Sustainability Flashcards
What does BREEAM stand for?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
What is BREEAM?
An international independent sustainability assessment method for buildings, measuring the an assets social, economic and environmental sustainability performance, using standards developed by BRE.
There are 5 possible ratings from Pass to Outstanding
It can be used on existing and new assets
Name some of the BREEAM sustainability categories used for assessments?
Energy - looking at energy efficiency and carbon reduction
Health and Wellbeing - Comfort and H&S of users
Innovation
Land use - sustainable land use. Such as brownfield sites
Materials - responsibly sourced and low embodied energy
Management - sustainable management practices
Pollution - light, flooding, run off, noise, emissions to air, land and water
Transport - sustainable transport options
Waste - management of construction and life cycle waste
Water - sustainable water use in building and on site
Name some different BREEAM Standards?
Communities
Infrastructure
New Construction
In-Use
Refurbishment & Fit Out
how does BREEAM influence sustainability?
Stimulates demand for sustainable buildings
mitigates life cycle impacts of the buildings on the environment
Forces designers to consider the addition of sustainability in buildings to achieve a good rating
What is embodied energy?
The sum impact of greenhouse gas emmisions attributed to a material during its life cycle. (From extraction, transport, manufacture, build, operation and disposal).
What does BRE stand for?
When were they established?
Building Research Establishment
1921
What is Passivhaus?
The aim is to provide a high level of occupant comfort whilst using very little energy for heating and cooling and low running costs.
Stays cool in summer through building orientation and window shading.
Low running costs
Draught free and air tight.
High insulation and renewable heating sources.
Use of solar panels and MHVR
Very high levels of insulation
Triple glazing
No air leakages
No thermal bridges
Needs 90% less energy provided by sun, appliances and your body heat
Proposed Passivhaus must undergo energy modelling via the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP)
How would you go about getting a Passivhaus certified?
You would go to a UK consultant who can use the Passivhaus Planning Package to undergo energy modelling to ensure it is suitable for certification
Ways to retrofit existing properties?
Internal / External insulation Solar Panels MHVR system Air Pump Ground source heat pumps biomass boilers improve windows
How do Solar Panels Work
Uses heat from the sun to either heat hot water (Solar Thermal) or electric (Solar Electric)
How do Biomass Boilers work?
Burn woodchips and other biological matter to produce heat for heating systems
How do heat pumps work
Air source, works opposite to a fridge, takes warm air from outside to heat up internally
Ground Source, takes heat from the ground through pipes
Define Sustainable Development?
To meet the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Name some basics of sustainability?
Land use: - Greenfield (agricultural), Brownfield (previously developed),
Ecology
◼ Design / Construction: - Materials, Material resource efficiency, Embodied
energy
◼ Waste Management: - Recycling
◼ Operational / Energy Efficiency: - Services, Part L
◼ Renewable Energy: - Wind, Solar, etc.
Name some pillars of sustainability?
◼ Social: - Building healthy communities with sufficient numbers and range of
buildings
◼ Economical: - Build strong, responsive, competitive economy ensuring
sufficient land and right types
◼ Environmental: - Contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built
and historic environment
What is the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)?
Sets out the government planning policy.
Name some international sustainability legislation
◼ Paris Agreement 2016
An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
When are EPC’s exempt?
A listed building
Places of workship
industrial and agricultural buildings
How long are EPC’s valid?
10 years
What is a SKA rating?
For non-domestic fit outs (think office refurbishments)
RICS Environmental Assessment Method
Assess fitout projects against a set of sustainability good practice
criteria, known
as Good Practice Measures (GPM)
Implements as an alternative to BREEAM (whole building
assessments), which
are high cost and produce unsatisfactory results
What is LEED?
(Life Cycle Assessment)
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
- USA equivalent of BREEAM
- Ratings are silver, gold and platinum
What are whole life carbon assessments?
Looks at embodied aspect of carbon emissions as well as life cycle assessment (construction and operation)
What is sustainability?
Sustainability means meeting our own needs without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social
and economic resources. Sustainability is not just environmentalism. Embedded in most definitions of sustainability we also find
concerns for social equity and economic development
How is sustainability negatively impacted by the building and planning regulations?
Sometimes the government doesn’t move quick enough to put together new legislation to govern change. I also believe we should be encouraging the use of existing derelict properties to encourage environmental, economic and social sustainability in poorly funded areas.
What is sustainable timber?
From sources where cut down trees are replaced with new. Timber requires minimal processing compared to other construction materials so has a lower embodied energy.
What is the EPC requirement?
For non-dwellings and dwellings they are required on construction, sale or rent.
Tell me how you incorporated a sustainable approach during your case study project?
Considered whether there were any materials I could retain or reuse to prevent landfill waste.
What do you understand by the term sustainable technology?
innovation that considers natural resources and fosters economic and social development
Sustainability in technology can be defined in a few ways:
Substitution. The technology fosters a shift from non-biodegradable to biodegradable materials in its production. It also replaces non-renewable with renewable resources.
Prevention. The sustainable technology prevents deterioration, contamination, and other negative environmental impacts through its use or production.
Efficiency. The technology is efficient in terms of its use of energy and resources
Sustainability in technology has already made its way into public use and innovation. Common examples of sustainable technology and innovations include:
Public and electric transport
LED light technology
Solar power
Carbon capture and storage technologies
Self-sufficient and LEED buildings and construction methods
What is LEED Certification?
‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’
For most projects, there are four levels of LEED certification, depending on how many points the project has earned: certified, silver, gold, or platinum. According to the USGBC, there are nine key areas measured by LEED:
■Sustainable Sites ■Water Efficiency ■Energy and Atmosphere ■Materials and Resources ■Indoor Environmental Quality ■Location and Linkages ■Awareness and Education ■Innovation in Design ■Regional Priority
The LEED plaque on a building is a mark of quality and achievement in green building.
Leaders across the globe have made LEED the most widely used green building rating system in the world with 1.85 million square feet of construction space certifying every day. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings. LEED is the triple bottom line in action, benefiting people, planet and profit.
What Acts / Legislation are associated with Sustainability?
The Paris Agreement (international treaty on climate change)
Wildlife and countryside Act
Climate Change Act 2008 (reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050)
