Sustainability Flashcards
Where does it state that the UK needs to achieve net zero by 2050?
Climate Change Act 2008 - was amended in 2019 to require the UK to achieve net zero by 2050
There is an interim target of reducing emissions by 78% by 2030
What is the UK Green Building Council?
A UK membership organisation (2007), which aims to ‘radically transform’ the way that the built environment in the UK is planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated
What are the 5 steps the UK GBC have set out to address climate change?
- Establish Net Zero Carbon Scope
- Reduce Construction Impacts
- Reduce Operational Energy Use
- Increase Renewable Energy Supply
- Offset any Remaining Carbon
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificate.
A document that assesses and rates the energy efficiency of a building and rates this A-G and provides recommendations for improvement
What are the current EPC rules?
EPCs required for all buildings with a total usable floor area of more than 50 sqm
When it is newly built, sold or let for a term of more than 6 months
When it is newly refurbished and heating, ac or ventilation services are altered
What buildings might be exempt from EPCs?
Listed buildings
Religious buildings
Temporary buildings
Buildings due to be demolished or redeveloped
Residential units not occupied for more than 4 months a year
What are EPC requirements for marketing?
- Must be commission within 7 days of the marketing period (28-day limit for procurement)
- Agents are responsible for procuring EPCs
- Only the actual energy rating is required to be displayed on property and advertisements
What must the front page of an EPC certificate include?
- Address of property and floor area
- EPC certificate reference number
- Technical information on the property’s energy provision
- Estimation of energy running costs
- An energy performance rating from A+ to G
- Benchmarking info
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years (unless the building is altered - if it is then a new one is required)
What are the penalties for not having an EPC?
Local Authorities Trading Standards teams enforce these
Resi: £200 civil fixed penalty for non display of EPC on marketing material
Commercial: Max penalty is equal to 12.5% of the RV of the building (min of £500 and max of £5,000)
What are MEES?
Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 (private rented property)
Require a minimum EPC rating of E from 2018 onwards
What are the two stages of implementation for MEES?
- New leases from April 2018 including lease renewals/extensions
- All existing leases from April 2023 for commercial properties
When is a building exempt from MEES compliance?
- If a property doesn’t need an EPC (e.g. place of worship)
- Industrial units or workshops with low energy demand (e.g. no heating or cooling)
- Tenancy less than 6 months
- Tenancy more than 99 years
- When the test know as the “7-years pay back” does not work - i.e. works to the building to improve the EPC will not pay back within 7 years (lasts for 5 years)
- When improvements will devalue a property by more than 5% (lasts for 5 years)
What are penalties for non compliance with MEES?
For commercial properties:
- Breach lasting less than 3 months - up to £5000 or 10% of the Rateable Value (max (£50,000)
- Where a breach has lasted more than 3 months - up to £10,000 or 20% of the Rateable Value (£150,000)
What are the potential changes to MEES regulation?
EPC rating of minimum B by 2030 for all new tenancies
What is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)?
A mandatory energy assessment and energy saving scheme in the UK for large undertakings (250+ people)
- Measures total energy consumption across buildings, transport and industrial activities every 4 years
- Conduct energy audits to identify cost efficiencies
- Report compliance to Environment Agency
What is BNG?
Biodiversity Net Gain
A way of creating and improving natural habitats to deliver a positive impact on biodiversity through the development process
From Feb 2024 compulsory for all new developments to provide at least 10% BNG secured for 30 years
What is the Climate Change Levy?
CCL is a tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the UK.
Energy from renewable sources is exempt
What is the Heat Network (Billing and Metering) Regulations 2014 (amended 2020)?
Provision of communal heating systems in multi-let buildings
Consumers must be provided with an accurate meter reading
What are Display Energy Certificates?
Required for public buildings over 250 sqm
