Sustainability Flashcards
What COP26 and what stand for?
Conference of the Parties
-signed the 1994 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
-26th meeting was in 2021, hence COP26
What happened at COP26?
Established Glasgow Financial Alliance for net zero carbon emissions:
-$130tr private capital now under more scrutiny
-robust and legitimate, and
-UK net zero by 2023
Explain term ‘Sustainability’?
To meet needs of the present without compromising future generations’ ability to meet own needs
Key principles:
Brundtland Report 1987 - based on:
-Environmental Protection
-Economic Growth
-Social Equity
Key principles of sustainability?
Social (sufficient range of buildings)
Economic (competitive economies)
Environmental (protection and enhancement of natural, built, historic environment)
Sustainability - Planning/decision making core principles?
CrPrQuChReEnBrHeTrHe
Common environmental issues on sites?
WaAiNoEnLaHaLaGa
Construction key legislation?
Agricultural Land Act
Building Act (B Regs)
Clean Air Act
Climate Change Act
[MEES] Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
Key B Regs that relate to sustainability?
Approved Doc ‘L’ - Conservation of Fuel and Power
[MEES] EPCs (efficiency, ownership/rented, large public a DEC)
Taxation related to sustainability?
Landfill Tax (charged by private disposal companies)
Codes of practice for measuring sustainability?
BREEAM:
Whole life considerations - specification, design, construction, operation (new and refurb projects)
Categories: EEWWPMW
LEED:
US equivalent to BREEAM
Embodied Carbon and LFC
SKA Ratings:
RICS Non-domestic fitouts
How your firm promotes sustainability?
ReMoEnVeCyPrCoCo
Paris Agreement?
International Treaty on climate change
2016
Warming less than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels
major emittors cut their pollution
framework for transparent monitoring
Sustainable building methods?
ReGrAiSoWiSoRaGrAu
Your understanding of Green Roofs?
Covered with vegetation
placed over:
-waterproof membrane
-drainage
-irrigation
-root barrier system
-ponds for greywater
Providing insulation, biodiversity, aesthetic, lower urban temperatures
What are photovoltaics and how do they work?
Convert sunlight to electricity where photons hit molecules causing electrons to flow to invertor which converts DC to AC
What Soakaway and how work?
Surface water drainage attenuation by large pits recieving surface water from drainage pipe, gradually infiltrating through soil
Understanding of term ‘carbon neutral’?
Balance between carbon emitted and carbon absorbed in carbon sinks and measure of impact on global warming
What meant by ‘solar gain’?
Increase in temperature due to solar radiation which buildings can retain by high thermal mass or avoid by reflection/insulation
How manage solar gain in buildings?
Limit openings
Shading/re-orientation
reflective materials
insulating walls and roof spaces
How ground source heat pump work?
Ground heat absorbed at low temperatures
Into fluid inside a loop of pipe underground
Passes through a compressor that raises to higher temperature
Heats water for house not water
The term ‘SUDS’?
Slowing down of surface water run off by allowing it to infiltrate into natural contours and landscapes
Avoiding need for drainage components
Benefits of BREEAM Certified buildings?
Lowering running costs
Minimisation of environmental impact
Marketability
Desirable to live and work in
Increased sustainability
Benefits of rainwater harvesting?
Descreased demand for water
Less imported water
Water and energy conservation
BREEAM compliant
Lower operational costs
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificate, 2007.
Legal requirement for buildings to be:
-sold
-let
-constructed
Valid for 10 years
Band A - most efficient
Scale A-G
Potential efficiency also identified
Co2 emissions also identified
