Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is sustainable development?

Answer 2

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 3

Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?

Answer 3

The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement that aimed to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the presence of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.

Question 4

What targets did the Kyoto Protocol set?

Answer 4

the Protocol mandated that 37 industrialized nations plus the European Community cut their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5 per cent below 1990 levels

Question 5

What are the most recent EU / UK targets relating to sustainability?

Answer 5

The government has committed the UK to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 in legislation, through the Climate Change Act 2008 (2050 Target Amendment) Order 201915.

Question 6

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 6

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Question 7

What are the 2020/2030/2050 EU environmental targets?

Answer 7

The EU recently adopted a 55 % net emissions reduction target by 2030, which takes into account carbon removals from forestry activities. This target paves the way for achieving climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.

Question 8

Explain your understanding of COP26.

Answer 8

COP stands for Conference of the Parties, and the summit was attended by the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a treaty that came into force in 1994.

This was the 26th COP summit and was hosted in partnership between the UK and Italy. The conference was held in Glasgow from 1-12 November 2021, a year later than planned due to delays caused by the COVID pandemic.

Question 9

What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 9

The Climate Change Act 2008 is the basis for the UK’s approach to tackling and responding to climate change. It requires that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are reduced and that climate change risks are adapted to.

Question 10

How can buildings impact upon the environment?

Answer 10

According to some studies, construction is responsible for up to 50% of climate change.

The on-going use of buildings can also impact the environment through the use of energy and resources.

Question 11

Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?

Answer 11

PV Panels

Question 12

Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?

Answer 12

Energy Performance Certificate

Question 13

Can you explain your understanding of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) to me?

Answer 13

The domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties. It is unlawful to let domestic properties to new or existing tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below a band E.

Question 14

Key Dates for MEES?

Answer 14

What is MEES?

Under MEES, from 1 April 2018 it has been illegal to grant a new lease, lease renewal or lease extension of a property with an EPC rating of F or G.

From 1 April 2020, existing leases of residential properties became unlawful for properties with an EPC rating of F or G.

How will MEES be tightened?

From 1 April 2023, the above will apply to existing leases of commercial properties.

Question 15

What is an EPC?

Answer 15

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legally valid document which provides an energy efficiency rating (displayed on an A-G scale) in relation to a property’s running costs. This rating will take into account the potential energy performance of the property itself (the fabric) and its services (heating, lighting, hot water etc).

Question 16

When is an EPC required?

Answer 16

You must have an EPC if:

• You rent out or sell the premises
• A building under construction is finished
• There are changes to the number of parts used for separate occupation and these changes involve providing or extending fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems

Question 17

Which buildings are exempt from having an EPC?

Answer 17

• Building is listed or officially protected and the minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter it.
• A temporary building only going to be used for 2 years or less;
  residential building that will be used for less than four months of the year.
• Building used as a place of worship or for other religious activities;
  an industrial site, workshop or non-residential agricultural building that doesn’t use much energy.
• Building due to be demolished by the seller or landlord.

Question 18

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Answer 18

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental.

Question 19

How can an EPC impact upon value or use of a building?

Answer 19

The value of the property can increase with an improved EPC rating. The use of the building can change if the energy performance is improved as the energy bills may increase / decrease.

Question 20

Tell me about sustainable design / construction considerations/materials.

Answer 20

Sustainable design - Seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments.

Question 21

What sustainable improvable features would you be looking for and how do these relate to different property types/ages?

Answer 21

Windows - single glazed timber windows

Insulation - loft insulation, EWI, IWI

More efficient heating systems, boilers etc.

Question 22

What is Off Site Manufacture (OSM)?

Answer 22

Offsite manufacturing (OSM) and modular construction are methods of building where components are made remotely, then delivered and assembled on site. Components may include wall, roof or floor panels or even complete rooms.

Question 23

What is BREEAM

Answer 23

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a sustainability assessment method that is used to masterplan projects, infrastructure and buildings. Launched in 1990, by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) it sets standards for the environmental performance of buildings through the design, specification, construction and operation phases and can be applied to new developments or refurbishment schemes.

Question 24

What is the climate change levy?

Answer 24

The Climate Change Levy is an environmental tax charged on the energy that businesses use. It’s designed to encourage businesses to be more energy efficient in how they operate, as well as helping to reduce their overall emissions.

The CCL applies to businesses in the industrial, public services, commercial and agricultural sectors, and is charged on ‘taxable commodities’ for heating, lighting and power purposes.

Question 25

What Building Regulation relates to energy efficiency?

Answer 25

Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power

Question 26

What is SUDS?

Answer 26

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are drainage solutions that provide an alternative to the direct channelling of surface water through networks of pipes and sewers to nearby watercourses.

By mimicking natural drainage regimes, SuDS aim to reduce surface water flooding, improve water quality and enhance the amenity and biodiversity value of the environment. SuDS achieve this by lowering flow rates, increasing water storage capacity and reducing the transport of pollution to the water environment.

Question 27

What is net biodiversity gain?

Answer 27

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand.

Question 28

What is ISO14001?

Answer 28

ISO 14001 - ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified to. It maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.

Designed for any type of organization, regardless of its activity or sector, it can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved.

Question 29

What does the term whole life carbon mean?

Answer 29

Whole Life-Cycle Carbon (WLC) emissions are the carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction and the use of a building over its entire life, including its demolition and disposal.

Question 30

What opportunities to decarbonise exist in the building life cycle?

Answer 30

Make the building as energy efficient as possible.

Question 31

What further changes are proposed to minimum energy standards relating to private residential property?

Answer 31

The government has proposed further EPC changes by raising the minimum energy efficiency standard from ‘E’ to ‘C’ for private rental properties. Initially tabled for 2025, it has been suggested by Housing Secretary Michael Gove that this could be pushed back to 2028.

Question 32

Explain your understanding of NABERS.

Answer 32

NABERS (which stands for the National Australian Built Environment Rating System) provides simple, reliable, and comparable sustainability measurement you can trust across building sectors like hotels, shopping centres, apartments, offices, data centres, and more.