Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainable development?
Meting the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of a future generation to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report)
Why is sustainable development important?
Built environment accounts for 40% of carbon emissions in the UK.
UK construction industry is one of the largest consumer of resources.
There is a responsibility of those who work in the industry to make sure the impact is as limited as possible.
What is our role as PMs to positively influence sustainability/ sustainable developments?
Responsibility as a member of the industry to make a positive impact.
PM sits in the centre of the development and is therefore in a good position to influence the client to make a more sustainable choice and a position of influence to enforce this among the design team.
What are the key pillars of sustainability?
How are they implemented?
Economic- investment in the local area E.g. CIL payments
Social - promote well being and vibrant healthy communities e.g. s106, affordable housing, public realm, sustainable construction
Environmental - enhance the natural environment / resource E.g renewable resources, ecological areas, public realm, community space
Give some examples of sustainable technologies.
Rainwater harvesting - collects rainwater for non-potable uses
Grey water harvesting - reuses water from the building (eg shower) for non-potable uses
Green roofs - roofing system with vegetation to decrease surface runoff, increase aesthetic, increase biodiversity and habitat, increase air quality, and reduce need for thermal offering.
Blue roofs - collect rainwater and release slowly over 24 hrs
SuDS - technique to manage the drainage of surface water into the urban environment
Give some examples of renewable energy in construction.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels - convert sunlight to electricity
Ground / Air source heat pumps - convert natural resource for heating
Wind turbines
Hydroelectric dams
Tidal range
Biomass - burning organic materials to create energy
What is embodied carbon?
Total about of carbon used to create the asset
Includes every part of the construction process - deconstruction, processing of raw materials, manufacture, transportation, installation at site, maintenance, and end of life processes of materials.
Expressed kgCO2/kg
What is net zero carbon?
Requires both embodied and operational carbon emissions to be ‘zero’.
Goal to balance the number of emissions you produce by the actions you take to remove them from polluting the atmosphere.
What is whole life carbon?
EMBODIED + OPERATIONAL = WHOLE LIFE
- embodied: carbon contained within the building
- operational: carbon produced from running the building
Queen St / Fitzroy
- WLCA assessment that was updated at the end of RIBA S2, S4, and PC to fully understand the carbon impact of the building on the environment.
- required consultant / contractor input to gain max amount of detail.
Forms of Regulation?
LEGISLATION
International
- Paris Agreement, 2015 –> UN countries signed agreement to limit global warming to +2oC
National
- Town & Country Planning Act, 1990 —> s106 obligations & planning conditions can be imposed eg affordable housing / public realm contributions / noise & air quality.
—> 2017 update requires Environmental Impact Assessment (EAI)
- National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) —> framework for local authorities to set their town planning against eg some councils require a Waste Management Plan (WMP)
Local
- Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) —> allocates money from a specific development to contribute to local infrastructure (directly relate to econ and social aspects of sustainability). Rates set by Local Authority but usually given to any development over 1,000sqft
- Greater London Authority (GLA) —> London Plan sets out sustainable design and construction policy in s5.3. Drive’s development to improve environmental performance and adapt to the effects of climate change over time.
BUILDING REGULATIONS
- Building regs Part L (conservation of fuel and power)
- limits heat loss / gain in buildings - generally promoting efficient services and temp controls
- Aims to control U-values
Tell me about NABERS.
National Australian Built Environment Rating System
Measures the buildings efficiency across energy, water, waste, and indoor environment.
1ES - targeted 5* NABERS to become the first retrofit to achieve this credential.
Design IDR at Stage 3 - sustainability and MEP consultant presented. IDR panel review all evidence and highlight largest consumption areas to show where improvements can be made. NABERS is crucially also about operational and the tenant needs buy into the process as well, the tenant fit out guide needs to capture the tenant requirements while the building is in operation to maintain the rating.
1ES - to achieve the 5* and continue to target the 5.5* the team worked through optionality study to change the SW facade to a triple glazed system. Had to measure the increase in embodied carbon agains the saving of operational carbon and considered to be worthwhile intervention as it would benefit the whole life carbon of the building.
Tell me about BREEAM.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
- Energy
- Management
- Transport
- Land use & ecology
- Water
- Health & Wellbeing
- Materials & awareness
- Pollution
Approved inspector appointed to determine rating (eg. Outstanding - pass).
Credits awarded against each criteria and submitted to the BRE to receive a grade for each building.
Local authorities can request a building meets a particular score.
Different matrix’s to measure against - new build, refurb, in-use
What are the shortcomings of BREEAM?
Can be viewed as a tickbox exercise rather than a genuine ambition to create sustainable development.
Can have higher capital costs for the developer for the building to reach the required standard which may not be reflected in the rents / appreciation.
Tell me about WELL.
Focus on assessing the social and well being offering of the building.
Performance based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring the impact on human health:
1. Air
2. Nourishment
3. Fitness
4. Mind
5. Water
6. Light
7. Comfort
Fitzroy St - WELL Gold
- complete pre PC intended evidence E.g. inclusive environment, signage, suitable furniture
- assessed by WELL to ensure the intended design meets requirements
- final assessment post PC
Tell me about your role on Queen St.
- worked with the client to develop the sustainability brief that aligned with clients corporate ESG goals
• 100% electric
• BREEAM Excellent
• SuDS (blue & green roof)
• Water reuse within the building
• wellness offering - gym & EOT facilities - My role - brief the team and ensure their buy in.
- Appoint sustainability consultant and liaise with them to manage design process.
- Scheduled regular meetings with the wider team to review tracker containing all targeted credits.
- Procurer relevant analysis when require eg TM54 operational analysis study
- Provided client with monthly updates on progress
