Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
What is sustainable development?
The objective is to produce high quality – and crucially – sustainable developments:
• quality homes and neighbourhoods
• places where people actually want to live, to work and to raise families, and
• places that work – and will continue to work - and not just for us, but for our children and for our children’s children.
That’s what sustainability is all about; the integration of schools, community facilities, employment, transport and amenities with the housing development process in a timely, cost-effective way.
What are the triple bottom line principles?
The three core triple bottom line principles are economic, social and environmental.
Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?
Ireland is a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which supports a global response to climate change. The convention has 197 members and is the parent treaty of the Paris Agreement.
Ireland contributes to the agreement through climate action plans submitted by the European Union on behalf of member states. These plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), outline the strategies and targets a country is taking to tackle climate change.
The EU’s NDC commits to a 40% reduction in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.
What targets did one of these set?
The Paris agreement sets out a long-term goal to limit climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
The EU has commited to a 40% reduction in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.
What are the most recent national/international targets relating to sustainability?
The Climate Action Plan follows the Climate Act 2021, which commits Ireland to:
1) a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050,
2) a reduction of 51% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
3) to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and support them in their efforts.
What was the Kyoto Protocol and what were it’s targets?
The Kyoto Protocol – a milestone in global efforts to combat climate change. With the Kyoto Protocol, the international community agreed for the first time on binding targets and measures for combating climate change. The Kyoto Protocol stipulates global ceilings for greenhouse gas emissions.
Target: Reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% against 1990 levels, over the 2008-2012 period.
How can buildings impact upon the environment?
A large part of building sustainably is concerned with addressing the global warming that is driving climate change;
using energy conservation and techniques such as life-cycle assessment to maintain a balance between capital cost and long-term asset value.
It is also about enhancing biodiversity, creating spaces that are healthy, economically viable and sensitive to social needs. Rather than constantly battling against the natural environment, we need to start respecting natural systems and learning
from ecological processes: creating a better balance between human need and the wider environment.
Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?
Electric car charging ports and an easily accessible bike store room, excellent public transport services.
Urban density so that residents do not depend on the car so heavily.
Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?
BER, LEED, BREEAM.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
Corporate Social Responsibility is how businesses conduct themselves in order to have a positive impact on society. CSR is generally understood as being the way through which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line- Approach”
What is BER?
BER is a Building Energy Rating – it is a certificate that indicates the energy performance of a building based on a scale of A-G. It is calculated through energy use for heating, lighting and ventilation. It is a legal obligation to have a BER rating for the letting or sale of any building, apart from those exempt such as protected structures.
What is BREEAM?
BREEAM is Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. BREEAM assesses the environmental, social and economic sustainability of a building . It is a voluntary sustainability assessment method.
What is RICS SKA?
SKA rating is an environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit-outs, led by RICS. SKA rating helps landlords and tenants assess fit-out projects against a set of sustainability good practice criteria .. With the goal to reducing operating costs, improving energy and water management, increase asset value with a low carbon building and improve occupier engagement and wellbeing.
What is LEED?
LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a voluntary sustainability assessment method. LEED looks at six categories such as water efficiency and indoor air quality.
What is Passivhaus?
Passive houses refers to buildings created to rigorous energy efficient design standards so that they are built to optimise thermal gain and minimise thermal losses. This means that the energy required to heat a passive house is 90% lower than that of other buildings. … They use renewable energy sources like solar panels, geothermal energy or heat pumps. Buildings are certified by the Passivhaus Institute.
Name one example of Government policy on energy efficiency for buildings?
New build homes must be A-rated.
What is a Memorandum of Understanding?
The purpose of an MOA is to have a written formal understanding of the agreement between parties.
What is a green lease?
A green lease is not a specific type of document and there currently is no industry standard “green lease” in place. Instead, it is better to understand the concept as being a series of provisions that can be inserted into the types of leases that we already use. These provisions enable owners and occupiers of buildings to work together to reduce the environmental impact of those buildings and to improve sustainability. For example:
reducing carbon emissions;
compliance with energy efficiency regulations;
waste reduction strategies; and
green transport measures.
There will also be a requirement under the lease to regularly report on these matters in a standardised fashion.
What RICS guidance relates to sustainability?
Environmental Risks and Global Real Estate.
Sustainability and commercial property valuation.
Sustainability & ESG in commercial property valuation and strategic advice
How do you assess a building’s sustainability characteristics?
Optimization of site potential,
preservation of regional and cultural identity,
minimization of energy consumption,
protection and conservation of water resources,
use of environmentally friendly materials and products,
a healthy and convenient indoor climate,
and optimized operational and maintenance practices.
How can a BER impact upon value or use of a building?
Energy ratings can have a huge impact on the value of your property. Energy efficiency has become an additional factor in determining the value of your house in Ireland. A house with a good efficiency rating can increase your home value by 10% compared to a lower BER rating. For your home to have a higher BER rating, it will have a reduction in your energy costs and put your home in higher value if you were to sell. It has shown by results that it really can have a positive effect on the sale of your property.
Tell me about an example of sustainable design.
MVG encapsulated sustainable design as it included major regeneration of the seafront marina area of Greystones village. This included the development of breakwaters, slipways, a marina, coastguard station, and yacht club facilities to revive the marina. All homes were A-rated, with solar panels, high levels of insulation and electric car charging points. A 12-acre park was built with a playground,walking route, dog park and lots of local trees and shrubbery planted. Residents were encouraged to use public transport and bikes, rather than cars. This was incentivised with lots of bicycle parking in convenient locations, and the provision of one parking space per apartment. A bus stop was added outside the development and the DART train station was located within a 15-minute walk.
