an object

44
Q

Is a green roof a carbon sink?

A

Yes, By covering rooftops with a green roof, carbon from the atmosphere will be deposited into roots, leaves and stems, acting as a carbon sink where it is stored and later deposited into the soil/substrate.

Mandatory Comps (9 decks)

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