Sustainability Flashcards
What are the three pillars of sustainability?
- Economic
- Environmental
- Social
How is sustainable development defined?
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
What does BREEAM stand for?
BREEAM stands for the British Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method
What is BREEAM?
It’s voluntary environmental assessment tool. It’s undertaken by licensed assessors, who rate new and refurbished commercial and residential buildings based on their energy consumption, water usage, transport links, waste management and health and well being. It’s based on credits, which are achieved for different things, and weighted differently depending on their category. The credits dictate the score, which will be pass, good, very good, excellent or outstanding. A BREEAM rating can be a requirement of planning, or a client’s CSR.
What is LEED?
LEED stand for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. US equivalent to BREEAM. Heavily weighted towards CO2 emissions, while BREEAM is a more rounded sustainability view. It has been incorporated by some UK developers
What is a SKA rating?
SKA rating is the RICS tool for measuring the sustainability of internal fit out projects. Assessment carried out by RICS accredited SKA assessors. Based on health & well being, operational costs, water usage, environmental impact.
What changes did the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2008 make to the built environment?
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act introduced the requirement for EPCs, and introduced Section 7 Sustainability into the technical handbooks.
What are the rules surrounding EPCs?
Energy Performance Certificates are required to be produced on buildings over 50sqm in a number of circumstances:
- Newly built
- Being let or sold
- Refurbishments (HVAC alterations, subject to building regs)
They must be procured 28 days after the start of marketing. They last for 15 years. They must be displayed, and contain specific things (floor area, ref number, rating, estimation of running costs). Must be register.
What is Section 63?
Section 63 is part of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2008, but was introduced in 2016 along with The Assessment of Energy Performance of Non-Domestic Building (Scotland) Regulations 2016. Section 63 includes the requirement for Actions Plans to be produced
What is an Action Plan, and when is it required?
An Action Plan is produced at the same time as an EPC, unless an valid EPC exists. Actions Plans must be produced by building owners (commercial only), and detail how to improve the energy efficiency of the building. The building owner then have 42 months to implement the plan. Exempt buildings of less than 1000sqm, if it meets 2002 building regs, or temporary buildings. At the end of the 42 months, the owner must have implemented the plan, or had a Display Energy Certificate produced and registered (and every year thereafter), or face a £1000 fine
