Sustainability Flashcards
What does BREEAM Stand for and what is it?
- BREEAM is the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Environmental Assessment Method First launched in the UK in 1990.
- It sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings through design, specification, construction and operation.
What does BREAAM do?
BREEAM assessment evaluates the procurement, design, construction and operation of a development or refurbishment against a range of targets based on performance benchmarks.
It focuses on sustainable value across range of categories inc
- Energy
- Land use and ecology
- Water
- Health and wellbeing
- Pollution
- Transport
- Materials
- Waste
- Management
Why would you use BREAAM
- It allows clients, project teams and facilities managers to be certain that the required standard of environmental best practice is being adopted on their project. It can also be used as a marketing tool for potential purchasers or tenants.
- Some clients may require the use of BREEAM.
- local planning authorities may require BREEAM certification (or equivalent) either as part of a local plan, or as a planning condition imposed on developments. This kind of requirement is likely to become more common given the presumption in favour of sustainability in the National Planning Policy Framework.
How is the assessment carried out /what is the process for BREAMM?
- Two stages of assessment and certification are carried out:
- A design stage assessment resulting in an interim certificate being issued.
- A post-construction assessment resulting in a final certificate being issued and a rating awarded.
- There is also an optional pre-assessment assessment, which can help designers understand aspects of their proposals that need to be improved to achieve the desired rating. In addition, there is a BREEAM In-Use scheme which allows an action plan to be produced to improve the management and performance both of the building in use and of client activities within the completed building.
Can you name any other environmental impact assessment methods other than BREEAM?
- Ska Rating is a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit outs.
- LEEDS - ; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (USA)
- GREENSTAR in australia
4.
What is SKA and why is it different to the other methods?
- Ska Rating is a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit outs.
- The initial research project was started in 2005 by the fit out and refurbishment contractor Skansen (giving Ska it’s name) but was taken over by the RICS in 2009.
- It differs from other labelling systems in that it is:
- Project driven: it labels fit out projects irrespective of the base building.
- A free online tool to help organisations achieve more sustainable fit outs (businesses only pay if they want formal certification).
- Flexible scoping: the tool measures only what is within the specific project’s scope.
How does SKA Rating measure the project?
- scores the project only on the basis of those measures that are relevant to the project.
- Uses ‘measures in scope’.
- Typically, between 30 and 60 measures are likely to apply to most projects.
- The score is ranked in three thresholds: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
- These thresholds are reached by achieving 75%, 50% or 25%, respectively of the measures in scope, which must include GPM’s from a pool of gateway measures.
- To ensure that teams do not just target the easiest measures, the project has to achieve a number of the highest ranked measures in scope in order to score. These are known as gateway measures.
- You input the project scope and it comes up with the measures you could harness
Tell me how you used SKA ratings on your project and how did you find it?
- I used the SKA rating to review options from the design point of view for reducing energy on my fit outs. I went on the online checkist, in putted the project details and scope
- It provided me with 6 categories of measures I could use
- Reduce lighting energy in use
- Reduce small power in use
- Reduce water in use (This measure can only be assessed after a minimum of one year’s occupation as the waste generated has to be measured over a full calendar year)
- Reduce total waste in use (occupancy stage assessment only after 1 year use.)
- Increased recycling of waste in use This measure can only be assessed after a minimum of one year’s occupation (as the waste generated has to be measured over a full calendar year)
- I used it as more of a talking point with the contractors for the design and to include within EMployers requirements .
- Like that it was quite tailored to the project, and that small changes could result in a good in use measurement.
- Felt it could have provided a bit more technical advice and examples on how to achieve the measures but otherwise it was really good for getting us as a project team thinking about sustainability measures and how we could incorporate those.
- some of my suggestions were separated recycling bins to encourage the future tenant to recylce waste.
- Next time I would try a full asessment as this might have also helped to let the premises.
Can you tell me about the MEES key dates?
MEES key dates
- 2018 all new rental properties must achieve above an E rating on EPC.
- 2023 achieing the standards consultation exercise fiinshed likely to increase the minimum standard from E to C or B depending on outcome of the exercise.
How long is an EPC valid for?
10 years.
What is BREEAM?
- • BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method
- is a voluntary tool for rating the sustainable performance of a building.
- A method of assessing, rating and certifying a building sustainability.
- Uses 9 weightings inc
- energy consumption
- water use
- transport links
- waste management
- health and well being
- The 5 Ratings are:
- Pass
- Good
- Very Good
- Excellent
- Outstanding
What is Part L and what does it entail?
• Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power. • It is broken down in 4 parts. o Part L1 A = Conservation of Fuel and Power in a new Dweling. o Part L1 B = Conservation of Fuel and Power in an Existing Dwelling. o Part L2 A = Conservation of Fuel and Power in a new non-domestic. o Part L2 B = Conservation of Fuel and Power in an existing non-domestic. • In 2013, the performance criterion for a Part L was increased by 6% for dwellings, and 9% for non-domestic buildings.
What can be done onsite to improve sustainability?
• Waste Management, i.e. the segregation of waste for recycling. • Just in time Deliveries. • Waste Management Plans.
How is a building rated under BREEAM?
• Against nine criteria: 1. Energy. 2. Land use. 3. Water. 4. Health and Wellbeing. 5. Pollution. 6. Transport. 7. Materials. 8. Waste. 9. Management.
What is the process of getting a BREEAM Rating?
- An assessment should be carried out at design stage to receive an interim certificate. 2. A second assessment should be carried out post construction to receive the final certificate.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
It gives a property a rating based on its energy efficiency, from A – G.
Can you name some of the building regulations?
• A = Structure. • B = Fire Safety. • C = Site Preparation. • D = Toxic Substances. • E = Resistance to Sound. • F = Ventilation. • G = Sanitisation and Hot Water. • H = Drainage and Waste Disposal. • J = Heat Producing Appliances. • K = Prevention from falling, collision or impact. • L = Conservation of Fuel and Power. • M = Accessibility. • N = Glazing. • P = Electrical Safety. • Q = Security. • R = High speed comms networks • 7 = Materials and workmanship
What renewable technologies do you know off?
Photo-voltaic panels Wind power Wave power Thermal power (ground sourced heat pump)
What is a Passivehaus?
• A Fabric first approach, whereby the materials used to insulate a building mitigate the requirement for space heating, whilst also creating good indoor quality. Achieved through Good insulation, air tightness and solar gains.
What rating service does the RICS provide with regards to assessing sustainability?
RICS Fit out Rating (SKA) which is an environmental assessment tool for sustainable fit outs. It can be used on any non-domestic fit out project, informally or by professionals, with similar criteria to BREEAM.
What Statutory Requirements do you know about relating to Sustainability?
• Climate Change Act 2008. • Energy Protection Act 2005. • COSHH. • Paris Agreement • Building Regs. • Energy Performance Certificates. • Control of Asbestos Regulations 2008.
What is the Carbon Trust?
An organisation aimed at helping other organisations reduce their carbon emissions, through improving their energy efficient and carbon management.
What is Embodied carbon?
• Embodied carbon is considering all the carbon the will be used in the creating of a product. From sourcing the materials, manufacture, delivery, construction, and disposal.
What is cross ventilation?
Cross ventilation occurs where there are pressure differences between one side of a building and the other. Typically, this is a wind-driven effect in which air is drawn into the building on the high pressure windward side and is drawn out of the building on the low pressure leeward side.