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APC REVISION > Sustainability > Flashcards

Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

What does BREEAM stand for?

A

Building research establishment environmental assesment method

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1
Q

Definition of Sustainability

A

**Meets the needs of the present without compromising needs of the future
Bruntland report

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2
Q

What is the RICS enviromental assesment method

A

RICS SKA
Used for Shop or Office fit out

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3
Q

Green Mortgage

A

A better mortgage offered to green and energy efficient houses

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4
Q

What is COP28

A

Conference of Parties, attended by countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCC)
* signalled the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era to achieve net zero by 2050
* triple the world’s renewable energy capacity and double its energy efficiency by 2030
* emission reductions from road transport through net zero vehicles, public transport and safe cycling infrastructure

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5
Q

What are the three pillars of sustainability

A
  1. social (bearable)
  2. environmental (viable)
    3.economic (equitable)
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6
Q

What is sustainability vs ESG

A

Sustainability is what we are seeking to achieve – ESG is how we are seeking to measure it

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7
Q

VOA Sustainability objectives

A
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8
Q

MEES Exemptions

A
  • If a building does not need EPC.
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial units or workshops with a low energy demand (e.g., no heating or cooling).
  • Where the tenancy is less than 6 months with no security of tenure.
  • Where tenancy is more than 99 years.
  • When it is not feasible to improve EPC to E or above even when all possible improvements with a payback of 7 years or sooner have been made.
  • Landlords of residential properties are required, from April 2019, to spend up to £3,500 to improve energy efficiency.
  • When the devaluation case can be proven.
  • When third-party consent for improvements is refused.
  • Certain types of residential lease and landlords.
  • Exemptions must be pre-registered on the Local Authority Private Rented Sector Exemptions Register and renewed five-yearly.
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9
Q

Penalties for non-compliance by MEES

A

Where a breach has lasted less than 3 months – up to £5,000 (if greater) 10% of the Rateable Value with a maximum penalty of £50,000. Where a breach has lasted more than 3 months, up to £10,000 (or if greater) 20% of the Rateable Value with a maximum penalty of £150,000. Policed by Local Authority.

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10
Q

What do you know about Climate Change Levy?

A

Climate Change Levy (CCL) is a tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the United Kingdom. It was introduced as an incentive to increase energy efficiency within business and reduce carbon emissions. Consumers are charged by their energy providers who forward the c. £1.9 billion p.a. to the UK Treasury.

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11
Q

What is BREEAM? Why do we need it?

A

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method) is a voluntary assessment tool for new and refurbished commercial and residential buildings. It rates a building’s impact against 9 environmental weights, including energy consumption, water use, transport links, waste management, health and wellbeing, innovation, land use, materials, and pollution. BREEAM provides independent third-party certification of sustainability performance, helps reduce running costs, maximizes returns, and is often required by local authorities for planning applications.

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12
Q

What is ‘achieving net zero’?

A

Achievement of the UK government’s ambitions for Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 requires significant effort throughout the property industry. This includes establishing Net Zero carbon scope, reducing construction impacts, reducing operational energy use, increasing renewable energy supply, and offsetting any remaining carbon.

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13
Q

What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?

A

Economic, Environmental, Social Development (or Triple P: People, Planet, Profit)

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14
Q

What legislation and guidelines are there for sustainability?

A

Climate Change Act 2008, Energy Act 2011, Building Regulations Part L, Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, Heat Network (Billing and Metering) Regulations 2014, CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, Control of Asbestos Regulations, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, Climate Change Levy.

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15
Q

What is sustainable construction?

A

Sustainable construction, or green construction, is resource-efficient throughout the building’s life span, including location, design, construction, occupancy, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. It aims to improve quality of life and conserve energy and resources.

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16
Q

What does sustainable building look like?

A

Sustainable buildings are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout their life-cycle. Sustainable construction techniques include modular construction, green building materials, and zero energy construction.

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17
Q

What are Building Regulations?

A

A set of regulations and standards that all new buildings must be built to, covering aspects such as structure, fire safety, site preparation, toxic substances, resistance to sound, ventilation, sanitation, drainage, heat-producing appliances, and more.

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18
Q

What renewable technologies do you know of?

A

Wind – Wind Farms (Wind Turbines), Hydro Electric – Water from dams, Solar – Photovoltaic Panels and solar panels, Ground – Ground source heat pumps.

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19
Q

What are recyclable materials?

A

Items that can be made into new products include aluminium and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers, and plastic bottles.

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20
Q

Is there any RICS guidance?

A

RICS Professional Standard on Sustainability and ESG in commercial property valuation and strategic advice, 2022. Professional Standard Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment 2024. RICS Sustainability Report 2024.

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21
Q

What is the Whole life carbon assessment?

A

Whole life carbon refers to the carbon impacts over the entire life cycle of a built asset, from its construction through to its end of life. A whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) is the calculation and reporting of the quantity of carbon impacts expected throughout all life cycle stages of a project, but also includes an assessment of the potential benefits and loads occurring beyond the system boundary.

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22
Q

Proposed changes to MEES?

A

Domestic - The government’s preferred option is for new tenancies’ to reach EPC C rating from 1 April 2025 and ‘all tenancies’ to reach the same target by 1 April 2028. Non-domestic - Within the Non-Domestic PRS: EPC B implementation consultation, the government proposed an interim target to ensure that the long term target of EPC rating B by 2030 is met.

23
Q

Breeam rating range?

A

Unclassified, Acceptable (for conversions), Pass, Good, Very good, Excellent, Outstanding.

24
What rating is your office building?
Excellent.
25
What is LEED?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
26
What does sustainable development in the Built environment mean?
Also known as ‘green building’, refers to the construction and the occupancy process that are environmentally responsible, and resource efficient throughout a building’s life-span from location, design, construction, occupancy, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
27
What is Part L compliance?
Part L compliance regulations aims to ensure that new and existing buildings in the UK are designed and constructed energy-efficient and sustainable. These regulations are set out in Part L of the Building Regulations and apply to residential and commercial properties. The main objective of Part L compliance is to reduce the amount of carbon emission produced by buildings.
28
What are some of the considerations within Part L?
Considerations covered by Part L include: The maximum permitted area of windows, doors and other openings, the structure’s air permeability, insulation values of building elements, heating efficiency of boilers, insulation/controls for heating appliances & systems, hot water storage, lighting efficiency, solar heat gains, ventilation & air conditioning systems.
29
What is the governments 10 point plan?
Green industrial revolution.
30
What is included in an EPC?
Property size, EPC rating, Type of property, Report of how the rating was calculated, Suggestions on how to improve the EPC rating.
31
What is WELL?
Performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.
32
How is the RICS helping introduce sustainability into practice?
Evidence-based research, best practice statements, best practice training, and addressing energy use in clients’ buildings and associated regulation.
33
What legally binding commitment has the UK government made on carbon dioxide emissions?
UK Government made a legally binding commitment to cut the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 (Climate Change Act 2008). This has been amended in 2019 for the UK to achieve 'net zero carbon' by 2050.
34
What legislation requires all buildings in Europe to be subject to energy labeling and energy use reduction?
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
35
What did the UK government do in response to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)?
Amended the energy requirements contained in Part L of the Building Regulations and introduced Energy Performance of Building Regulations.
36
What are the FIVE key provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)?
Higher standards of energy conservation for new and refurbished buildings, establishing a calculation methodology for the energy performance of all buildings, minimum requirements for the energy performance of all buildings, energy certification for all buildings when leased or sold, and mandatory inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems in buildings.
37
When is an EPC required?
EPC required for all commercial buildings over 50 sqm when it is newly built, sold or let for a term of more than 6 months, newly refurbished with alterations to heating, air conditioning or ventilation services, and/or subject to Building Regulations.
38
What properties are exempt from an EPC?
Listed buildings, buildings which have no heating, religious buildings, temporary buildings, buildings due to be demolished/redeveloped, and residential units not occupied more than 4 months a year.
39
What are the EPC requirements for marketing?
Must be commissioned within 7 days of the commencement of marketing, agents are responsible for procuring EPCs, only the actual energy rating is required to be displayed, and all online marketing material must have a link to the EPC.
40
What is included on the front page of an EPC?
Address of property and floor area, EPC certificate and reference number, technical information on the property’s energy provision, estimation of energy running costs, an energy performance rating from A+ to G, and benchmarking information.
41
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years unless the building is altered, after which a new EPC would be required.
42
Where would you find an EPC?
EPC online register holds EPCs available for inspection.
43
What are the penalties for non-compliance on displaying of EPCs? Who enforces the regulations?
Local authorities’ Trading Standards teams enforce the regulations. Commercial: max penalty is equal to 12.5% of the RV of the building (a minimum of £500 and maximum of £5,000 fine).
44
What do the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) as set out in the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations, 2015 require?
Minimum EPC rating of Level E. Implementation was in stages: New leases from 1 April 2018 and all existing leases from 1 April 2023 for commercial properties.
45
What are the exemptions for MEES regulation compliance?
If a building does not need an EPC, places of worship, industrial units or workshops with a low energy demand, short tenancies, long tenancies, and when it is not feasible to improve the EPC rating to E or above.
46
Which MEES exemptions only last for 5 years and cannot be transferred on sale?
When it is not feasible to improve the EPC rating to E or above, landlords required to spend up to £3,500, when the devaluation case can be proven, and when third-party consent for improvements is refused.
47
Where must MEES exemptions be registered?
Exemptions must be pre-registered on the Local Authority Private Rented Sector Exemptions Register and renewed five-yearly.
48
What did the government’s consultation on the expansion of MEES find in October last year?
Preferred trajectory: minimum EPC rating of B by 1 April 2030; alternative trajectory: minimum EPC rating of C by 1 April 2027.
49
What are the penalties for non-compliance with MEES?
Breach has lasted less than 3 months – up to £5,000 or (if greater) 10% of the Rateable Value with a maximum penalty of £50,000; where a breach has lasted more than 3 months – up to £10,000 or (if greater) 20% of the Rateable Value with a maximum penalty of £150,000.
50
Who polices non-compliance with MEES?
Local authority.
51
What is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)?
Energy assessment scheme that is mandatory for large organisations in the UK (more than 250 employees, turnover more than €50m and an annual balance sheet total of €43m).
52
What does the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) require of participating organisations?
Measure total energy consumption across buildings, transport and industrial activities, conduct energy audits to identify cost-effective energy efficiency recommendations, and report compliance to the Environment Agency.
53
What are the Heat Network (Billing and Metering) Regulations, 2014?
Provision of communal heating systems in multi-occupied commercial and residential schemes and to district heating systems, requiring accurate meter reading and competitively priced individual meters.
54
What is the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme?
CRC is to be scrapped following the Government’s Business Energy Taxation Review (2015) and was replaced by the Climate Change Levy (CCL) in 2019.
55
What is the Climate Change Levy (CCL)?
Tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the UK, introduced to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Energy generated from renewable sources is exempt from CCL.
56
What are Display Energy Certificates (DECs)?
Display the actual energy used and carbon dioxide emissions, required for public buildings over 250 sqm.

APC REVISION (15 decks)

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