Sustainability Flashcards
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
Social – e.g. quality of life, community engagement
Environmental – energy, pollution, emissions, plastics, carbon footprint
Economic – risk management, economic health, making a profit
What is the Brundtland report?
Published in 1987 by the UN. Defined the principles of sustainable development.
What is the Brundlands definition of sustainability?
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
What is our role in sustainability?
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.
How does RICS help to encourage sustainability in practice?
- Research, best practice statements and training.
- Best practice statement: Guidance Note, Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation 2013.
- Supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals
When are Energy Performance Certificates required?
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.
What properties are exempt from obtaining Energy Performance Certificates?
- Listed buildings
- Religious buildings
- Buildings with no heating
- Buildings due to be demolished or redeveloped
- Temporary buildings
What surveys exist in relation to sustainability
Ecological Appraisal
Environmental Impact Assessment
Air Quality Assessmen
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 is the purpose of BREEAM?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
- A voluntary assessment tool to rate the new and refurbished commercial and residential buildings.
- A building’s environmental impact is rated by BREEAM assessors by reference to the nine environmental weightings which include; energy consumption, water use, transport links, waste management and health and wellbeing.
What is the WELL building standard?
WELL Building Standard - This is a standard for buildings to be in respect of spaces that can optimise the health and mental wellbeing of occupiers.
What is LEED?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a green building certification programme.
LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
