Sustainability

Question 1

What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?

Answer 1

Social – e.g. quality of life, community engagement
Environmental – energy, pollution, emissions, plastics, carbon footprint
Economic – risk management, economic health, making a profit

Question 2

How does CBRE incorporate these?

Answer 2

Social – Workwell initiatives
Environmental – Reduce printing, reusable cups
Economic – Compliance department, conflicts of interest management, training

Question 3

What is the Brundtland report?

Answer 3

Published in 1987 by the UN. Defined the principles of sustainable development.

Question 4

What is its definition of sustainability?

Answer 4

Meeting the needs of today without prejudicing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 5

What is the important role sustainability plays in real estate?

Answer 5

As surveyors, we are uniquely placed to steer the built environment towards more sustainable practices.
Important to make buildings more sustainable to help meet carbon emission targets (cut by 100% - increased target in 2019 - under 2008 Climate Change Act), to reduce the costs involved in running a building, and to meet social/cultural demand for more sustainable building.

Question 6

How do you make clients aware of this?

Answer 6

Clients becoming more aware but try to raise awareness in our advice.

Question 7

How does RICS help to encourage sustainability in practice?

Answer 7

Research, best practice statements and training.

Best practice statement: Guidance Note, Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation 2013.

Question 8

What are some ways you can make a building more sustainable?

Answer 8

Existing buildings; key upgrades including replacing old services with more energy efficient installations such as heating
New; effective insulation, use of natural light, use green and sustainable building materials

Question 9

What are the MEES and who do they apply to?

Answer 9

Make it unlawful to let a building unless it has a minimum EPC rating of E.
Applies to all landlords. For commercial applies to leases between 6 months and 99 years.

Question 10

What legislation is MEES under?

Answer 10

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, in accordance with the Energy Act 2011

Question 11

When did the MEES take effect and what requirements are already adopted?

Answer 11

Effective for all NEW leases (commercial and resi) from 1 April 2018. This includes lease renewals and extensions.
Existing leases effective 1 April 2020 (Residential) and 1 April 2023 (Commercial)

Question 12

What are the exemptions from MEES?

Answer 12

If a building is exempt from having an EPC.
If the tenancy is for less than 6 months, or longer than 99 years.
If it’s not feasible to improve the EPC rating to the min. level.
When a devaluation case of more than 5% can be proven.
Exemptions MUST be pre-registered on the local authority’s PRS Exemptions Register and renewed 5-yearly.

Question 13

What are the implications of MEES? How has it affected your area of practice?

Answer 13

Does affect all leases, renewals and sub-letting.

Doesn’t affect sale of buildings or assignment of lease.

Question 14

What are the penalties for non-compliance with MEES? Who polices it?

Answer 14

Breach less than 3 months - 10% Rateable Value, min. £5,000 up to £50,000
Breach more than 3 months – 20% Rateable Value, min. £10,000 to £150,000
Local authority police.

Question 15

When are Energy Performance Certificates required?

Answer 15

Needed whenever a property is built, refurbished (when heating/air con/ ventilation is altered), sold or rented (on leases between 6 months and 99 years, for sub-letting and assignment).
Required for all commercial buildings over 50 sqm.

Question 16

What properties are exempt from obtaining Energy Performance Certificates?

Answer 16

• Listed buildings
• Religious buildings
• Buildings with no heating
• Buildings due to be demolished or redeveloped
• Temporary buildings

Question 17

If you are marketing a property, when must an EPC be commissioned?

Answer 17

Ensure the EPC is comissioned BEFORE marketing. Typically 7 days procurement. A further 21 days is allowed if after
using all reasonable efforts the EPC cannot be obtained within seven days.

Agent’s responsibility to procure.
Rating graph should be displayed on marketing material, and a link must be included to front page from online marketing material.

Question 18

What is included on the front page of an EPC?

Answer 18

Address
Floor area
Reference no. 
Rating A+ - G
Estimated running costs

Question 19

Under what legislation if an EPC required?

Answer 19

The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 under the Energy Act 2011.

Question 20

What are the penalties if you do not have a valid EPC? Who polices it?

Answer 20

Commercial: 12.5% of the Rateable Value, min.£500 to £5,000
Residential: £200 fixed penalty
Local authority Trading Standards polices

Question 21

What is the Climate Change Levy?

Answer 21

Tax on energy used by businesses. Charged by energy provider who pass it onto UK Treasury. No tax for renewable sources.

Question 22

What are the drivers of sustainability?

Answer 22

Ethical driver – it’s the right thing to do
Legal – there is legislation in place
Economic – affects things like tenant attitude, Market Rent

Question 23

What surveys have you done in your work relating to sustainability

Answer 23

Ecological Appraisal
Environmental Impact Assessment
Air Quality Assessment

Question 24

How does placemaking link to sustainability?

Answer 24

Developers are focusing on ensuring that development schemes contribute positively to communities, occupiers and reduce negative environmental impacts. They do this by considering layout, using renewable materials and technologies, make use of solar gain, assessing density, including greater green space.

Question 25

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 25

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Question 26

What is the purpose of BREEAM?

Answer 26

An environmental performance assessment tool to rate NEW and REFURBISHED commercial and residential buildings. It is VOLUNATARY.

Question 27

How is a building rated for BREEAM?

Answer 27

Pass
Good
Very Good
Excellent
Outstanding

Question 28

What is LEED?

Answer 28

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – a US rating scheme.

Question 29

What are the bands for EPCs and what’s the lowest rating?

Answer 29

A – G. Out of 100. Lowest score is 1.