Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability? Why is it important?

Answer 1

Meeting the needs of the present without harming the needs of the future.

Important to ensure that future needs can be met.

Question 2

What are the key pillars of sustainability?

Answer 2

Environmental, Social and Governance

Question 3

What is BREEAM?

Answer 3

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.

Question 4

5 BREEAM categories

Answer 4

Energy consumption
water use
transport links
waste management
health and wellbeing

Question 5

BREEAM Ratings

Answer 5

Outstanding
excellent
very good
good
pass

Question 6

RICS Guidance?

Answer 6

practice information: The Design, Delivery, and management of sustainable buildings 2023

Question 7

What are EPCs? How long are they valid?

Answer 7

Energy Performance Certificate.
Valid for 10 years (unless building is altered).

Question 8

5 key provisions of EPC regieme.

Answer 8

1. Higher standards
2. Establish calculation methodology.
3. Minimum requirements.
4. Energy certification for all buildings when built, modified, leased or sold
5. Mandatory inspection of boiler and AC systems in building.

Question 9

What are the EPC requirements for marketing?

Answer 9

Must be procured within 7 days of marketing.
Agent responsible for procuring EPC.
All online material have a link to the EPC to show front page.

Question 10

6 pieces of information on an EPC:

Answer 10

1. Property Address
2. EPC reference number
3. Technical information on property energy provision
4. Estimation of running cost
5. EPC rating
6. Benchmarking information

Question 11

• What are penalties for EPC non-compliance?

Answer 11

Commercial: 12.5% RV of building (C&C £500 and £5,000).
Residential: £200 FPN.

Question 12

What are some EPC exemptions?

Answer 12

Listed buildings.
Buildings to be developed.
Religious buildings
Temporary buildings
Occupied less than 4 months of year.

Question 13

What are MEES? What are the current requirements?

Answer 13

Minimum Energy Efficient Standards.

Ensure that all buildings would continue to improve their energy efficiency in the future.
All buildings let or sold minimum EPC E, 2027 C, 2030 B

Question 14

What are the MEES exemptions?

Answer 14

At least 99 years tenancy.
Low energy buildings.
Payback period of greater than 7 years.
Devalue building by greater than 5%.

Question 15

What are the penalties for MEES non-compliance?

Answer 15

Commercial
Breach less than 3 months = £5k, or if greater 10% RV capped at £50k
Breach longer than 3 months = £10k, or if greater 20% RV capped at £150k

Residential
Breach less than 3 months = £2,000
Breach longer than 3 months = £4,000

Question 16

What are the potential MEES changes?

Answer 16

May change the hurdle rate after Sunak scrapped MEES moving to minimum EPC ‘C’ for residential buildings by 2028.

Question 17

What do you do in your everyday job to help the environment?

Answer 17

Don’t print paper.
Sustainable transport.
Recycle.
Walk to work.

Question 18

What is Net Carbon Zero?

Answer 18

Carbon omitted and absorbed are equal due to offsetting to balance this.

Question 19

What is the difference between carbon neutral and net zero?

Answer 19

Carbon neutral – the balance of carbon omitted and absorbed is the same.
Net zero – having to offset carbon.
Net zero cancels out emissions, carbon neutral has none to begin with.

Question 20

RICS Sustainability in Practice:

Answer 20

Evidence based research.
Best practice requirements (RoC, RBG)
Training (better buildings partnership)
Certification (SKA rating for office fit-out).

Question 21

2 commitments introduced to climate change act 2006

Answer 21

net zero carbon by 2050
77% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030.

Question 22

what is climate change

Answer 22

altering planet climate due to greenhouse gases omitted from human activity

Question 23

Better building partnership

Answer 23

used by lots of REITS
includes guidance on green leases.