Sustainability Flashcards
What specific criteria leads to a higher BREEAM rating?
It looks at the following 9 areas:
1. Energy Efficiency: Reducing energy consumption through the use of efficient building services, such as HVAC, lighting, and appliances, can have a significant impact on the BREEAM rating.
2. Water Efficiency: Using efficient plumbing fixtures and fittings and recycling rainwater can help reduce water consumption, which can improve the BREEAM rating.
3. Materials and Waste: Choosing sustainable materials, reducing waste through recycling and reuse, and implementing construction waste management plans can all contribute to a higher BREEAM rating.
4. Transport: Encouraging the use of public transport, bicycles, and electric vehicles can reduce carbon emissions and improve the BREEAM rating.
5. Ecology and Biodiversity: Incorporating green spaces, wildlife habitats, and green roofs can enhance the biodiversity of a building site and improve the BREEAM rating.
6. Pollution: Reducing pollution through measures such as air filtration systems, low-emission vehicles, and monitoring of indoor air quality can contribute to a higher BREEAM rating.
7. Health and Wellbeing: Promoting occupant health and well-being through measures such as natural light, access to outdoor spaces, and ergonomic design can also improve the BREEAM rating.
Why would a business want their building to have a higher BREEAM rating?
Attractive to tenants / investors.
Helps environment.
Looks good for business.
Increases value of property.
Should be able to charge more rent.
People should be more productive.
How can the design phase lead to a more sustainable building?
Can design in early sustainable practice.
By ensuring pre-fab materials to limit waste
specifying certain u-values
certain things such as rainwater harvesting
Can require a certain bream rating
Specifying recyclable products
Using brownfield sites.
How can the construction phase lead to a more sustainable building?
Not ordering too much materials
Not cutting corners
Using recyclable products
Ensuring to not pollute water / release toxins etc.
Ensuring to not damage wildlife
Noise pollution avoidance
How can using technology lead to a more sustainable building?
Timers on lights, heating etc.
Solar panels, wind turbines etc.
Laptop instead of printing
How can incorporating brown sites, using solar panelled technology and naturally resourced materials make a building more sustainable?
BrownFIELD sites are sites which have previously been built on but are now (typically out of use)- this allows for existing greenFIELD sites to remain untouched.
Solar Panels allow for electricity to be gained via the sun instead of from burning greenhouse gases etc. The sun does not die from being used.
Naturally sourced materials- doesn’t require energy to form and often can be reused etc.
What are the BREEAM ratings?
Unclassified: 30
Pass: 31-44
Good: 45-54
Very good: 55-69
Excellent: 70-84
Outstanding 85+
