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Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

Define sustainability.

A

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

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2
Q

What percentage of the total UK carbon emissions are attributed to the built environment?

A

40% - 45% (source dependent)

construction, operation and maintenance

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3
Q

List some sustainable construction methods

A
  • Prefabricated construction
  • Selecting sustainable building materials, e.g. renewable materials, components with low LCC
  • Consider site logistics, i.e. use local suppliers to save on fuel costs
  • Project energy plan
  • Waste management plan
  • Water plan
  • Implement sustainability requirements in PQQ/ERs
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4
Q

What design considerations would you expect an architect to make when designing a sustainable building?

A
  • Maximising daylight
  • Use ventilation (e.g. louvres) to cool building naturally without using energy
  • Design for simplicity of operation and long life (reduce LCC/WLC)
  • Reuse materials
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5
Q

What is a Waste Management Plan?

A
  • Defines how materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally
  • Defines how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised
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6
Q

List some recyclable materials

A
  • Glass
  • Steel
  • Wood
  • Plasterboard and other gypsum products can be used and recycled for cement/plaster of paris
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7
Q

List some reusable materials

A
  • Bricks
  • Demolition waste for aggregate
  • Building foundations can sometimes be reused, instead of being dug out and re-formed
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8
Q

What is the definition of a sustainable material?

A

A sustainable material does not deplete non-renewable (natural) resources. They have no adverse impacts on the environment when used.

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9
Q

List some sustainable materials

A
  • FSC wood (Forest Stewardship Council)
  • Timber

- Anything that is being reused/recycled

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10
Q

List some sustainable FF&E.

A
  • Aerators on taps
  • LED lights
  • Solar panels
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11
Q

How might a building generate sustainable energy?

A
  • PV panels
  • Wind turbines
  • Active buildings generate energy*
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12
Q

How might a building conserve energy?

A
  • Maximise sunlight and ventilation through window design and building position (take advantage of prevailing winds)
  • Thick walls
  • Insulation
  • Double/triple glazing
  • Passive buildings conserve energy*
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13
Q

What is the difference between a directive, act and regulations/rules/codes?

A

Directive - a legal act of the EU which requires a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result

Act - legislation passed by parliament. Acts set out broad legal/policy principles.

Regulation - Guidelines that dictate how the provisions of the act are applied. Enforceable by law.

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14
Q

Name some of the acts and regulations in the UK that relate to sustainability.

A

Acts

  • Clean Air Act 1993
  • Climate Change Act 2008
  • Energy Act 2011

Regulations/rules/codes

  • Building Regulations (Part L)
  • MEES
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15
Q

What is the Clean Air Act 1993?

A
  • Restricts smoke/pollution
  • Result of the “Great Smog” of ‘52
  • First introduced in ‘56
  • Provisions relate to furnace installations, chimney heights, maximum grit/dust emission rate
  • Maximum fines of up to £1,000 for non-compliance
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16
Q

What is the Climate Change Act 2008?

A
  • Commitment to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (1990 base date)
  • Committee of Climate Change established to advise government and report annually to parliament
  • Carbon Plan established: government required to publish 5-yearly caps on greenhouse gas emissions
  • Policies relating to corporate reporting of emissions
  • Followed Kyoto Protocol 2005
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17
Q

What is the Energy Act 2011?

A
  • Big 6 energy providers must deliver efficiency measures to domestic users
  • Introduced Green Deal
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18
Q

What was the green deal?

A
  • Offered loans for energy saving measures eg. insulation
  • Loans paid back to government on top of energy bills, but with insulation energy bills should be overall lower
  • Widely criticised and ultimately failed due to high interest rates on the loan and little awareness of the scheme
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19
Q

What is Part L of the Building Regulations?

A
  • Conservation of fuel and power
  • L1A = Conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings
  • L1B = Conservation of fuel and power in existing dwellings
  • “Where a building is erected, it shall not exceed target CO2 level”

2013 Changes:

  • L1A = 6% increase in performance of standards for new dwellings. TFEE rates introduced (Target Fabric Efficiency Rates)
  • L1B = 9% increase in performance of standards for existing dwellings
  • L2A and L2B introduced for new and existing buildings other than dwellings
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20
Q

What are the MEES?

A
  • Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
  • To improve energy efficiency in buildings. Introduced in 2015.
  • Buildings all given EPC ratings (energy performance certificate) A - G

Effective April 2018:

  • F and G rated properties unlettable
  • Fine of 10% of properties value if let for < 3 months, 20% if let for > 3 months

Exemptions:

  • If it will take more than 7 years for energy efficiencies to cover cost of improvements
  • If it will devalue property by more than 5%
  • If client cannot get permission (planning, listed buildings etc)
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21
Q

Name some international regulations relating to sustainability

A
  • Kyoto Protocol 2005

- Paris Climate Accord 2015

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22
Q

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

A
  • Signed in 1997, effective as of 2005
  • International treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Extension of the UNFCCC 92.
  • Actions reflect the countries wealth, capacity to reduce emissions and emissions output.
  • Countries must prepare policies and regulations to reduce GFG, increase absorption of GSG, and review and report on emissions
  • First period ended in 2012, not enough countries ratified the protocol.
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23
Q

What is the Paris Climate Accord?

A
  • Followed Kyoto Protocol
  • Mitigation, adaption and financing for greenhouse gases
  • Aim to keep temperature from rising 2 degrees by 2100
  • Countries free to set their own targets
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24
Q

What is BREEAM?

A
  • Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
  • Best practice guidance and standards for the environmental performance of buildings through design, specification, construction and operation.
  • Based on energy, water, health and well-being, pollution, waste.
  • Rated unclassified < 30%, pass > 30%, good > 45%, very good > 55%, excellent > 70%, outstanding > 85%
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25
Q

What is LEED?

A
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
  • Widely used in the US, whereas BREEAM is more popular in the UK
  • Based on Water efficiency, materials and resources, innovative design etc
  • Rated certified, silver, gold, platinum
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26
Q

What is the SKA Rating?

A
  • RICS environmental assessment method
  • Created for non-domestic fit-out projects, rates sustainability of the fit-out separate from the base build
  • Free online tool to help improve sustainability
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27
Q

What is a BMS?

A
  • Building Management System
  • BMS are computer based systems used to control and monitor building services
  • Can optimise buildings performance, give better control, gather data, report, improve safety, decrease OPEX
  • Can alert you when parameters are exceeded
  • Intelligent BMS collates a range of info on one interface
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28
Q

What is a BEMS?

A
  • Building Energy Management System
  • Used to monitor building services relating specifically to energy usage such as AC, heating, lighting. Not safety systems etc.
  • Offers real time remote monitoring
  • Records historic data useful for benchmarking
  • Can be used to optimise energy use without compromising comfort or performance
  • 10% - 25% savings on energy costs
  • Requires maintenance eg batteries in sensors, checking connections
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29
Q

What are building services?

A
  • Building services are things such as lifts, light switches, heating, fire alarms, ventilation, CCTV, IT systems
  • Systems installed to make building more efficient, safe, comfortable and functional
  • Controlled by sensors, clocks, switches
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30
Q

What is meant by ecological footprint?

A
  • Humans demand on nature
  • Requirements from nature to support people/an economy, such as plant food, fish, livestock, timber, forests to absorb CO2 etc to support a town
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31
Q

What is ecological footprint accounting?

A
  • Measures populations demand on resources against the ecosystems capacity to supply them
32
Q

What is biological capacity?

A
  • The capacity for an ecosystem to support people/an economy/a town
33
Q

What is an ecological deficit?

A
  • When an ecological footprint is bigger than the biological capacity
  • Countries in the “red” are in an ecological deficit
  • The World is in an ecological deficit
  • Opposite of ecological reserve
34
Q

What’s the difference between a smart building and intelligent building?

A

I do not feel well placed enough to answer that - there are many discrepancies in the industry where definitions vary.

Some say intelligent is an expansion of smart, others say it’s the other way round.

Possibly one has greater capabilities, e.g. being able to be used remotely.

35
Q

What are the pillars of sustainability?

A
  • Social
  • Environmental
  • Economic
36
Q

What is the triple bottom line?

A
  • Accounting framework taking into consideration a company’s social, environmental and economic output
  • Bottom line = economic only, final profit
  • Economics of a company can be good, but the company will suffer if they have negative social/environmental impact such as high staff turnover, and may lose business from clients that endorse sustainability
  • CSR in private sector drives triple bottom line
37
Q

What are U Values?

A
  • Calculate how effective a material is as an insulator

- The lower the U value is, the better that material is as an insulator

38
Q

What is WLC?

A
  • WLC looks at all costs incurred by a building from it’s inception, through construction and operation, to its disposal
  • Better way of assessing VfM
  • Inclusive of non-construction costs such as fees
  • Spending more on architects fees could result in a better designed building, saving money long-term through lower energy costs
  • Difficult to accurately assess future costs and life of building
  • Difficult getting OPEX data from suppliers
39
Q

What is LCC?

A
  • Similar to WLC but not as broad. LCC is a part of WLC.
  • Relates to capital cost and future cash flow of a building/component/system
  • Does not account for non-construction costs such as fees, wages
40
Q

What is a LCA?

A
  • Life Cycle Assessment
  • Method of assessing environmental impact of building component, whole building or building system throughout it’s life
  • Can be used as a comparative tool vs other design options
41
Q

What is the Department for Energy and Climate Change?

A
  • Spends most of its resources managing historic nuclear sites
  • Began in 2008, dissolved in 2016
42
Q

What can be classed as contaminated land?

A
  • Any substance which is or may become harmful to persons or buildings
  • Includes land that is: corrosive, explosive, flammable, radioactive or toxic
43
Q

What are the hazards to be aware of regarding contaminated land?

A
  • Damage to fauna
  • Contamination to ground water
  • Hazard to human health
  • Settlement
  • Subsidence
  • Damage to foundations
44
Q

What can cause land to become contaminated?

A
  • Asbestos works
  • Cement manufacturing
  • Oil storage
  • Petrol stations/refineries
45
Q

How long do EPC’s last?

A

10 years

46
Q

When were EPC ratings introduced?

A

2013

They are required for all buildings sold, built or rented.

47
Q

What buildings are exempt from EPC ratings?

A
  • Temporary buildings
  • Places of worship
  • Standalone buildings w/ less than 50sqm floor space
  • Industrial/agricultural buildings w/ low energy reqs
  • Protected buildings
  • Buildings to be demolished
48
Q

What categories can you collect points in under BREEAM?

A
  • Management
  • Energy
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Transport
  • Water
  • Materials
  • Waste
  • Land Use & ecology
  • Pollution
49
Q

What is meant by Management (BREEAM)?

A

Encourages the adoption of sustainable management practices

50
Q

What is meant by Land Use (BREEAM)?

A

Encourages sustainable land use, biodiverity etc.

51
Q

What is WELL?

A

Focussed on wellbeing.

Certified based on:
Air.
Water.
Nourishment.
Light.
Fitness.
Comfort.
Mind.

Rated platinum, gold, silver, like LEED.

52
Q

What is fabric first construction?

A

Considering the building fabric before M&E systems to maximise the sustainability of the building.

Passive.

53
Q

RIBA climate challenge 2030 - what is it?

A

’- Reduce water by 40%

  • Reduce operational energy demand by at least 75%, before offsetting
  • Reduce embodied carbon by at least 50-70%, before offsetting (non-domestic - domestic)
  • Targets on Health & Wellbeing
54
Q

Why is the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge a stretch and step change for the construction industry?

A

Construction industry is heavily reliant on high carbon materials such as steel and concrete

Timber example - max building height

55
Q

What are some of the RIBA 2030 targets?

A
  • Reduce water by 40%
  • Reduce operational energy demand by at least 75%, before offsetting
  • Reduce embodied carbon by at least 50-70%, before offsetting
  • Targets on Health & Wellbeing
56
Q

How do PV panels work?

A

Simply put, a solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity.

57
Q

Give an example of a sustainability credit achieved on a project

A

Mat 03 Responsible sourcing of materials

Incorporated timber into the frame of a building

FSC

58
Q

Which BREEAM credit was relating to the louvred windows?

A

ENE 01 - energy

Hea 05 - Health and Wellbeing

59
Q

Where would you find further detail about the requirements to achieve BREEAM credits?

A

On the BREEAM website

60
Q

What strategies have the UK govt adopted to reduce carbon emissions?

A

Construction 2025: strategy

61
Q

What does the Construction 2025 strategy set to achieve

A
  1. A 33% reduction in both the initial cost of construction and the whole life cost of assets
  2. A 50% reduction in the overall time from inception to completion for new build and refurbished assets
  3. A 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment
  4. A 50% reduction in the trade gap between total exports and total imports for construction products and materials
62
Q

How are the UK govt proposing to meet these sustainability targets? (Construction 2025)

A
  • Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes with investments of around £3.6Bn
  • Support the roll-out of low carbon heating across the country
  • Earmarking up to £2.5Bn for investment in low carbon research and innovation
63
Q

What is the RIBA 2030 embodied carbon target?

A

Domestic < 300 kgCO2e/m2

Non - domestic < 300 kgCO2e/m2

64
Q

What is the purpose of RIBA 2030?

A

Vital first step to ensure the onstruction industry has delivered the significant reductions necessary by 2030 in order to have a realistic prospect of achieving net zero carbon for the whole UK building stock by 2050

65
Q

How is the BREEAM score built up?

A
  • A number of credits is awarded to each issue
  • Credits are multiplied by each issues weighting
  • Total %age for issues are added together, giving you a %age for the category
  • An additional 1% can be added to the final score of the relevant category for each ‘innovation credit’ achieved (up to a maximum of 7%).
66
Q

What are BREEAM issues under materials?

A

Mat 01 Life cycle impacts

Mat 03 Responsible sourcing of materials

Mat 04 Insulation

67
Q

What are BREEAM issues under energy?

A

Ene 01 Energy Efficiency

Ene 02(a) Energy monitoring

Ene 02(b) Energy monitoring

Ene 03 External Lighting

Ene 04 Low and zero carbon technologies

68
Q

What are BREEAM issues under water?

A

Wat 01 Water consumption

Wat 02 Water monitoring

Wat 03 Leak detection

Wat 04 Water efficient equipment

69
Q

What are BREEAM issues under transport?

A

Tra 01 Public Transport Accessibility

Tra 02 Proximity to amenities

Tra 03 Cyclist facilities

70
Q

What’s the difference between a blue roof, green roof and brown roof?

A

Blue Roof - water attenuation (stores and gradually releases)

Green Roof - covered with green foliage, plants, trees, vegetation, planted over a waterproof membrane

Brown Roof - substrate surface is left to self-vegetate from windblown and bird lime seed dispersal

71
Q

Could you please describe the build up for a green roof?

A 
Slab
Waterproof membrane
Insulation
Drainage layer
Earth/soil
Vegetation
72
Q

What is the G Value?

A

Total Solar Energy Transmittance - commonly used in Europe to measure the solar energy transmittance of windows

73
Q

What is the unit for U values?

A

W/m²K

Watters per sqm Kelvin

74
Q

What is the U value for a cavity wall?

A

c. 1.6 W/m²K

75
Q

What are the BREEAM %age requirements for each certification?

A 
Outstanding - above 80%
Excellent - 70% 
V Good - 55%
Good - 45%
Pass - 30%
Unclassified - below 30%
76
Q

What is PEFC timber?

A

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification

All European mass timber tends to be PEFC

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