Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Construction for the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.
What strategies can be used to mitigate carbon impact on construction projects?
Encouraging low-carbon designs, sourcing materials locally, running equipment off of renewable energy, recycling materials.
Can you provide some examples of sustainable construction techniques?
PV panels, natural ventilation, ground source heat pumps, SUDS.
What are the three pillars of sustainability?
Environmental – reducing environmental impact, reducing waste etc
Economic – efficient use of resources
Social – responding to the needs of the wider community
What are some sustainability assessment criteria?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)
What is the difference between BREEAM and LEED?
BREEAM ratings are measured and issued by an external examiner as the project progresses. All LEED documentation is collated and sent off at the end of the project.
What are the main categories under BREEAM?
Materials
Health and Wellbeing
Energy
Transport
Water
Management
Waste
Land Use and Ecology
Pollution
Innovation
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a criteria such as BREEAM?
Advantages – compliance lowers environmental impact, reduces operating costs, improves marketability
Disadvantages – focus leans too much on operational carbon emissions, could argue they don’t go far enough.
What are your key takeaways from the Government’s “Build Back Greener” strategy?
Published under the Conservative government so this is subject to change.
Developed a 10-point plan for green industrial revolution:
- Advancing Offshore Wind
- Driving growth of low carbon hydrogen
- Delivering new and advanced nuclear power
- Accelerating the shift to zero emission vehicles
- Green public transport, cycling and walking
- Jet zero and green ships
- Greener buildings
- Investing in carbon capture, usage and storage
- Protecting our natural environment
- Green finance and innovation
Fully decarbonise power system by 2035
No new gas boilers sold by 2035
End the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2030
What are the rating thresholds under BREEAM?
85%> = Outstanding
70-85% = Excellent
55-70% = Very Good
45-55% = Good
30-45% = Pass
<30% = Unclassified
How do you think the Build Back Greener Strategy might affect the construction industry?
Promoting the use of sustainable construction materials and renewable energy technologies.
Shift to more zero-carbon buildings, stricter building codes and regulations around carbon reduction
What is a SMART Building?
The converging of building wide M&E systems into a single IT managed infrastructure.
What Building Regulations apply to sustainability?
Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
Part O -
Part S -
What is net zero carbon?
Net Zero = where the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere equates to zero
What is Passivhaus?
Performance based criteria for very low energy buildings. Buildings produced use 90% less energy than standard UK buildings. Eliminates the need for space heating and cooling.
