SoE - Sustainability Flashcards
What are the Section 63 regulations?
Section 63 is from the Climate Change Act Scotland 2009 and specifically focusses on assessing and improving the energy performance of non-domestic buildings. It makes it a legal requirement of owners of non-domestic buildings to evaluate and assess the energy efficiency of their properties.
This was effective from September 2016 and requires owners of non-domestic buildings to:
* Undertake an assessment on the energy performance and greenhouse gas emissions of existing non-domestic buildings
* Produce an action plan outlining steps for energy efficiency improvement
* Take steps to improve the energy performance of non-domestic buildings
What is a Section 63 action Plan and when is it required?
A Section 63 Action Plan identifies opportunities for carbon and energy performance improvement, as well as outlining how these could be carried out through physical improvements to the property.
As with the Energy Performance Certificate, the Action Plan must be available to prospective buyers or tenants and provided to the new owner or tenant.
Most owners of a non-domestic building will require a Section 63 Action Plan. The need for one is triggered after the sale and lease of a non-domestic building over 1000m2 floor area.
Exceptions:
* Buildings with a floor area of less than 1,000 sq m.
* Properties that have met or exceed the equivalent energy standards of the 2002 Scottish building regulations. This may exempt older buildings that have had comprehensive upgrades to their HVAC and lighting.
* Temporary buildings (intended life of 2 years or less).
* Workshops and agricultural buildings meeting the “low energy demand” rule.
* Buildings participating in the Green Deal scheme.
* Prisons and young offender institutions.
How long do you have to implement the Section 63 action plan?
42 months to complete improvements outlined in the action plan.
What is BREEAM?
BREEAM – British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method was developed by BRE and covers new construction as well as fit outs. It assesses buildings against various performance criteria and awards credits. The total amount of credits will lead to a rating of unclassified, pass, good, v.good, excellent or outstanding. Two assessments are carried out for new builds, at design stage and on completion. Credits are awarded under Management, health and wellbeing, energy efficiency, transport, water usage, materials, waste, land use, ecology, pollution, innovation.
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. I.e. providing energy for ourselves now without making the planet worse subsequently.
What are the 7 elements of sustainable building?
- Insulation
- Air tightness
- Thermal Mass
- Natural Light
- Sustainable Material
- Structural Systems
- Deployment of renewable technologies
Give me some examples of how the energy performance of existing building can be improved using a recent project as an example (or your case study)?
- Double glazed windows/secondary glazing
- VRV/VRF upgrade
- Renewable energy - solar panels on roof
- Sustainable materials - make it part of the spec/source specs for sustainable/recycled/recyclable materials - recycled floor tiles
What is NABERS?
NABERS stands for National Australian Built Environment Rating System and originated from the New South Wales Government (and with BRE and Better Buildings Partnership is on a steering committee for NABERS UK).
NABERS provides a rating from one to six stars for offices. This helps building owners to understand their building’s performance versus other similar buildings, providing a benchmark for progress:
* Energy
* Water
* Waste and
* Indoor environment
NABERS ratings are valid for twelve months. This annual model helps ensure that your rating represents a building or workplace’s current operational performance.
NABERS UK measures and rates the actual energy use of offices, helping building owners to accurately track and communicate the energy performance of their buildings. It also helps identify areas for savings and improvements.
What is SKA?
SKA – Originally a research project by Skansen, RICS and Aecom to establish metrics for impact of an office fit-out. Since launching, it is used on Retail and higher education too. SKA rating can be assessed during design, at handover and during occupancy. The score is ranked according to the achievements in the thresholds of Gold, Silver and Bronze.
SKA comprises more than a hundred ‘good practice’ measures covering energy and CO2 emissions, waste, water, materials, pollution, wellbeing and transport.
SKA rating is designed to be of particular use for occupiers but has benefits for other property stakeholders, including landlords, developers, consultants, fit-out contractors, and members of the supply chain.
What is the Climate Change Act (Scotland) 2009?
Climate change legislation that sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. (Amended by Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill)
In direct response to the UN Paris Agreement, Scotland’s landmark Climate Change Act is one of the most ambitious legislative frameworks for emissions reduction in the world.
The proposed law explains how:
- Annual targets will be set
- a target of 100% reduction in emissions will be set in the future
- Progress towards meeting targets will be monitored and reported
What is the Paris Agreement?
Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.
The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
What does MEES stand for?
Minimum energy efficiency standard - introduced March 2015 by the energy efficiency regulations 2015. (Section 63 equivalent)
When is an EPC required?
When a building is built, sold or rented
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years
When must you display an EPC (Scotland)?
An EPC must also be obtained and displayed in a building over 250 m² in area, which is occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public.
