Sustainability Flashcards
What is BREEAM and what do the initials stand for?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method - It is a sustainability assessment method that is used to masterplan projects (sustainable credentials)
Can you give me any examples of things that are eligible for credits under BREEAM?
- Provision of cycle storage
- The build’s proximity to public transport
- Rainwater harvesting
What are the BREEAM ratings available?
It is scored from Unclassified to Outstanding
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
- Social
- Environmental
- Economic
Why is sustainability important in our industry?
- Critical global issue facing our generation
- Construction makes up to 10 - 15% of the worlds GDP
- Significant % of world global waste comes from construction
What legislation and regulations are you aware of in relation to sustainability?
- Building regulations (Part L) – “Conservation of fuel and power”
- The Climate Change Act
- Site Waste Management Plans
- MEES Regulations (Minimum energy efficiency standards)
What is the purpose of site waste management plans and when do they apply?
- Ensures that all waste produced on site is disposed of safely, efficiently and in accordance with the law
- It is a legal obligation to prepare a site waste management plan for a construction project with an estimated value over £300K
Why might achieving a high level of sustainability rating be important to some clients?
- Sustainability may coincide with their core business values
- Act as a benchmark / showcase for future projects / i.e BREEAM is an internationally recognised standard
- helping to lower running costs, maximise returns through market value and attract and retain tenants with desirable places to live and work
What actions do you take on a day-to-day basis in your role to enhance sustainability?
- Try to ensure that qualitative tender evaluations includes for a question on sustainability (i.e how the Contractor will ensure that the project benefits the local community, souring local materials, jobs, etc.)
What sustainable technologies are you aware of?
- PV panels
- Air source heat pumps / ground source heat pumps
- Wind turbines
- Rainwater harvesting
- SuDS
What is your understanding of a “fabric first approach?”
- Involves maximising the performance of the components and materials that make up the building fabric / external envelope
- To reduce heat loss
What is Passivhaus / what does it set out to achieve?
- Passivhaus is a voluntary energy performance standard
- Aims to reduce the energy required for space heating/cooling to reduce the ecological footprint
What is the Climate Change Act?
The Act commits the UK government by law to becoming net zero by 2050
What does the term “Net-Zero” mean?
The balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere
What is a green roof
- roofs covered in a layer of vegetation / planting
- Absorb CO2, introduce an insulation layer and have ecological benefits - encouraging habitats
What is the definition of sustainability?
The Brundtland Report describes sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
What is a brown roof?
Similar to green roofs but with more focus on encouraging plants and wildlife in the area
What is a blue roof?
Introduced to help how the building stores water run off
What is a U-Value
- U-values signify the heat lost through a given thickness of a material
- The lower the U-value rating, the better the performance
What is EPC?
- Energy Performance Certificate, it is required whenever a building is built, sold. or rented.
- It includes information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs, with an energy efficiency rating (A to G), valid for 10 years
What is DEC?
Display Energy Certificates (required for public buildings in the UK over 250m2 - must be clearly displayed)
What are the MEES Regulations?
These are the minimum energy efficiency standards. These impose requirements on Landlords to ensure their properties meet a minimum EPC rating of E to ensure the property can be let.
What would you typically find on an EPC?
- The assesser name
- The assessment date
- The property floor area
- The EPC rating
- Recommendations for improvement
- Potential EPC rating
