Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

Providing for todays needs without limiting future generations from meeting their own.

Question 2

What is sustainable development?

Answer 2

Construction that considers a holistic view of sustainability including environmental economic and social measures.

Question 3

What are the triple bottom line principles?

Answer 3

Profits Plant People (Economic, Environment, Social)

Question 4

What does the NPPF say about sustainable development?

Answer 4

The golden thread throughout the planning system is that there is a presumption in favor of sustainable development.

Question 5

Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?

Answer 5

Paris Accord
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change that was adopted in 2015. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The Paris Agreement was negotiated by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference near Paris, France.

Question 6

What targets did one of these set?

Answer 6

Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Question 7

What are the most recent EU / UK targets relating to sustainability?

Answer 7

UK
Net Zero by 2050
2035 - no more petrol and diesel cars
2025 - no more gas boilers in new build homes
2030 - no more gas boilers in existing dwellings

Question 8

What was the Kyoto Protocol and what were its targets?

Answer 8

In short, the Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.

The original binding agreement.

Question 9

Explain your understanding of COP26.

Answer 9

Convention on Climate change in Glasgow subsequent been Dubai COP 27

Question 10

What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 10

The UK’s legislative response to Kyoto Protocol

Question 11

What is the UK’s current target for sustainability?

Answer 11

Net Zero by 2050

Question 12

What does Net Zero mean?

Answer 12

No net carbon emissions as oposed to zero, ie any carbon used in the economy mitigated by offsetting measures such as planting or carbon capture.

Question 13

How will it achieve this target?

Answer 13

Decarbonisation of the energy grid
Domestic power moved to sustainable sources
Decarbonisation of transport
Decarbonisation of industry
Mitigation measures, planting CCAS

Question 14

What are carbon budgets?

Answer 14

The total net amount of carbon that a nation can emit over a 5 year period.

Question 15

What did the Infrastructure Act 2015 say about climate change?

Answer 15

The Act 2015 closely related to environmental issues include sections on Renewable Heat Incentives, off-site carbon abatement measures and cycling and walking investment strategies, making environmental issues a significant focus of the Act.

Question 16

How can buildings impact upon the environment?

Answer 16

Buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions: 28% from operational emissions, from energy needed to heat, cool and power them, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction.

Question 17

Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?

Answer 17

Making space versatile and adaptable for future uses or users.

Question 18

Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?

Answer 18

EPC at basic level
PassivHaus
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment)
LEEDS

Question 19

Can you explain your understanding of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) to me?

Answer 19

Essentially measures the energy requirement to operate a building and ranks them on the consumption of non-renewable energy sources to sustain them. Electricity particular preference given how quickly the grid is moving towards renewable energy.

Question 20

What falls outside of MEES?

Answer 20

Industrial sites like factories and workshops.
Non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand (e.g., barns for storing equipment).
Certain listed buildings with historical or architectural significance where energy efficiency upgrades might be impractical.
Temporary buildings not intended for permanent use.
Holiday lets with short-term rentals (typically less than four months).

Question 21

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Answer 21

A breach of MEES regulations lasting longer than 3 months can trigger a fine of the higher of £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value of the property, up to £150,000

Question 22

When do you need to display an EPC?

Answer 22

Visable on the front of buildings over 500m2 or buildings frequented by the public

Question 23

What did Rishi Sunak announce in September 2023 regarding the UK’s
Net Zero target?

Answer 23

The transition to electric vehicles was pushed back to 2035

Question 24

What is a DEC?

Answer 24

Display energy certificate - records the actual useage of public buildings.

Question 25

When is a DEC required?

Answer 25

Public buildings with over 250m2 of usable space.

Question 26

What must accompany a DEC?

Answer 26

A DEC must be accompanied by an advisory report containing recommendations for improvement of the energy performance of the building.

Question 27

How long is an advisory certificate valid for

Answer 27

7 years

Question 28

What are the fines for not having and displaying a DEC

Answer 28

The penalty for each breach is £500 for failing to display a DEC at all times in a prominent place clearly visible to the public and £1,000 for failing to have possession of a valid advisory report. In addition to these penalties, of course, it is still necessary to commission a DEC and an advisory report.

Question 29

What happened to the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Answer 29

Scrapped in 2015 on a blitz of “red tape”

Question 30

What is the Climate Change Levy?

Answer 30

The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is an environmental tax charged on the energy that businesses use. A means of encouraging businesses to be more energy efficient in how they operate, the CCL aims to reduce the overall emissions that businesses produce.

Question 31

What Building Regulation relates to energy efficiency?

Answer 31

1
In the UK context, the main Building Regulation related to energy efficiency is Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations:

Part L sets out the mandatory energy efficiency requirements for new buildings (dwellings and non-dwellings) and extensions. It aims to ensure that new buildings are designed and constructed to be energy efficient, reducing their carbon emissions and operational costs.

Question 32

What is ESOS

Answer 32

Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme

Question 33

Name one example of Government policy on energy efficiency for buildings?

Answer 33

The Green Homes iniative - scraped post covid - scrapped in 2023

Question 34

When was CRC abolished?

Answer 34

Conservative government withdrew the scheme in 2019 (Carbon Reduction Commitment)

Question 35

What replaced it?

Answer 35

Replaced with the climate change levy and the streamlined energy and carbon reporting scheme.

Question 36

How did CCL rates change?

Answer 36

Question 37

What is the SECR regime?

Answer 37

The SECR regime stands for Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting. It’s a policy implemented by the UK government that mandates certain businesses to report on their energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually.

Purpose: Aims to increase transparency and encourage energy efficiency practices among large businesses.

Who Needs to Comply: Applies to large companies, including:
Quoted companies on the London Stock Exchange and other big unlisted companies.

Question 38

What is a Memorandum of Understanding?

Answer 38

A document outlining the key points of agreement between two or more parties before entering into contract. MOU not contractually binding.

Question 39

What RICS guidance relates to sustainability?

Answer 39

RICS Professional Statement: Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment: Outlines how to conduct whole life carbon assessments in construction and property.

RICS Professional Statement: Sustainability and ESG in Commercial Property: Focuses on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into commercial property management.

RICS Professional Statement: Sustainability in the Built Environment: Provides guidance on incorporating sustainability into the built environment, including topics such as energy efficiency and resource conservation.

RICS Professional Statement: Energy Efficiency: Offers recommendations on achieving energy efficiency in commercial properties, including energy audits and performance evaluations.

RICS Professional Statement: Sustainable Building Certification: Discusses sustainable building certification schemes and their requirements for commercial properties.

RICS Guidance Note: Valuation of Sustainable Buildings: Provides advice on valuing sustainable buildings and accounting for sustainability features in property valuations.

Question 40

What is a sustainability matrix?

Answer 40

A sustainability matrix is a tool used to assess and manage sustainability performance across various aspects of a project, property, or organization. It allows stakeholders to evaluate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in a structured way and make decisions that balance multiple sustainability objectives.

Question 41

What is a Green Lease

Answer 41

A lease or addendum that commits both the landlord and the tenant to operate the building sustainably. This includes things such as reducing energy consumption, emissions, resource and waste.

Question 42

Tell me about the Green Deal

Answer 42

The Green Deal helps you make energy-saving improvements to your home and to find the best way to pay for them.

The improvements that could save you the most energy depend on your home, but typical examples include:

insulation, such as solid wall, cavity wall or loft insulation
heating
draught-proofing
double glazing
renewable energy generation, such as solar panels or heat pumps

Question 43

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment and when would one be carried out?

Answer 43

An evaluation of a developments impact on on the environment. Typically completed on large infrastructure schemes or large housing developments.

Question 44

What is the future Homes Standard

Answer 44

The Future Homes Standard, renamed the Future Homes and Buildings Standard in December 2021, will complement the Building Regulations to ensure new homes built from 2025 produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes delivered under the old regulations.