Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

What is sustainability?
What is sustainable development?

A

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations’ to meet their own needs

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2
Q

Why do we need sustainability?

A

Construction requires large consumption of resources
Waste
Carbon emissions

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3
Q

What is a Waste Management Plan?

A

Document that describes the amount and type of waste from construction - how it will be re-used, recycled or disposed; projects over £300k

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4
Q

Can you name types of environmental waste?

A

Dust
Sound pollution
Disposal of waste
Use of chemicals
Whole building process extraction/manufacture

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5
Q

What is a G Value?

A

A measure of solar energy transmitted

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6
Q

What is a green roof?

A

A roof of a building that is parially or completely covered by vegetation

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7
Q

What’s a brown roof?

A

A roof where a substrate is left ot self vegetate - local seeds/birds/wildlife

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8
Q

What is a blue roof?

A

A roof designed to temporarily store water and then release

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9
Q

What are the advantages of green roofs?

A

Absorbs water (flooding)
Insulation
Improves air quality
Creates habitats for wildlife

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10
Q

What is an Eco Foot Print?

A

A measure of the population’s demand for the earth’s eco systems

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11
Q

What is Kyoto Protocol?

A

An international treaty that commits state parties to low greenhouse gases

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12
Q

How can you minimise waste?
Or recycle waste?

A

Minimise waste generated
Exchange unwanted materials
Promote sustainable concepts

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13
Q

What are the layers of a green/brown roof?

A

Vegetation
Substrate
Filter layer
Drainage board
Waterproofing

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14
Q

What is an Extensive green roof?

A

It’s light weight and low maintenance

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15
Q

What is an Intensive and Semi Intensive green roof?

A

Intensive means very dense and replicates normal ground

Semi Intensive is a deeper substrate and more planting systems

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16
Q

What is BREEAM? (for non domestic only)

A

A measuring system ‘Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method’.

17
Q

What is LEED?

A

A measurement system ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’.
4 levels - certified, silver, gold, platinum

18
Q

What is the difference between BREEAM and LEED?

A

BREEAM is stricter
BREEAM has independent assessors

19
Q

What is SKA?

A

A measurement system from the RICS
Short for Skansen
For fitouts
Assessed 3 stages - design, construction, operation

20
Q

What is a U Value?

A

A measure of thermal resistance for a building

21
Q

Can you name some BREEAM criteria areas?

A

Waste - waste management
Materials - low environmental impact materials
Innovations - electrical charge points

22
Q

What are the BREEAM score thresholds?

A

<30 unclassified
>30 pass
45 good
55 very good
70 excellent
85 outstanding

23
Q

What are the advantages of BREEAM?

A

Lowers environmental impact
Reduces operating costs
Improves marketability

24
Q

What does Net Zero mean?

A

Where emissions are ‘0’ or the amount is offset

25
Are there any sustainability policies? What is the Climate Change Act?
Climate Change Act 2008 - 80% reduction in CO2 by 2050; 2019 update - net zero by 2050
26
What are the Pillars of sustainability?
Economic - local labour Environmental - green roofs Social - public facilities
27
What is a sustainable material?
Does not deplete natural resources or impacts the environment eg reclaimed wood/recycled plastic
28
What is Contaminated Land?
Contains a substance harmful to people or buildings
29
What is EPC?
Energy Performance Certificate Information about a property's energy use and costs Recommendations Rating A-G Lasts 10 years
30
How do PV Panels work?
Solar Thermal - heat water from suns heat Photovoltaic - converts suns energy into electricity
31
Some sustainable construction methods?
Local suppliers Waste Management Plan Implement sustainability requirements Sustainable Options - green roofs Solar Panels
32
What is COP26?
Conference of the Parties Glasgow 290 million to poorer countries Policy reforms on agriculture
33
What's Embodied Carbon mean?
Consists of all emissions associated with Building Construction - extract/transport/manufacture
34
Statutory requirements for sustainability?
Climate Change Act [refd earlier, 2008] COSHH Building Regulations Control of Asbestos Energy Performance Certificates
35
Sustainability in industry?
Sustainability Report 21 - European waste is a big concern COP26 - Residential sector - 22% carbon emissions; improve energy efficiency
36
What does Net Zero mean?
Amount of greenhouse gas produced and amount removed from the atmosphere are offset
37
What's DEC?
Display Energy Certificate Energy performance of non domestic buildings; 250m2+; A-G rating; CO2 emissions
38
Level of uplift for BREEAM?
Are standard uplifts in BREEAM document, but would assess client project specifically ie level of specification