Sustainability

Question 1

Legislation:

Answer 1

• Climate Change (Scotland) Act
• Energy Act 2011

Question 2

What is sustainability?

Answer 2

• To meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations ability to meet their needs.

Question 3

What are the key principles of sustainability? Known as the Triple Bottom Line or pillars of sustainability.

Answer 3

• Social
• Economical
• Environmental

Question 4

What is a green lease?

Answer 4

• Standard form lease with additional clauses included which provide for the management and improvement of the Environmental Performance of a building by both owner and occupier(s)
• Better Building Partnerships stress the importance of collaboration and the sharing of data between LL and Tnt.
• Otherwise many of the recommendations are best practice depending on the building e.g. LED lights, smart meters.

Question 5

What is a green mortgage?

Answer 5

• Banks offer favourable rates to someone buying or owning an energy efficient home.

Question 6

What are the most common environmental issues on construction sites?

Answer 6

• Risk of land degradation
• Risks to Flora and Fauna
• Risks of water pollution
• Air pollution
• Land contamination
• Noise and vibrations
• High wastage production into landfill

Question 7

How does your firm promote sustainability?

Answer 7

• Recycling of cardboard, paper and plastics
• Use of energy efficient lighting
• Energy efficient equipment (LED Lights and energy efficient monitors
• All company cas are to be EV by 2025
• Cycle to work scheme
• Reduce printing
• Charitable contributions

Question 8

Sustainability Accreditation

Answer 8

• BREEAM
• RICS Ska scheme – fit out rating (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
• LEED – Leadership in Energy and Design
  o Wired score – IT connectivity

Question 9

What is BREEAM?

Answer 9

• Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
• Voluntary assessment tool to rate commercial buildings – 5 ratings:
  o Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding
  o Energy, water use, transport links, wellbeing

Question 10

Please provide examples on how have improved ESG/Sustainability in a building?

Answer 10

• Arranged for dimmable lighting controls to be installed at Edinburgh Office block so that when natural lighting reaches a certain threshold it will turn lights off creating energy savings.
• Remove all Common gas heaters and replace with electric heaters

Question 11

How do you personally promote sustainability?

Answer 11

• Print only when necessary
• Car share when possible
• Minimise the use of plastic bottles
• Turns lights off when not in use
• Recycling