Sustainability Flashcards
What are RICS doing to support surveyors in regards to sustainability?
- Research - The future of policy and standards for low and zero carbon homes
- Training (Renovalue) - Integrating sustainability in Valuation practice.
- Data - RICS Building Carbon database, a ‘building passport’, a public resource to benchmark decisions, and find comparative data.
RICS docs - PS ‘Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment’ 2017, IP ‘Sustainability and Residential Property Valuation’ 2011. - World Built Environment Forum - increase expert collabortation and share insights on the built environment.
What are the current EPC rules?
Needed whenever a property is built, refurbished (when heating/air con/ ventilation is altered), sold or rented.
What are the key principles of the Climate Change Act 2008? And how have these changed recently?
Legally binding commitment to cut Co2 emissions by 80% from 1990 level to 2050. Amended in 2019 to achieve net zero by 2050.
What does the EPBD stand for? And what is the legislations purpose?
Energy Performance of Building Directive - a european legislation to compel all states to ensure buildings are subject to building labelling and energy use reduction.
What are the five key provisions of the EPC regime?
- Higher standards of energy conservation
- Establishing a calculation methodology
- Minimum requirements for energy performance
- Energy certification for buildings when sold or let
- Mandatory inspections of boilers & ac systems
Which residential properties are exempt from EPC certification?
- Listed buildings/conservation areas
- Religious buildings
- Buildings with no heating
- Buildings due to be demolished or redeveloped
- Temporary buildings (less than two years)
What information must be listed on an EPC?
Address Floor area Reference no. Rating A+ - G Estimated running costs Benchmarking information Techincal Info
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years unless the building is altered.
What are the EPC penalties for residential property? And who is responsible for this?
Residential: £200 fixed penalty
Local authority Trading Standards
What is the purpose of MEES 2015? And the key policies for property owners?
Make it unlawful to let a building unless it has a minimum EPC rating of E. For residential it has applied to all existing leases from 1st April 2020.
What are the exemptions from MEES?
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.
What effects are MEES policy changes having on property owners? April 2019
Landlords of residential properties are required, from April 2019 to spend up to £3,500 to improve the energy efficiencies of their property. (E rating)
What are other regulations associated with sustainability?
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme & Climate Change Levy
What is ESOS
An energy assessment scheme that is mandoatry for large organisations in the UK. Three requirements to:
- Measure total energy consumption across business
- Conduct energy audits and identify energy recomendatons
- Report compliance to Environment agency
What is the Climate Change levy?
Tax on energy used by businesses. Charged by energy provider who pass it onto UK Treasury. No tax for renewable sources.
What are the recent changes to the climate change act 2008?
UK commited to achieving net zero by 2050. Funds and REITS have also commited to net zero under a Better Buildings Partnership pledge.