Sustainability

Question 1

What is COP26 and what does COP stand for?

Answer 1

• COP is the Conference of the Parties and is attended by countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994.
• The 2021 meeting was the 26th meeting which is why it’s called COP26.

Question 2

What happened at COP26?

Answer 2

• At COP26 a newly established Glasgow Financial Alliance was announced for Net Zero carbon emissions of $130 trillion of private capital to accelerate the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
• The private sector is now under more intense scrutiny from both clients and institutional investors on ensuring net-zero commitments are robust and legitimate.
• There are new requirements for all listed companies in the UK to produce net-zero transition plans by 2023.

Question 3

Please explain your understanding of the term sustainability?

Answer 3

• To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Key principles were also set out within the Brundtland Commission Report, Our Common Future 1987 which identified the need for sustainable development based around environmental protection, economic growth and social equity. It called for conservation of the environment and resources by gradually changing the ways in which we develop and use technologies.

Question 4

What are the key principles of sustainability?

Answer 4

• Social - Building healthy communities with sufficient numbers and range of buildings.
• Economical - Build strong, responsive, competitive economies ensuring sufficient land and right types.
• Environmental: - Contributing towards the protection and enhancement of our natural, built and historic environment.

Question 5

What are the core principles of Planning and Decision making around
sustainability?

Answer 5

• Creative processes should be used not just scrutiny.
• Proactive steps should be taken to achieve sustainable development.
• Secure the development of high quality built assets.
• Account for the character of the surrounding area.
• Support a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy.
• Conserve & enhance natural environment and reduce pollution.
• Encourage use of brownfield sites.
• Conserve heritage.
• Maximise use of public transport, cycling and walking.
• Support health, social and cultural well-being.

Question 6

What are the most common environmental issues experienced on construction sites?

Answer 6

• Risks of Water Pollution.
• Air and Noise Pollution.
• High Energy Consumption and carbon emissions.
• Risk of land contamination.
• Damage to wild habitats.
• High Wastage production into landfill.
• Release of dangerous gases and chemicals.

Question 7

What are the key pieces of legislation that affect sustainability in construction?

Answer 7

• Agricultural Land Act – Enables land to be acquired for a particular purpose for example to control pests and weeds, for use as woodlands or to support agricultural activities.
• Building Act – This is the primary piece of UK Legislation that enables the Building Regulations to be enforced. This is to assist in the conservation of fuel and power, to prevent waste, misuse or contamination of water and to ensure those in and around buildings are kept safe.
• Clean Air Act – This legislation provides local authorities within England to introduce measures in order to control air pollution.
• Climate Change Act – This is a legally binding framework to tackle climate change. It imposed targets to cut greenhouse emissions compared with 1990 levels 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Question 8

What are the Key Building Regulations that relate to sustainability in
construction?

Answer 8

• Building Regulations Part L — Conservation of Fuel and Power.
• Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.
  o Requires that EPC’s are produced for dwellings and non-dwellings.
  o Quantifies energy efficiency of buildings.
  o Required when buildings are built, sold or rented.
  o Commercial buildings over 500 sqm and frequented by the public need to display a display energy certificate (DEC) based on actual energy used.

Question 9

What are the different forms of taxation relating to sustainability?

Answer 9

• Landfill Tax which is an environmental tax payable in addition to landfill rates charged by private disposal companies.
• The tax was introduced as a means to encourage alternative methods of disposal such as recycling.
• The tax is charged by weight at varying rates depending on whether the waste is inert or active.

Question 10

What different code of practice are you aware of for measuring sustainability?

Answer 10

• BREEAM (Life Cycle Assessment).
  o Sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings through specification, design, construction and operation.
  o BREEAM Stands for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
  o The assessment is undertaken by a licensed assessor based on energy, land & ecology, water, health & wellbeing, pollution, materials and waste and management.
  o BREEAM applies to new and refurbishment projects, domestic and non-domestic.
  o Rating are:
   Outstanding.
   Excellent.
   Very Good.
   Good.
   Pass.
   Unclassified.
• SKA Ratings
  o An RICS Environmental assessment method for non-domestic fit outs such as office refurbishments.
  o The scheme assesses fit out projects against a set of sustainability good practice criteria, known as Good Practice Measures (GPM).
  o SKA can act as an alternative to BREEAM which have higher costs in comparison.
• LEED (Life Cycle Assessment).
  o LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
  o It is a USA equivalent of BREEAM.
  o Ratings are:-
   LEED Certified.
   Silver.
   Gold.
   Platinum.
• This method reviews embodied aspects of carbon emissions as well as life cycle assessment during construction and operation.

Question 11

What procedures does your firm implement to promote sustainability?

Answer 11

• Recycling of cardboard, paper and plastics.
• Use of Energy efficient lighting (motion sensors).
• Energy efficient equipment (LED lamps, energy efficient monitors).
• All company cars are to be EV’s by 2025.
• Cycle to work schemes.
• Reduce printing by using cloud-based systems.
• Charitable contributions (tree planting / environmental programmes).
• Sign up to Green initiatives and codes of practice (use office space with high EPC / BREEAM ratings).

Question 12

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 12

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty concerning climate change.
• It was adopted by nearly every nation and came into affect in 2016.
• The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius whilst targeting levels below 1.5 degrees Celsius when compared to pre-industrial levels.
• The agreement commits all major emitting countries to cut their climate pollution.
• It also creates a framework for the transparent monitoring and reporting of each individual countries progress.

Question 13

Name some sustainable building methods?

Answer 13

• Use of recycled materials such as reclaimed timber, recycled tiles and plastics.
• Ground Source Heat Pumps.
• Air Source Heat Pumps.
• Solar Panels.
• Wind Turbines.
• Solar Shading.
• Rain water harvesting.
• Green Roofs.
• Automated Building Systems (Lighting sensors).

Question 14

What is your understanding of the term ‘Green Roofs’?

Answer 14

• A green roof is a roof covering that is partially or completely covered with vegetation that is placed over a waterproof membrane.
• Additional layers such as drainage layers, irrigation systems or root barriers may also be placed over the membrane.
• Rooftop ponds are an alternative form of green roof which are used to treat grey water.
• The vegetation, soil, drainage layer, root barriers and irrigation system are typically the key components
  of a green roof.
• Advantages of Green Roofs are that they absorb rainwater, provide extra insulation, increase biodiversity by providing habitats for wildlife, are aesthetically pleasing and lower urban air temperatures.

Question 15

What are Photovoltaics and how do they work?

Answer 15

• Photovoltaics allow the conversion of sunlight into electricity.
• Sunlight contains energy known as photons.
• When photos hit solar modules within the solar panel they cause electrons to flow through the bottom layer.
• The movement of electrons generates electricity that flows to an inverter.
• The inverter converts DC electricity into AC that is then used to power the building.

Question 16

What is a soakaway and how do they work?

Answer 16

• Soakaways offer a means of surface water drainage attenuation.
• They consist of large holes or pits that receive surface water from a drainage pipe.
• The soakaway allows the collected surface water to gradually infiltrate through the soil.

Question 17

Can you explain your understanding of the term carbon neutral?

Answer 17

• Carbon neutrality is to have a balance between the carbon emitted and the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.
• This is an important measure of the impact that businesses and projects have on the environment and global warming.
• To date no artificial carbon sinks are able to remove carbon from the atmosphere at the levels required to offset global warming.

Question 18

What is meant by the term solar gain?

Answer 18

• Solar gain is the name given to the increase in temperature in a space, object or structure due to solar radiation (the heat from the sun).
• A building can retain this solar gain by having high thermal mass or can avoid it by using reflective materials and insulation.

Question 19

How can solar gain be managed in buildings?

Answer 19

• Limiting the size and area of openings such as doors and windows.
• Shading or orientating doors and windows from direct sunlight.
• Using reflective materials on the glass and building fabric.
• Insulating walls and roof spaces to prevent indirect solar gains into the building.

Question 20

How can solar gain be managed in buildings?

Answer 20

• Limiting the size and area of openings such as doors and windows.
• Shading or orientating doors and windows from direct sunlight.
• Using reflective materials on the glass and building fabric.
• Insulating walls and roof spaces to prevent indirect solar gains into the building.

Question 21

How does a ground source heat pump work?

Answer 21

• Heat from the ground is absorbed at low temperatures into a fluid inside a loop of pipe (a ground loop) buried underground.
• The fluid then passes through a compressor that raises it to a higher temperature, which can then heat water for the heating and hot water circuits of the house.
• The cooled ground-loop fluid passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy from the ground in a continuous process as long as heating is required.

Question 22

Please explain your understanding of the term SUDS?

Answer 22

• SUDS will slow down surface water run off by allowing it to infiltrate and soak into natural contours and landscapes.
• SUDS are considered to be environmentally friendly as they do not rely on the manufacture of plastic or clay drainage components and instead utilise natural vegetation and material to absorb surface water.

Question 23

What are the benefits of a BREEAM certified building?

Answer 23

• BREEAM buildings help clients to benefit from lowering the running costs of their built assets and minimising the impact on the environment through consideration at planning, design, construction and operation phases.
• Other benefits include greater marketability to building tenants through lower running costs and creating desirable places to live and work.
• A higher building value and positive PR message is also achieved through the increased sustainability of the building, particularly when achieving BREEAM excellent and very good ratings.

Question 24

What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting?

Answer 24

• It decreases the demand for water.
• It reduces the need for imported water.
• Rainwater harvesting promotes both water and energy conservation.
• Improved BREEAM compliance can be achieved.
• Lower operational costs can be gained.

Question 25

What is an EPC?

Answer 25

• Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in 2007 and are a legal requirement for a building to be sold, let or constructed.
• Once obtained, an EPC is valid for 10 years.
• The most efficient built assets typically have the lowest fuel bills and are in band A.
• EPC’s are rated on a scale of A-G.
• The energy efficiency of the built asset along with the potential efficiency following improvements are identified.
• The EPC will also show the amount of CO2 emissions produced by the property in tonnes and will advise the amount this could be reduced by.

Question 26

What sustainable initiatives are you aware of that are being implemented by the RICS?

Answer 26

• The RICS SKA ratings encourages green codes of practice for commercial properties.
• RICS has also launched the ‘Value the Planet’ campaign and committed to forming a climate change expert panel to implement the UN’s sustainable development goals.
• RICS has launched a Responsible Business Report filled with solutions for companies to operate in a greener capacity, regardless of the firm’s size. This includes introducing higher recycling rates and reducing energy, transport and water use where possible.

Question 27

What things do you implement to promote sustainability?

Answer 27

• Printing only when necessary.
• Car sharing.
• Use of energy efficient equipment.
• Recycling.
• Use of cycle to work schemes.
• Being careful to minimise waste where possible.
• Avoiding the use of plastic bottles.
• Use of cloud-based storage systems.