Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Meeting the needs of today, without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs
What is sustainable development?
Development which meets the needs of today, without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs
What is the triple bottom line?
Economic social and environmental for business focus
How can I be more sustainable?
- Travel less / smarter
- Consume less - reduce reuse recycle
Limit plastic consumption
Why is sustainability important for property?
- Responsible for 35% worldwide energy usage
- 40% CO2 emissions
- 2/3 global building will still be here in 2040
Is their RICS guidance on sustainability?
Sustainability and ESG in Commercial Property Valuation and Strategic Advice 2021
RICS Global Professional Guidance Note Sustainably & Commercial Property Valuation 2017
RICS Enviro Risks and Global Real Estate 2018
RICS Sustainability Report 2022
Can you tell me how the RICS is committed to sustainability?
Annual Sustainability Report 2022
- Highlight need for suitability strategies to meet net zero
- Global benchmark for climate, climate sustainability practice
What is a limitation of sustainability?
Often costs more than less sustainable alternative
What is economic sustainability?
Efficient use of resources wile ensuring property meets required standards while ensuring value for money
What is social sustainability?
Development that responds to the needs of wider community and brings social value
What is environmental sustainability?
Prevention of harm to the environment, minimising waste production and resource/energy consumption
What are the key areas required for sustainability action?
Physical characteristics of buildings
Impact on affected locations
Legislation
Increase attitudes and awareness
What key property valuation issues can sustainability affect?
- Market Rent
- Market Value
- Investment Value
- Fair Value
What is key legislation of sustainability?
Environmental Protection Act (1990)
Environmental Act (1995)
Energy Act (2011)
Climate Change Act (2008)
What are building regulations?
Set of minimum regulations and standards that all new buildings must be built to
A - S e.g. fire safety B
What is the NPPF?
National Planning Policy Framework
Presumption in favour of sustainable development
What is the Energy Act (2011)?
Introduced Energy Efficiency Regulations (2015)
- MEES
- Unlawful to let properties with EPC less than E from 1st April 2018
What is the Climate Change Act (2008)
Long term UK framework for cutting carbon emissions
- Require UK to achieve net zero by 2050
- Also an interim target of 78% reduction in emissions by 2030
What are carbon budgets?
5 yearly carbon budgets set by UK gov
Restrict amount of greenhouse gas UK can emit in a 5 year period
What is the Green Industrial Revolution
UK gov 10 point plan for sustainability
- £12bn investment and 25000 jobs ion areas such as transport infrastructure and energy efficiency
What is the Building Better Partnership (BPP)?
Commitment from leading property funds and REITs to achieve net zero
How can carbon reductions and energy efficiency savings be made in buildings?
- Design - construction use and refurb
- Construction - materials and building design
- Use - retrofit energy efficient measures and renewables
- Refurbishment
What is the UK Green Building Council Framework?
Ways to meet net zero target
- Establish net zero carbon scope
- Reduce construction impact
- Reduce operational energy use
- Increase renewable energy supply
- Offset any remaining supply
What are key climate change conventions and frameworks?
- UN Convention on Framework on Climate Change
- Kyoto Protocol
- Paris Agreement
- COP 26
- Climate Change Act
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
International agreement linked to the UN Framework on Convention on Climate Change
- Commit parties to binding emission reduction targets
What is the Paris Agreement?
Legally binding climate change treaty
Framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to 2 degrees
What is the Climate Change Act?
UK Framework for cutting emissions - legally binding
- Net zero by 2050
- 78% reduction by 2030
What was COP 26 and what were the outcomes?
UN Climate Change Conference Held in 2021
Outcomes:
- $130tn private investment in net zero
- All UK firms must provide net zero plan by 2023
- Strengthen Paris Agreement Targets
What are the 2020/30/50 EU targets?
- Reduce emissions by 37% by 2020 on 1990 levels
- Reduce emissions by 57% by 2030 on 1990 levels
- Reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 on 1990 levels
What is a renewable heat incentive?
UK gov scheme to encourage uptake of renewable tech amongst households communities and businesses - financial incentives
How do buildings impact on the environment?
Poorly designed buildings use increased energy, poor waste management etc
- Globally - 40% emissions, 35% energy use
What are examples of sustainable design features?
Good Insulation
Sustainable materials
Use of natural resources
Renewable tech - solar pv, ASHP
Green roofs
What is the energy performance buildings directive?
EU Legislation on increasing energy performance
Requirements:
- better standards of energy conservation for new refurbs
- establish methodology for energy performance
- min requirements for energy performance
- energy certification for all leasing/sale
- mandatory inspection of air-con and boilers
What are renewable energy options?
- Wind
- Solar
- Hydro
What is BREEAM?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
- Scheme for providing certification on a buildings sustainability performance
When was BREEAM established?
1990
- 550,000 buildings certified and 2 million registered for certification
What are some BREEAM assessment categories?
- Management
- Health and well-being
- Energy
- Waste
- Water
- Pollution
- Transport
- Innovation
- Materials
How is BREEAM assessed?
By an accredited assessor at key stages of the property lifecycle from design, construction and operation - credit given to each category, giving an overall score
What are the BREEAM rating thresholds?
- Unclassified
- Good
- Very good
- Excellent
- Outstanding
What are the benefits of BREEAM?
- Raise awareness of owners, occupiers and designers of sustainable approaches
- Drive innovation
- Impact on sites
- increase value
- better operating costs
- social responsibility for clients
What are the drawbacks of BREEAM?
- Complex weighting system
- Costly to comply
- Some credits are incidental i.e. prominence to a train station
How would you explain BREEAM to a client?
- Increased capital and rental value
- Improve operating costs
- Improve marketability