Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainability?
the practice of maintaining the conditions that allow humans and nature to exist in harmony, while meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations
What is sustaiable development?
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations
What are the triple bottom line principles?
3 pillars of sustainability
social, environemental and economic
What does the NPPF say about sustaiable development?
sustainable development should be pursued in a positive way and the frame work of the NPPF is to regulate development so that it is done sustainablty
Can you tell me about any climate change conventions or protocols you are aware of?
UN framework convention of climate change
Conference of the parties
What targets did one of these set?
net zero by 2025
What are the most recent EU/UK targets relating to sustainability?
limit global temperature rise by no more than 1.5 degrees
what is the paris agreement?
legally binding international treaty that aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions
What was the Kyoto protocol and what were its targets?
first international treaty to commit to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. decrease emissions by 5% and EU countries by 8%
Explain your understanding of COP29
Conference of the parties in the UN Framework convention of climate change
held in Dubai
What did the UK climate change act 2008 do?
it commmitted the UK to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050
What is the UK’s current target for sustainability?
net zero by 2050
What does net zero mean
completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases released by human activity by reducing emissions and implemeting methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
How will the UK achieve its net zero target?
following the 2021 net zero strategy ibcluding accelerating decarbonisation
What are carbon budgets?
a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted over a set period of time
What did the infrastructure act 2015 say about climate change?
no carbon emissions used for energy generated to heat or light a home
What is the renewable heat incentive?
a government financial incentive to promote the use or renewable heat sources
How can buildings impact upon the environment?
- lack of energy efficiency
- wasteful/harmful products
Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?
solar panel roof’s
Can you give me an example of an evironmental assessment method for buildings?
building research establishment environemtnal method
Can you explain your understanding of the minimum energy efficiency standard to me?
sets out minimum requirements of energy performance certificates in the rental sector (E)
How does MEES impact your role?
- during sales of residential properties ensuring EPC’s are up to date
- ensuring tenancies are valid in line with MEES
What are the key dates for MEES?
1st april
2016 - domestic tenants given right to request EPC
2018 - unlawful to grant new tenancies less than an E
2019 - £3500 cost cap introduced
2020 - epc minimum applied to all tenancies
future proposed to raise to a C
What falls outside of MEES?
99 yr leases
less than 6 month tenancies
commercial/agri
Are there any exemptions from mees?
7 yr payback
all improvements made
third party consent
property devaluation
wall insulation
high cost
What ate the penalties fo non compliance of MEES?
fines
What is an EPC?
Energy performance certificate
What buildings require an EPC?
resi and commercial
When is an EPC required?
Sale or lettingq
Which buildings are exempt from having an EPC
agricultural
less than 50sq m
temporary building
low energy use commercial
When do you need to display an EPC
when marketing
What is included in an EPC?
a performance rating
suggestions for improvements
How would you find an EPC
Government EPC register
What are the penalties for not having an EPC?
Fine
What did Rishi Sunak announce in september 2023 regarding the uk net zero target?
increase in grant funding for boilers
What is a DEC?
Display energy certificate
When is a DEC required?
in public buildings
What must accompany a DEC?
advisory report containing recommendations for improvement
What are the penalties for not having a DEC?
fine
What is corporate social responsibility?
an inclusion within a business plan that sets out a companys commitment to operating in a way that is ethical, sustainable and socially responsible
What happened to the code for sustainable homes?
withdrawn and replaced by national technical standards
What is the climate change levy?
an enviornmental tax on business energy use to encourage energy efficiency introducted april 2021
name on example of government policy on energy efficiency buildings?
heat and building strategy
What is ESOS
energy savings opportunitys scheme
when was CRC abolished
2019
What replaced the CRC
SECR and climate change levy
How did CCL rates change?
increase to match cost
What is the SECR regime?
streamlined energy and carbon reporting regime
When was the SECR introduced?
1st april 2019
What is a memorandum of understanding?
a non binding agreement that outlines the intentions of two or more parties
What is a Green lease?
a legally binding agreement between LL and T that includes clauses to improve a builkdings energy performance
What RICS guidance relates to sustainability?
ESG and sustainability in valuation
How can an EPC impact upon value or use of a building?
a better EPC rating can increase a properties value, and whether a property can be let
How do you assess
BREEAM
Tell me about sustainable design/constructions/considerations/materials.
matierals that blend into the countryside, materials that have insulating properties (insulated cladding)
tell me about lender considerations in relation to sustainability
low sustainable buildings may looked at unfavourably by lenders, due to decrease in value and future government policies
Explain your understanding of the Green Deal to me
for the european union to be the first climate neutral bloc
How can building conservation relate to sustainability
it involves caring for the property for future years to continue to benefit from
What are the UN sustainable development goals?
end poverty in all ways by 2030
how many sustainable development goals are there
17
What is the target achievement sate of the UN sustainable development goals
2030
How are RICS working towards the sustainable development goals?
helps to identify the most critical issues facing companies with a stake in land, real estate and constuction in relation to SDGs’
What is the RICS Value the Planet Campaign?
aims to address specific sustainability challenges, such as thse related to poverty, inequuality, climate change, environmetnal degregation and social justice
How can the private sector work towards SDG’s?
creating employment
building skills
spurring innovation
providing essential infrastructure
suuplying affordable goods and services
What is SUD’s?
sustainable drainage systems
What is net biodiversity gain?
making sure development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity
What is an enviornmental management system?
frame work of policies, procedures and practices that help organisations recuce their environemental impact and increase their effiecieny
What is sustainable procurement>
a way of making purchasing decisions that consider the environmental, social and economic impact of a product or service
What is social value?
ensuring that public spending generates additional, social, economic and or evironmental benefits
What does the term whole life carbon mean?
carbon emmisions resulting from materials, construction, and use over a buildings entire life including demolition and disposlal
What is an environmental impact assessment and when would one be carried out?
a tool to assess the signifcant impacts of a development proposal on the environemnt. as early as possible in a projects stages
Explain your understanding of the help to heat scheme
designed to direct help to those suffering from fuel poverty, reduce some of the beauracracy and concentrate on replacing inefficient heating solutions.
What is the smart export guaruntee?
government backed programme that compensates small scale generators for low-carbon electricity they export to the national grid
Explain the key objectives of the Enviornment Act 2021
air qualit
biodiverity
water
waste
What is the role of the office for environmental protection.
protect and improve the environment by holding government bodies to account
tell me about the RICS future foundations strategy.
encouraging the creation of an organisation that is future fit, establishing a culture of conitnuous change and learning.
