Sustainability

Question 1

What is an EPC?

Answer 1

Energy Performance Certificates

Tells you how energy efficient a property is and rates it from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

Question 2

What are the current EPC rules?

Answer 2

For resi properties:

• EPCs are required for the construction, sale or rent of residential and business premises
• Unlawful to let a properties with a rating of F or G minimum required threshold being a rating of E

Question 3

What are the exceptions of EPC’s?

Answer 3

• 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 4

What is included within an EPC?

Answer 4

• Property address
• Property floor area
• EPC certificate number
• EPC expiry Date
• Information on the property’s energy provision
• Estimation of energy running costs
• Energy performance rating (A - G)

Question 5

What are the fines/penalties in place for non-compliance?

Answer 5

Resi - £200 civil fixed penalty (for non-display of EPC information on marketing material)

Question 6

Who enforces those penalties for EPCs?

Answer 6

The Local Authorities’ Trading Standards

Question 7

What is the main act in place surrounding sustainability?

CHECK

Answer 7

Climate Change Act 2008

Energy Act 2011

Question 8

Who can produce an EPC?

Answer 8

An EPC must be produced by an accredited energy assessor

Question 9

How long are EPC’s valid for?

Answer 9

10 years

Question 10

What other certificate is required for public buildings?

Question 11

What is MEES?

Answer 11

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards introduced by the Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015

Question 12

What are the minimum standards?

Answer 12

• New leases from 1 April 2018 – both residential and commercial requires a minimum EPC rating of E.
• All existing leases from 1 April 2020 for residential and 2023 for commercial.

Question 13

What are the penalties for non-compliance for MEES? (residential property)

Answer 13

• Less than 3 months = £2,000
• More than 3 months = £4,000

Question 14

What are the exceptions for MEES?

Question 15

How would you apply for an EPC exemption?

Question 16

What were the five key themes from the 2022 RICS Sustainability Report?
(submission)

Answer 16

• A lot of discussion but little meaningful action
• It is a matter of cost
• We need a change in processes
• Bring renovation of the existing building stock into focus
• Policy and the right incentives are more important than ever

Question 17

What is the RICS commitment to sustainability?

Answer 17

To the help decarbonise the built environment, build climate resilience, promote, and protect biodiversity and embed circular economy principles.

Question 18

Where do you find EPCs?

Answer 18

EPC Online Register

Question 19

Who enforces those penalties for MEES?

Answer 19

The Local Authority

Question 20

What were the key points highlighted in the 2022 RICS Sustainability Report? (submission)

Answer 20

• Highlights the increasing need for sustainable strategies across the built environment to meet net zero commitments
• Provides a global benchmark for issues of climate, carbon and sustainability practice, reflecting the sentiment of around 4000 real estate and construction professionals from across over 30 countries.

Question 21

What is COP?

Answer 21

• Conference of the Parties
• COP is an international climate meeting held each year by the
  United Nations.
• The summit is attended by the countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - a treaty that came into force in 1994.

Question 22

Please explain your understanding of what happened at COP27 in 2022?

Answer 22

• Sharm El Sheikh 2022
• Highlighted the countries most affected by ‘loss and damage’ of extreme weather
• A new loss and damage fund was agreed where richer countries that have still not delivered on previously agreed targets will be required to provide $100bn per year to the countries most in need.
• Large focus on paying for the damage caused by climate change
• Key targets = enusring carbon emissions peaks before 2025 + phasedown of fossil fuels did not form part of the agreed texted which was seen by many leaders as a failure

Question 23

What has the Prime Minster recently announced about EPC regulations?

Answer 23

The initial timeline said all new tenancies must have an EPC rating of C (or better) by 2025 and existing tenancies should comply by 2028.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped plans

Question 24

What is meant by the term embodied carbon?
(submission)

Answer 24

The carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole life cycle of a building or infrastructure

Question 25

What is meant by the term Net Zero?
(submission)

Answer 25

Achieving a balance between the amount of emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere

Question 26

What outcome came out of the Paris Agreement 2015?

Answer 26

• To cut global greenhouse gases
• To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C

Question 27

What is Sustainability?
(submission)

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What does Zero Carbon mean?

Answer 28

Zero carbon means that no carbon emissions are being produced from a product or service

Question 29

Is it unlawful to let properties with a rating of F or G?

Answer 29

YES