Sustainability (Level 1) Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is the long term maintenance and enhancement of human well-being within finite planetary resources. It is usually considered to have environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What are the triple bottom line principles?
Triple bottom line (TBL) emphasizes corporate social responsibility. It nudges organizations to consider social and environmental impacts along with the obsession for profits. TBL recommends focussing equally on the three Ps: people, profit, and the planet.
What does the NPPF say about sustainable development?
Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has 3 overarching objectives, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways (so that opportunities can be taken to secure net gains across each of the different objectives):
an economic objective – to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity; and by identifying and coordinating the provision of infrastructure
a social objective – to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by ensuring that a sufficient number and range of homes can be provided to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by fostering well-designed beautiful and safe places, with accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities’ health, social and cultural well-being; and
an environmental objective – to protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, improving biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy.
Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commits all signatory nations to formulate, implement, publish and update measures to prepare for the impacts of climate change, known as ‘adaptation’.
What targets did one of these set?
In the paris agreement, one target was To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030.
What are the most recent EU / UK targets relating to sustainability?
We will minimise waste, reuse materials as much as we can and manage materials at the end of their life to minimise the impact on the environment. We will do this by: working towards our ambition of zero avoidable waste by 2050. working to a target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by end of 2042.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
What was the Kyoto Protocol and what were it’s targets?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 that aimed to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. The protocol called for reducing the emissions of six greenhouse gases in 41 countries plus the European Union to 5.2 percent below 1990 levels.
What are the 2020/2030/2050 EU targets?
The 2020 package is a set of laws passed to ensure the EU meets its climate and energy targets for the year 2020. The package sets three key targets: 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels) 20% of EU energy from renewables.
The EU’s current NDC target, submitted in December 2020, is to reduce emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030
The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Explain your understanding of COP26.
A focus of COP26 was to secure agreement between all the Paris signatories on how they would set out their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions. The finalised Rulebook, includes agreements on: An enhanced transparency framework for reporting emissions
What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?
The Climate Change Act 2008 is the basis for the UK’s approach to tackling and responding to climate change. It requires that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are reduced and that climate change risks are adapted to. The Act also establishes the framework to deliver on these requirements
What are carbon budgets?
carbon budget for the amount of greenhouse gases that can be ‘spent’ (emitted) for a given level of global warming. If we exceed this budget, global temperatures will become higher.
What did the Infrastructure Act 2015 say about climate change?
What is the renewable heat incentive?
The RHI pays participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings. By increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources (instead of fossil fuels), the RHI helps the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for reducing the effects of climate change.
How can buildings impact upon the environment?
The physical assembly of the building consumes a large amount of energy. This fossil energy harvest emits CO2 and conventional air pollutants, as well as contributing to resource extraction and associated habitat loss.
Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?
Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?
A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use.
Can you explain your understanding of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) to me?
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), are a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties, set and enforced by the Government. This standard applies to all domestic private rented properties that are legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate
How does MEES impact upon your role?
MEES does not impact my role directly however i understand it can restrict when properties are able to be rented.
What are the key dates for MEES?
From 1 April 2023 it will be unlawful to continue to let a commercial property with an F or G EPC rating, even if the lease was granted prior to the MEES Regulations coming into force in 2018.
What falls outside of MEES?
Are there any exemptions from MEES?
If the property has an F or G rating, and the landlord believes the property cannot be improved to meet the minimum E rating they can apply for an exemption from the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
A breach of MEES regulations lasting longer than 3 months can trigger a fine of the higher of £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value of the property, up to £150,000.
What is an EPC?
An EPC contains: information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs. recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money.
What buildings require an EPC?
When is an EPC required?
You must have an EPC if: you rent out or sell the premises. a building under construction is finished.
Which buildings are exempt from having an EPC?
places of worship
temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy
some buildings that are due to be demolished
holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy
listed buildings - you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character
residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year
When do you need to display an EPC?
You must display an EPC by fixing it to your commercial building if all these apply: the total useful floor area is over 500 square metres. the building is frequently visited by the public. an EPC has already been produced for the building’s sale, rental or construction.
What is included in an EPC?
An EPC contains: information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs. recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money.
How would you find an EPC?
I would search for the property on the government website thriuf=gh the household energy section and search for the EPC via postcode
When are the penalties for not having an EPC?
You can be fined between £500 and £5,000 based on the rateable value of the building if you don’t make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant.
What is a DEC?
Display energy certifactes measure the actual energy usage of a building based on annual consumption,
When is a DEC required?
A display energy certificate (DEC) is required annually for public buildings and those occupied by public authorities which have a total useful area greater than 250m2 and provide a public service to a large number of people and are therefore frequently visited by those people.
What must accompany a DEC?
The DEC must be accompanied by an Advisory Report containing cost-effective recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of the building.
What are the penalties for not having a DEC?
fined £500
What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategy undertaken by companies to not just grow profits, but also to take an active and positive social role in the world around them.
What is BREEAM/
A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The measures used represent a broad range of categories and criteria from energy to ecology.
What is SKArating
A SKA rating certificate demonstrates that your company takes sustainability seriously and has achieved a standard with your property.
What is LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
What is Passivhaus?
Passivhaus building differs from some carbon neutral buildings, which use a combination of energy efficiency and clean energy generation to offset any energy use. A Passivhaus building aims not to use as much energy in the first place by being effectively sealed against the elements.
What happened to the Code for Sustainable Homes?
The Code for Sustainable Homes has now been withdrawn and has been replaced by new national technical standards which comprise new additional optional Building Regulations regarding water and access as well as a new national space standard
What is the Climate Change Levy?
The Climate Change Levy is an environmental tax charged on the energy that businesses use. It’s designed to encourage businesses to be more energy efficient in how they operate, as well as helping to reduce their overall emissions.
What Building Regulation relates to energy efficiency?
Building Regulations Part L covers the conservation of fuel and power in the building of new homes in England, and establishes how energy-efficient new and existing homes should be.
Name one example of Government policy on energy efficiency for buildings?
The Clean Growth Strategy aims for homes to be EPC B and C by 2035.
What is ESOS?
Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria.
