Sustainability

Question 1

What is the RICs commitment to sustainability and how does it relate to governmental and market initiatives particularly relating to climate change?

Question 2

Advancing responsible business in Land, Construction, Real Estate Use and Investment
(2018)

published by the UN Global Compact and RICS

What is in it / tell me about it?

Answer 2

sets out how organisations can identify and address the impact of their activities and decision making when commissioning, planning, designing, constructing and operating buildings.

Question 3

how does the RICS help sustainability?

Answer 3

through evidence based research - ‘Sustainability rises up the agenda in the UK facilities management sector (2021)’

Question 4

what are some RICS best practise requirements relating to sustainability?

Answer 4

• Rules of conduct
• red book global (eg VPGA 8)
• guidance note ‘ sustainability and ESG guidance in commercial property valuation and strategic advise 2021.
• Best practise training - ‘Environmental clauses in commercial leases’
• certification eg - RICS ‘SKA’ rating system for the fit out of commercial premises.

Question 5

how will net zero carbon objectives affect RE?

Question 6

achieving NET ZERO CARBON

tell me about some legislation that relates to this and what it sets out?

Answer 6

The Climate Change Act 2008 - amended 2019

requires the UK to achieve ‘net zero carbon’ emissions by 2050
an interim target of reducing carbon emissions by 78% by 2030

Question 7

a number of REITs and property funds have publicly committed achieving net zero carbon by 2050 under what pledge?

Answer 7

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP pledge)

Question 8

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has a framework addressing the issue which ranks necessary actions in order
for net zero carbon

(5)

What are they?

Answer 8

1. establish net zero carbon scope
   - across the whole life cycle of a building, eg. construction, use, refurbishment, demolition etc.
2. reduce construction impacts
   - developers need to think about what materials they use and building designs.
3. reduce operational energy use
   - LL should consider how to retro fit and how to work with occupiers to make this happen. BBP ‘design for performance’ initiatives should help with this.
4. increase renewable energy supply.
   LL and developers to consider how to integrate within designs and retrofits
5. offsetting any remaining carbon
   - last resort, eg planting trees, good for biodiversity as well

Question 9

EPC

Energy Performance Certificates

under the climate change act