Sustainability Flashcards
Why is sustainability important to construction?
From energy usage to emissions, the construction industry has a huge impact on the environment. The construction industry accounts for 36% of worldwide energy usage, and 40% of CO2 emissions.
Construction can also result in hazardous waste, and the improper disposal of such waste can result in pollution that affects not just the environment, but also the health of people living in that area.
What do we mean by sustainable development?
Sustainable development is defined within the Brundtland report as - Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The three principles of sustainability are social, environmental and economic.
Can you define social, environmental and economic considerations in relation to sustainability?
Environmental
Preventing harmful and potentially irreversible impacts on the environment by the careful use of natural resource, minimising waste and energy, protecting and enhancing the environment where possible. A measure of the carbon footprint of the building.
Economic
Efficient use of resource, including labour and ensuring the design and construction meets the current and functional needs of the users. Does the development represent overall value for money?
Social
The development should respond to the needs of the wider community. For example, a failure might be a fast-food restaurant being built next to a school; whereas a library being constructed next to a university would be considered more socially sustainable.
How do you measure sustainability?
Sustainability can be measured by assessing performance of Social, Environmental and Economic principles.
Can also be measured using one of the construction sustainability assessments (BREEAM, SKA, LEED).
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1 .5°C.
Under the Paris Agreement, each country must determine, plan and regularly report on the contribution that it undertakes to mitigate climate change.
What measures does your company take in relation to sustainability?
Recycling points.
Lights are switched on timers or sensors.
LED lighting.
Sun reflective glass film.
Car share or using public transport where possible.
Promoting the use of electric cars.
Minimising travel.
Name some of the technology available to help meet Part L of the building regs? (Conservation of fuel and power)
Wind turbines.
Photovoltaic cells.
Ground source heat pumps.
Rainwater harvesting.
Solar thermal water heating.
Green roofs.
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Increase Insulation - reduce heat loss through building fabric.
Solar shading.
Natural ventilation.
Can you explain what green roofs are?
Green roofs, also known as sedum roofs, grass roofs, or living roofs, are roofs that are partially or completely covered with plants and vegetation.
The vegetation is usually planted over a drainage membrane that sits on top of the roof, along with additional layers such as a root barriers and waterproofing products.
What is a U-value?
U-values measure how effective a material is an insulator.
The lower the U-value is, the better the material is as a heat insulator.
How do photovoltaics work?
PV’s convert sunlight into electricity.
Light energy strikes cells, electrons are knocked loose from atoms.
Positive & negative electrical conductors capture electrons in the form of current.
The energy is stored in batteries or immediately used to power the building.
How does a soakaway work?
Soakaways are mainly created as a solution to standing surface water.
They consist of a large hole or pit that receives surface water from a drainage pipe and helps the water to slowly percolate through the soil, reducing the risk of flooding.
How do ground source heat pumps work?
Ground source heat pump systems are made up of a ground loop (a network of pipes buried underground) and a heat pump at ground level.
Fluids are pumped around the ground loop which absorb the naturally occurring heat stored in the ground. The liquid is compressed and goes through a heat exchanger, which extracts the heat and transfers it to the heat pump. The heat is then transferred to the heating system in the building.
How does rainwater harvesting work?
Rainwater harvesting involves collecting rainwater from a building’s roof or other surfaces such as permeable pavements.
The rainwater then passes through a filter, which eliminates debris, and is stored in an underground or overground tank.
This saved water can then be pumped to places where it is needed. Domestic or commercial applications include:
-Flushing toilets.
-Washing machines.
-Washing vehicles.
-Gardening and irrigation.
-Cleaning.
Can you name some of the sustainability measuring systems?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - A green building certification scheme.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment, Environmental Assessment Method).
SKA (operated by RICS, SKA rating is an environmental assessment tool for sustainable fitouts).
CEEQUAL = civil engineering, infrastructure and landscaping.
Can you tell me a little about BREEAM?
Stands for Building Research Establishment, Environmental Assessment Method.
BREEAM is an international scheme that provides independent third-party certification of the assessment of the sustainability performance of individual buildings and infrastructure projects.
Assessment and certification take place at several stages in the built environment life cycle, from design and construction through to operation and refurbishment.
