Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is sustainable development?

Answer 2

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 3

What is ‘triple bottom line’?

Answer 3

Concept that broadens a business’ focus on the financial bottom line to give equal focus to social, economic and environmental considerations

Question 4

What are the key global agreements regarding climate change?

Answer 4

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
Kyoto Protocol
Paris Agreement

Question 5

What is the key UK legislation for tackling climate change?

Answer 5

Climate Change Act 2008
The Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019

Question 6

What did the Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 6

Commits the UK government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (net zero) by 2050
Was previously 80% but was amended by The Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 2019

Question 7

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 7

Legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris in 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.

Works on a five- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries

Question 8

What was the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 8

Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.

Question 9

What were the targets of the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 9

Industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% against 1990 levels, over the 2008-2012 period

Question 10

What is net zero?

Answer 10

Achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and the carbon removed from it. This balance – or net zero – will happen when the amount of carbon we add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount removed

Question 11

What is the UK’s target for net zero?

Answer 11

2050

Question 12

What procedures does your firm implement to promote sustainability?

Answer 12

Recycling in offices, no to landfill policy
Use of energy efficient lighting (LEDs, PIRs)
Energy efficient equipment (LED lamps, energy efficient monitors)
Environmental Champion for each office
Cycle to work schemes
Reduce printing by using cloud based systems

Question 13

What is solar gain and how can it be managed in buildings?

Answer 13

The increase in temperature in a space or structure due to solar radiation

Limit size and area of openings such as doors and windows
Shading or orientating doors and windows away from direct sunlight
Using reflective materials on the glass and building fabric
Insulating walls and roof spaces to prevent indirect solar gains into the building

Question 14

What is BREEAM?

Answer 14

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
Method of assessing, rating and certifying the sustainability of buildings
It’s categories evaluate energy and water use, health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. Buildings are rated and certified on a scale of ‘Pass’, ‘Good’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding
Certifications include: BREEAM New Construction, BREEAM In-Use, BREEAM Refurbishment and BREEAM Communities

Question 15

What is an EPC?

Answer 15

Energy Performance Certificate
Assessment of how energy efficient a building is (rating from A to G).
Also includes recommendations to improve energy efficiency

Question 16

What is MEES?

Answer 16

Minimum energy efficiency standards
From April 2018 commercial properties in England and Wales with a rating of F or G cannot be let to new tenants or renew/extend with existing tenants
From April 2023 landlord’s cannot continue to let sub-standard non-domestic property to existing tenants

Question 17

What are the upcoming changes to MEES?

Answer 17

By 2027 minimum EPC rating of C
By 2030 minimum EPC rating of B

Question 18

When is an EPC not required?

Answer 18

Building is officially protected
Places of worship
Temporary building with planned time of use of two years or less
Industrial sites, workshops, non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand
Stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m²

Question 19

What is the PRS Exemptions Register?

Answer 19

Register established under MEES which landlord’s of sub-standard property can register certain information relating to the property (including grounds for exemption from compliance with the regulations_

Question 20

In what scenario can a commercial landlord let a property with an EPC of F or G?

Answer 20

An exemption applies that has been registered on the PRS Exemptions Register
Landlord has made all the relevant energy efficiency improvements that can be made to a property and it is still below an E and has be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register

Question 21

What are some example exemptions under MEES?

Answer 21

1. High cost - if making the cheapest recommended improvement would cost over £3,500
2. Recommended measure has payback longer than 7 years
3. All improvements have been made
4. Wall insulation - where only relevant improvements are cavity wall insulation, external wall insultation or internal wall insulation and expert advise shows with negatively impacts the fabric or structure of the property
5. Third party consent - (temporary exemption) head landlord consent or planning may delay recommendations being carried out
6. Devaluation - recommendations will devalue property by more than 5%
7. New landlord exemption - (temporary exemption)

Question 22

What is the penalty for non-compliance with MEES?

Answer 22

When renting out property for a period of fewer than three months penalty is equivalent to 10% of the property’s rateable value (minimu of £5,000 and a maximum of £50,000)
After three months, the penalty rises to 20% of the rateable value, (minimum penalty of £10,000 and a maximum of £150,000)

Question 23

What are some examples of recomendations on a EPC?

Answer 23

Consider installing:
- PV panels
- Solar water heating
- LED lighting
- Air source heat pump

Question 24

What is a DEC?

Answer 24

A Display Energy Certificate
Designed to show the energy performance of public buildings
Must be displayed in a prominent place

Question 25

Can you give some examples of sustainable design features?

Answer 25

PV panels
Ground source heat pumps
Energy efficient fixtures and fittings e.g. smart meters, LEDs, PIRs
Energy efficient insulation and ventilation e.g. site layout, natural ventilation and shading
Combined heat and power
Rainwater harvesting and recycling
Biodiversity enhancement

Question 26

Provide some examples of initiatives you have introduced to improve the sustainability of the buildings you manage?

Answer 26

Biodiverse/wildflower planting
Energy consultants to monitor and identify areas to improve - Evora, Demand Logic
EV charging points
Renewable electricity providers
Zero to landfill policies

Question 27

What is a carbon budget?

Answer 27

Places a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a 5-year period
UK is first country to set legally binding budgets

Question 28

What is the Infrastructure Act 2015?

Answer 28

Wide-ranging piece of planning and infrastructure legislation in UK that targets transport, energy provision, housing development and nationally significant infrastructure projects

Question 29

What did the Infrastructure Act 2015 say about climate change?

Answer 29

This act makes provisions for a range of infrastructure projects and strategies across the country. It notably makes provisions to enable building regulations to provide for off-site carbon abatement measures

Question 30

What was the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme?

Answer 30

Government environmental programme that provided financial incentives to increase the uptake of renewable heat by businesses, the public sector and non-profit organisations
Closed for new appliations in March 2021

Question 31

What’s included in an EPC?

Answer 31

Property name and address
Energy rating (A+ to G)
Property Type (its use)
Property size
Breakdown of the property’s energy performance
Recommendations as to how it can be improved

Question 32

What is the penalty for failure to display a DEC?

Answer 32

£500 fine
Further £1000 for failure to have possession of an advisory report

Question 33

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Answer 33

Form of business self-regulation which aims to contribute to societal goals that are activist or charitable in nature

Question 34

What is SKA Rating?

Answer 34

RICS environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard non-domestic fit outs - against as set of sustainability good practice criteria

Question 35

What is LEED?

Answer 35

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Desing
Green building rating system
Provides framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost’saving green buildings

Question 36

What is combined heat and power?

Answer 36

Highly efficient process that captures and utilises the heat that is a by product of the electricity generation process

Question 37

What is a ground source heat pump?

Answer 37

Extracts heat from the ground to heat up buildings
It uses a buried network of fluid-filled pipes connected to a compressor and pump unit and can be used to run central heating systems

Question 38

Name some UK legislation regarding climate change and sustainabilty?

Answer 38

Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Amendment) 2019
The Environment Act 2021
The Environmental Protection Act 1990
MEES 2018

Question 39

What’s the penalty for not having an EPC?

Answer 39

12.5% of rateable value
Minimum £500 - maximum £5,000