Sustainability Flashcards
What is key legislation relating to Sustainability?
Climate Change Act (2008)
What does the Climate Change Act set out?
Requires UK to achieve net zero carbon by 2050
What is net zero carbon?
Greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by the removal out of the atmosphere
What is a WLCA?
- Carbon is a greenhouse gas that traps heat / goes into ocean and changes ph
- WLCA assesses carbon emitted from a building during construction, operation and demolition
- Assess in emissions (embodied, operational, user, circular economy)
What is Urban Greening Factor?
- Planning tool to improve green infrastructure and greening in urban environments
- 0.3 for commercial, 0.4 for resi
- Green roofs, green walls, rain gardens (SUDS), trees, urban forests
Provide an example of how you have contributed to the sustainability of a project you have worked on?
Temporary and Permanent Energy Centre Switch
- Instructed to determine switch point
- Liaised with infrastructure team to understand the capacity of the TEC (3,000 units)
- Engaged with Principal Contractor to understand when they forecast to deliver 3,000 units
- Set indicative date for the switch to ensure the scheme continued to be connected into the EON ectogrid
Why can you not use a PEC all the way through?
The TEC is for Phase 1 which is until 2030, financially and logistically it doesn’t make sense to build the PEC yet as it is on the opposite site and would have to dig up half of the site
Provide another example of when you have contributed to the sustainability of a project you have worked on?
Auto-irrigation
- Undertook options analysis for the integration of auto-irrigation into the green roof of a plot
- Liaised with internal sustainability expert who advised key opportunity is that it is more reliable than Estate ManCo, which maintains the success of the green roof in periods of drought and supports BNG
- I was also advised that the risks include the cost to install and maintain, and unsustainability from a water usage perspective
- I deemed it fitting to install it
Despite the risks, why did you think it was suitable to add it?
- Weather events are getting more extreme with summers getting hotter and dryer so we need measures in place
- Silvertown is 10% BNG and there is no scope to slip
Provide an example of where you have advised on a sustainability matter related to planning legislation?
BNG
- How BNG of 10% would still be achievable if trees removed
- Liaised with arboricultural consultant to understand the location, impact of retaining, rationale for removing, and solutions to ensure any shortfall in BNG was compensated for
- Advised client that if retained, roots would impeach on location of future plots, reduce their GEA, compromise the viability of the scheme
- ADVISED any shortfall would be compensated for by replacing new trees and shrubs to retain BNG of +10% in line with their Sustainability Statement and Planning Commitment
What is the legislation around BNG?
Town and Country Planning Act (1990) stipulates that of Feb 2024, all developments must deliver BNG of 10%
What is the Sustainability Strategy
Holistic: 15-minute to promote walking, inclusive, accessible community infrastructure, net zero carbon IN USE, minimise water use and maximise sustainable urban drainage, resilience to climate change including flooding and overheating
- Non-domestic spaces will be assessed against BREEAM New Construction and strive for ‘Excellent’
- Refurbished spaces will be assessed against BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit Out and strive for ‘Excellent’
How is the RICS improving sustainability?
- Publishing reports
- Promoting policy reform
- Developing standards
- Working with the UN to promote the SDGs
- Creation of carbon database (ICM3 - International Cost Management Standard, working with 49 other bodies to develop the database that will be the main source of carbon estimating and benchmarking in the UK)
Provide another example of when you have provided advice related to sustainability?
Photovoltaic System
- Instructed to advise client whether PV panels should be incorporated into the design of the townhouses
- Reviewed the Energy Strategy to establish they are encouraged
- ADVISED they should be used
- Liaised with internal sustainability expert to undertake analysis of opportunities and risks of the PV panel options
- ADVISED option (a) no battery was preferred
What were the two options for PV panels?
Option (a) PV panels (no battery)
Option (b) PV panels
