Sustainability Flashcards
What is a BREEAM rating?
- Tool to measure new and refurbished buildings.
- 9 environmental weightings of energy consumption, water, transport, waste, health and wellbeing.
- It is a DESIGN based energy rating
- BREEAM ratings, pass, unclassified, good, v good, excellent, outstanding.
What is RICS commitment to sustainability?
-RICS Sustainability Report 2022 – green buildings, climate risk assessments on built assets, using digital tools for sustainable analysis, carbon measurement tools.
- ‘RICS Value the Planet’ campaign – help the profession implement UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- RICS published ‘Levelling Up and Sustainable Placemaking’ report (2022), calling on government Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to address housing shortage, align with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- ‘RICS Responsible Business Framework’ published in 2021 – encourages sustainable solutions,
- Red Book features
What is Sustainability?
- Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
- The concept of sustainability is composed of three pillars: economic, environmental and social – also recognised in the sector as profits, planet and people.
What RICS documentation concerns sustainability?
- RICS Guidance Note on ‘Environmental Risks and Global real estate’ (2018)
- Rules of Conduct 2021 (3.10)
- Red Book (VPGA 8)
- Guidance Note ‘Sustainability and ESG Guidance in Commercial Property Valuation and Strategic Advice’ – 3rd edn 2021.
What is Net Zero?
- Balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that’s produced and the amount that’s removed.
- It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal.
How can energy efficiency be improved through design, construction, use of building?
- LED lights – energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) are low carbon.
- Installing heat pumps – replace less efficient boilers.
- Smart technology – sensors on heating or lighting to enhance capacity.
- Green roofs – aid water run-off, lower a building cooling/heating demand.
- Double glazing – reduce heat loss
- Insulation – cavity wall insulation.
What is retrofitting?
- Retrofitting a building involves changing its systems or structure after its initial construction and occupation.
How can carbon be reduced in design, construction and use of buildings?
- Re-use of materials
- Low-carbon concrete – ECOPact low-carbon concrete (it is very expensive)
- Restructure rather than demolition
- Aspect of building to take advantage of solar gain.
What is EPC?
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).
- It calculates the energy performance of a building, it is the minimum requirement of energy, it has an energy certification, promotes high energy conservation for buildings.
How long is EPC valid?
- 10 years – unless building is altered. If so, new EPC is required.
What are EPC requirements for marketing properties?
- Must be commissioned within 7 days of commencement of marketing
- Agents responsible for procuring EPCs
- Only actual energy rating is required to be displayed on advertisement
- Marketing material must have link to front page of EPC.
What information is on the front page of EPC certificate?
- Address of property and floor area
- EPC Certificate reference number
- Technical info on property energy provision
- Estimation of energy running costs
- Energy rating from A+ to G
What is MEES?
- Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (2015) –
- it is energy efficiency regulations that require a minimum EPC rating of E to let building from 1st April 2018 onwards. i.e. cannot let if F or G rating.
o New leases from 1 April 2018 – commercial and resi
o All existing leases from 1 April 2023 for commercial (2020 for resi)
What is BREEAM?
- British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
What is WELL standard?
- WELL does not stand for anything.
- It measures and certifies features to promote occupant wellbeing such as air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.
What exemptions of MEES are available?
- High cost exemption (exceeds £3,500)
- All relevent improvements made exemption
- Devaluation exemption (reduce MV)
- Wall insulation exemption
- Consent exemption (eg if needed third party consent)
- New Landlord exemption
Current MEES
Residential guidance to privately rented properties?
2018 - EPC E
New MEES?
In consultation
What is the importance of balancing economic and social policies with environmental objectives?
Because sustainability is an interconnected multifaceted issue…
that requires social and economic progress to link with environmental objectives
What is ESG?
Environmental, social and governance
How do MEES impact your day to day work?
- Impact advice given
- Impact values and pricing
- Impacts loan advice
- Impact on costing to get to EPC C by Decemeber 2025
- Impacts future-planning
What are non-compliance penalties for MEES?
- Residential is £2k and £4k caps
Who is responsible for EPCs?
- Landlord if vacant
- Tenant if occupied
- If marketing – agent must get
What are some current issues in sustainability?
- Embodied carbon in building materials
- Increasing incorporation of wellbeing and health with wider carbon issues e.g. WELL building standards
- Use of renewable energy (particular uptick due to Ukraine crisis and reliance on Russian oil)
What is sustainability?
The avoidance of the depletion of natural resources
What is a sustainable development?
Meeting the needs of today without negatively impact the future needs
Biodiversity Net Gain
- It is a policy response to the significant decline in biodiversity in recent decades
- A method of development that ensures that new developments have a positive impact on biodiversity
Climate Change Levy
- This is a tax on energy derived from non-domestic users in the UK.
- ## It was introduced as an incentive to increase energy efficiency within businesses and so to reduce carbon emissions
Green leases
- Measured in properties by EPC and so are including ‘green’ terms within a new lease to covenant with the tenant to maintain/ improve their rating.
- ensures that they have a certain EPC
Why do you feel sustainability is important to you as a surveyor and to the profession generally?
- The earth’s capacity is finite.
- Unsustainable land use practices are responsible for the depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity and habitat.
- RICS and its members are committed to creating and maintaining a healthy environment, not only for today but also for future generations, by adhering to the following principles:
- promotion of social equity by ensuring access to services for the benefit of all and
- support of a healthy local economy, including high levels of employment.
What does sustainability mean to you?
Meeting the needs of today without prejudicing the need of the future in environmental, economic and social terms. Ie I agree with the Brundtland Report definition.
What is the RICS guidance?
Sustainability and ESG in commercial property valuation and strategic advice Global guidance note 2021
- What is the difference between sustainability and ESG
Sustainability
A holistic approach to long-term value creation that considers the environment, society, and economy. It aims to reduce negative environmental impacts and ensure that business practices don’t harm future generations.
ESG
A framework that measures a company’s performance in three areas: environmental, social, and governance. It’s used by investors and other stakeholders to assess a company’s impact and risk.
When is an EPC rating not required?
- places of worship
