Sustainability Flashcards
Give me an example of sustainable construction ?
“Use of environmentally friendly and recyclable materials.
Retrofitting.
Use of sustainable insulation products.”
What are the challenges of net Zero?
“More than 90% of the country’s current energy provision comes from gas, coal, oil diesel and petrol,
It is not meant to exist in 27 years time.
Although steps are heading in the right direction for decarbonisation, an overhaul of every aspect of lift is required”
What does MEES stand for ?
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
Which properties are MEES exempt?
Building not required to have EPC such as industrial sites, non residential agricultural buildings, certain listed buildings, holiday lets etc.
Why is sustainability important?
To preserve the planet and natural resources for future generations
What is sustainability ?
“Meeting the needs of the present without comprimising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
“Social - Social sustainability is the ability of society to persistently achieve good social well-being.
Environmental - Environmental sustainability means we are living with the means of our natural resources.
Economic - requires that a buisiness or country uses it resources efficiently and responsibility so that it can operate in a sustainable manner to consistenly produce an operational profit.
What does BREEAM stand for
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
What is BREEAM?
“Environmental Assessment Method was developed by BRE and covers new construction as well as fit outs.
It assessed buildings against various performance criteria and awards credits.
Credits are awarded under Management health and well-being, energy efficiencym transport, water usage, materials, waste, land use, ecology, pollution, innovation.”
The total amount of credits will lead to a rating of unclassified, pass, good, V. good, Excellent or Outstanding.
What is U-value
Value given to a material based on its insulation quality - i.e the time it takes for heat to pass through.
Name some sustainability legislation?
MEES, Climate Change Act etc.
List some local changes you’ve adopted in line with sustainability ?
BNG
What is the Paris Agreement ?
191 countries joined to meet with the aim to strengthn the global response to the threat of climate change
They aim to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees above pre-indsutrial levels and event try to keep them below 1.5 degrees. Also to use 20% renewable energy by 2050.
What approved docs cover sustainability?
“Part L of the building regulations - Conservation of fuel and power.
Part L aims to achieve net zero carbon buildings or as close to it as possible giving practical guidance on ways of complying with energy efficient requriements.
Overheating
EV charging”
BREEAM thresholds?
“BREEAM Rating % score
Outstanding > 85
Excellent >70
Very Good > 55
Good > 45
Pass >30
Unclassified < 30”
What is LEED?
LEED (Leadership in Energy Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world (USA)
What are the 7 element of a sustainable building?
“Insulation
Airtightness
Thermal Mass
Natual light
Sustainable material
Structural Systems
Renewable technologies.”
Whats sustainable development ?
Economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.
Whats the construction leadership council ?
CLC workd
How can the energy performance of an existing building be improved?
“Insulation
Double glazing
Rated boiler
Use of renewable energy
Sustainable materials
What is embodied carbon?
Considering the carbon that will be used to manufacture a product eg. Sourcing the materials, manufacture, delivery, disposal.
What is the Climate Change Act 2008?
Sets out emission reduction targets within the Uk. It commits the UK to reducing greenhouse gasses by 80% by 2050 but this was updated in 2019 to be net zerio by 2050.
What target in the Climate Act Act was subsequently introduced?
A further interim target was introduced to reduce emissions be 78% by 2030 compared to 1991 levels.
What has the government done to achieve net zero?
“Introducing a 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution which includes items like;
Offshore wind,
greener buildings
green finance
investment in carbon capture storage”
What has the property industry done to achieve net zero?
“The greenbuilding council has set a framework to address this issue:
1. Establishing a Net Zero Carbon Scope for the whole lifecycle of a building
2. Reduce construction impacts by changing to more sustainable building materials and sustainable designs.
3. Reduce operational energy use.
4. Increase renewable energy supply
5. Offset any remaining carbon “
What is net zero carbon?
“This is where greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by their removal from the atmosphere.
“
What is your firms sustainability policy ?
“Reducing the use of printed materials where possible,
Car sharing,
Cycle to work schemes,
Use of public transport where possible,
Use of technology,
Recycling.”
Explain biodiversity net gain?
“BNG is a way of creating and improving natural habitates to deliver measurable positive impact.
It is a policy reponse to significant decline in biodiversity in recent decades.
It works by requiring new developments to provide at least 10% BNG secured for at least 30 years either through onsite or offsite measures”
When was BNG effective ?
“12th February 2024 for major developments (10 + dwellings/ 0.5ha <)
2nd April 2024 for small sites (<10 dwellings / <1000sqm/<1ha)”
How do you calculate BNG delivered ?
“Statutory Biodiversity Metric
Measures the value of a sites habitats using biodiversity units.
The metric compares the biodiversity value before and after development to determine if there is a net gain or loss in biodiversity.”
