Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

Society’s ability to exist and develop without depleting all of the natural resources necessary to live in future

Question 2

What is sustainable development?

Answer 2

An approach to growth and human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet heir own needs

The aim is to have a society where living conditions and resources meet human needs without undermining planetary integrity

Question 3

What are the triple bottom line principles?

Answer 3

The 3 pillars: Environmental (Planet), Social (People) and Economical (Profit)

Question 4

What does the NPPF say about sustainable developments?

Answer 4

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduced the presumption in favour of sustainable development so that sustainable development is pursued in a positive way

Question 5

What Climate change conventions or protocols are you aware of?

Answer 5

Kyoto Protocol- It is an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Question 6

What is the difference between the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 6

The Kyoto Protocol required only developed countries to reduce emissions, while the Paris Agreement recognized that climate change is a shared problem and called on all countries to set emissions targets.

Question 7

What are the most recent UK sustainability targets?

Answer 7

All of the UK must achieve net zero by 2050. Scotland is aiming to become a net zero economy by 2045.
The UK has also committed to a 68% reduction in emissions by 2030, (part of its Nationally Determined Contribution towards the Paris Agreement)

Question 8

What did the Climate Change Act 2008 do?

Answer 8

It set a target for 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions

Question 9

What did the Infrastructure 2015 Act say about climate change?

Answer 9

Infrastructure Act 2015 making environmental issues a significant focus of the Act. It mentions environmental issues including sections on; Renewable Heat Incentives, off-site carbon abatement measures and cycling and walking investment strategies

Question 10

What is the renewable heat incentive?

Answer 10

A scheme formed by UK government to incentivise private households, communities and businesses to adopt renewable energy technologies for heating e.g. air source heating pumps, by providing financial assistance

Question 11

How do buildings impact the environment?

Answer 11

Buildings account for 42% total energy consumption an 35% greenhouse gas emissions

Question 12

What is an example of a sustainable design feature?

Answer 12

Integrating living walls and vertical gardens

Question 13

Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?

Answer 13

BREEAM- Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.

Used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings ensuring projects meet sustainability goals and continue to perform optimally over time

Question 14

Explain MEES

Answer 14

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards were introduced by the UK government to improve the quality and increase the energy efficiency of the worst performing buildings.
The regulation makes it unlawful to let a property with an EPC rating below E with some exemptions (industrials with no heating, if it’s proven that increasing the rating will decrease the property value by 5+%)

Question 15

What are the key dates under MEES?

Answer 15

April 2023- all leased commercial properties, not just new leases, have to have an EPC rating above E

April 2027- all non-domestic properties need an EPC rating of no less than C

Question 16

What falls outside MEES (exemptions)?

Answer 16

Places of worship, temporary buildings (which will be used for 2 years or less) and industrial or agricultural buildings with a low energy demand.

Question 17

What penalties can be faced for non-compliance of MEES?

Answer 17

For commercial properties:

if the breach lasts < 3 months: the greater of up to £5,000 or 10% of RV up to a maximum of £50,000.
If > 3 months: the greater of up tp £10,000 or 20% RV up to a maximum of £150,000

Question 18

What is an EPC?

Answer 18

Energy Performance Certificate. They tell how energy efficient a property is

Question 19

When is an EPC required?

Answer 19

*Sale/lease/refurbishment of a property
*all commercial buildings with a useful floor area of 50+ sqm- when it is newly built or let/sold for > 6 months
*sub-letting or assignment of lease

Question 20

What is in an EPC and how would you find one?

Answer 20

The certificate is split into four sections:
*Information about the property
*the date of the assessment
* a reference number and the average energy costs for a property of that house type.
*The A-G energy-efficiency rating and Environmental Impact CO2 rating

Found on gov.uk website

Question 21

What is Corporate, Social, Responsibility?

Answer 21

A business model in which companies integrate social and environmental (ethical and philanthropic) concerns in their business operations and interactions with stakeholders instead of only considering economical profits.

Companies can consider different types of CSR such as; diversity and inclusion, well-being and employs engagement

Question 22

What is the difference between EPC and DEC

Answer 22

Energy Performance Certificates are based on modelled energy use

Display Energy Certificates are based on the actual annual energy use of a building from the previous year

Question 23

What is CCL?

Answer 23

Climate Change Levy

it is a tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in UK. It was an incentive to increase energy efficiency within businesses and therefore reduce carbon emissions. Current rates for both natural gas and electricity is 0.775p/kWh.

Consumers are charged via their energy providers who forward the bill onto UK Treasury.

Question 24

What is a Green Lease?

Answer 24

A commercial building lease that incorporates a performance agreement between L & T as to how the building can be improved, managed and occupied in a sustainable way to help improve energy efficiency

It incorporates energy, water and waste.

Question 25

What is Biodiversity Net Gain?

Answer 25

It is a way of creating and improving natural habitats to deliver a measurable positive impact on biodiversity through the development process or through land management.

A policy response to the significant decline in biodiversity in recent decades.

From Feb. 2024, new developments must provide at lease 10% BNG secured for 30 years through either on/off-site measures.

Question 26

What is the difference between carbon neutral and net zero?

Answer 26

Carbon neutral is making or resulting in no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of carbon off-setting

Net zero is balancing out the (Greenhiuse gases) GHG going into the atmosphere with those being removed so the overall result is 0 (Think: +3 - 3 = 0)

E.g. a company’s building running entirely on solar and using zero fossil fuels can label it’s energy at zero carbon

Question 27

Explain the RICS Sustainability Report 2023

Answer 27

The report provides a global benchmark for issues of climate, carbon and sustainability practices.
The built environment contributes 40% of the world’s carbon emissions. The carbon emissions can’t be tackled without substantially reducing embodied and operational emissions from buildings and infrastructure so a change is essential. Although the industry is making progress, it’s not looking like it’ll be enough to reach net zero by 2050

Question 28

Tell me about RICS Guidance on Sustainability

Answer 28

Global Professional Standard: Sustainability and ESG in Commercial Property Valuation.

It provides a framework for:
*Assessing a company’s sustainability and ethical impact on their financial performance and operations
*Delivering on sustainability and ESG investigation and reporting requirements
*Aligning ESG and sustainability considerations with the mechanics of valuation

Question 29

What does the Environment Act 2021 say about biodiversity Net Gain?

Answer 29

Section 14 makes provision for the granting of planning permission subject to the condition that BNG of the new development exceeds the current BNG levels by the relevant percentage (10%.

Question 30

What is the difference between CSR and ESG?

Answer 30

CSR relates to sustainability strategies that a company employs to ensure they’re operating ethically

ESG are criteria used to measure a company’s overall sustainability