Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Meeting the environmental needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
How can people / businesses be more sustainable?
Reduce, reuse, recycle - eg switching off lights, using the correct waste bins
Travel smarter - avoid aeroplanes
Limit plastic consumption - has huge impact on environment
What does Global Professional Guidance Note Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation state?
Valuers must be fully aware of ways sustainability may impact on levels of value they report
EG impact of climate change on location, physical characteristics of building, attitudes of investors and occupiers eg high BREEAM scores
These factors all impact market rent, market value, investment value and fair value
What are building regulations Act 2010?
A set of regulations and standards that all new buildings must be built to:
Structure, fire safety, ventillation, drainage and waste disposal, conservation of fuel and power, electrical safety etc. Building
What are some examples of works that would need building control sign off under the building regulations Act 2010?
Replace fuse boxes and connected electrics
install a bathroom that will involve plumbing
change electrics near a bath or shower
put in a fixed air-conditioning system
replace windows and doors
replace roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs
install or replace a heating system
add extra radiators to a heating system
What does The Energy Act 2023 set out?
Unlawful to let properties with EPC of F or G from April 2018
Unlawful to continue to let a property with a rating of F or G from April 2023
Are there any exemptions to MEES (Where an EPC is required)?
If the landlord has undertaken all of the improvements detailed on the recommendation report and the EPC still has a rating of F or G then they can apply for an exemption by showing evidence of this.
Short leases under 6 months (with no right to renewal) or over 99 years are exempt from MEES regulations.
Experts provide written advice that improvement would devalue property by 5% or more or works could damage property
Consent to undertake works is refused by third party EG Local Authority or current tenant
Exemptions last FIVE years and need to be logged on PRS Register created by Government if cheapest improvement is £3,500 + (high cost)
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificate
Provides prospective buyers/tenants information on energy efficiency and environmental impact of property
Include improvement recommendations
Why does promoting sustainability/ EPC’s impact PMs?
Our job is to maintain or increase value of assets, so PM needs to advise LL to spend money upgrading property to good EPC rating so they are lettable / sellable - Also complying with statutes and avoiding fines/client embarrassment
What is the RICS guidance on sustainability?
RICS Sustainability and commercial property valuation 3rd edition (2021) - Guidance note
RICS sustainability report (2023)
Where do MEES apply?
England and Wales
What is the triple bottom line?
sustainability framework focusing on people, planet and profit - to have strong impact on world but also benefitting financially
What does EPC show?
Current rating
Guidance on how to improve (In recommendation report)
What works of improvement can be carried out
What EPC could be if works were carried out
Property in question
Date undertaken
Expiry date
Name & company of assessor
What buildings are exempt from EPC requirements?
Temporary buildings (to be used for two years or less)
Places of worship
Some industrial sites or workshops
Detached buildings with a floor space of 50 metres or less
Buildings that are due to be demolished
Residential properties occupied for less than 4 months a year
What is the penalty for not complying with MEES when should be?
£5,000 - (capped at) £50,000 ( or 10% of RV) if the breach has been going on for less than 3 months
£10,000 - (capped at) £150,000 ( or 20% of RV) if the breach has continued for more than 3 months
What are the implications for LLs of poor EPC ratings?
Some properties will be illegal to let unless they are upgraded
Valuations will be affected and marketability will be diminished
Rent reviews could be affected
Implications for dilapidations may come about
What did Climate Change Act 2008 set?
UK Framework for cutting emissions - legally binding
- To be net zero by 2050
- 80% carbon reduction by 2030
New 2019 Climate Change Act update
- Must be 100% lower carbon than 1990 baseline (was 80% in original 2008 act)
What is your firms environmental policy?
Net zero carbon in managed props by 2030
Minimised energy + water use
Promote reusable material
What is the paris agreement?
Signed 22/04/2016
Legally binding climate change treaty that sought to limit global warming to 2 degrees
What is BREEAM?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
Environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings and large-scale developments
Aims to assess, improve and certify the sustainability of buildings based on their environmental, social, and economic impacts
Used in over 50 countries
How does BREEAM work?
Undertaken by independent licensed assessors, and evaluates 10 categories:
- Management
- Health & Well being
- Energy
- Transport
- Water
- Materials
- Waste
- Land use and ecology
- Pollution
- Innovation
What are advantages of BREEAM?
Increases asset value, reduces operating costs and good for marketing! Is used in over 50 countries so also popular for international investors
BREEAM rated buildings can achieve a 20% premium on rented/sales prices according to a report published by JLL.
What does the NPPF say about sustainable development?
National Planning Policy Framework - Provides framework so locally prepared plans can provide sufficient housing toward sustainable development
What do you think is the future of sustainability within property?
Sustainable building standard proliferation - Intertwining with the use of smart building systems
Collaboration between landlords and tenants
Smart cities - collaborations between building types based on their use etc
What is the Kyoto protocol?
1992 target linked to UN framework on convention on climate change that committed parties to binding emissions reduction targets
What is the energy savings opportunity scheme?
ESOS - Large businesses energy usage of their buildings is audited very 4 years
How can carbon reductions and energy efficiency savings be made in buildings?
design, construction, use, refurbishment - Across all stages of its life
EG - implementing solar panels, gray water storage, LED’s, Air source/ground source heat pump
What is the renewable heat incentive?
UK Gov scheme to encourage uptake of renewable heat tech amongst householders (financial incentives)
How is RICS committed to sustainability?
Annual Sustainability Report 2023
- Need for suitable strategies to meet net zero
- Global benchmark for climate and climate sustainability practice
Can you talk me through what IBOS is and its success?
Smart building system
- Enables automation and optimisation of buildings operations by connecting to the existing BMS system
- Enhanced occupier and maintenance interfaces delivered through mobile app
- Data sharing and analytics to spot energy use trends eg when plant is running v when it should be running