Sustainability Flashcards
Can you define sustainability?
‘“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
What are the thee key pillars of sustainability?
Social
- The ability of society to persistently achieve a good social wellbeing.
- Everyone has adequate access to wages, water, healthcare, and education.
Economic
- Use of resources to produce an operation profit efficiently and consistently.
- Goods and services are sold for more than they are produced.
Environment
- Living within the means of our natural resources.
- Responsible with power usage and protecting the environment.
How do you promote sustainability?
’- Advise clients on improved energy efficiency methods
- Advise clients on green construction techniques were possible i.e. green roofs.
- Day-to-day habits e.g. public transport, not printing etc.
What are U-Values?
’- A measure of how effective elements of a building’s fabric are as insulators i.e., how effective they are at preventing transmission/loss
- I would have to review Approved Document L (conservations of Fuel and Power) of the Building Regulations for exact u-value requirements for specific materials
- App. Doc. L sets out maximum u-values for building elements
- The lower the value, the better
What is Site Waste Management Plan?
‘Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP)
- Should describe how materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally during the construction of the works, explaining how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised.
- No longer compulsory in England. But, may still be required for BREEAM assessments or by the local planning authority. May be considered an environmentally responsible initiative by the contractor or by the client.
What is BREEAM?
‘The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
- Sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings through design, specification, construction and operation.
- Can be applied to new developments or refurbishment projects.
- Creates certainty that the required standard of environmental best practice is being adopted on a project.
- Used as a marketing tool for potential purchasers or tenants.
- BREEAM assessments are carried out by trained assessors based on the following criteria: Energy, Land Use and Ecology, Water, Health and Wellbeing, Pollution, Transport, Materials, Waste, and Management.
- Each of the above points is scored and then multiplied to make the total score.
- There is a minimum requirement for each of the criteria.
- What are the differences between DREAM & BREAM?
The DREAM tools were developed by MOD to specifically address the unique nature of MOD
buildings and to offer an alternative to the industry equivalent BREEAM.
DREAM - environmental assessment tool for New Building and Refurbishment projects on the Defence Estate. Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology, specific to assess the environmental performance of buildings specific to the Defence Estate.
Solar photovoltaic (also known as solar PV) systems convert energy from the sun into electricity. Solar panels are made of a thin layer of semi-conducting material sandwiched between a sheet of glass and a polymer resin. When exposed to daylight, the semi-conducting material becomes ‘energised’ and this produces electricity.
The electricity goes through a inductor, converting it from Direct current to alternating current to make it usable electricity within the home, or it can be sold back to the national grid.
- How PV panels work
- DREAM
- Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology
- DREAM - environmental assessment tool for New Building and Refurbishment projects on the Defence Estate.
- designed DREAM to specifically assess the environmental performance of construction projects on the MOD estate.
- DREAM consists of fourteen modules that cover eight building types each designed to cover a range of MOD buildings ( Hangars & workshops, living accommodation, Mediterranean living spaces, commercial spaces, kitchen & dining facilities)
- A DREAM assessment is divided into four DREAM Stages; Survey, Design, Construction and
- Operation.
- How to achieve DREAM credits
The use of the spaces are relative to Defence and dictate the criteria, for example the bands projects are considered a ‘commercial space’ but Trenchard is a ‘living accommodation’
Credits are then awarded based on categories including:
‘credits’ within each stage under the following categories:
* Biodiversity and Environmental Protection
* External Environmental Quality
* Energy
* Internal Environmental Quality
* Procurement
* Travel
* Water
* Waste
Credits are awarded under the above headings, it could include, consulting utility and water companies, undertaking a NZC assessment, providing a transport assessment, providing a preliminary ecology appraisal.
- Are you aware of what SDG’s are?
The 17 Sustainable development goals sit at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
1 – No Poverty
2 – Zero Hunger
3 – Good health & wellbeing
4 – Quality education
5 – Gender equality
6 – Clean water and sanitation
7 – Affordable and clean energy
8 – Decent work and economic growth
9 – Industry, innovation & infrastructure
10 – Reduced inequalities
11 – Sustainable cities and communities
12 – Responsible consumption and production
13 -Climate action
14 – Life below water
15 – Life on land
16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions
17 – Partnerships for the goals
- What environmental assessment methods are you aware of?
BREAM
Passivehaus Trust
SKA
DREAM
CIRAM
LEAD
Living Building Challenge
- Lead
– Global scheme providing a framework looking at energy efficiencies and green buildings, design and construction operation and maintenance focused. Created by the US by the Green building council, looks at the integrated process including location, transport links, how sustainable the site is for efficiency, energy in the atmosphere, materials usesd, innovation, regional priorities – Gold, silver & platinum award.
How does COP26 relate to the Paris Agreement?
COP 21 meeting in Paris in 2015, the Paris Agreement was formed.
What was agreed at COP26?
explicit plan to reduce use of coal which is responsible for 40% of annual CO2 emissions.
a commitment to ‘phase down’ rather than ‘phase out’ coal
Pledged to significantly increase money to help developing countries cope with
the effects of climate change and make the switch to clean energy
