Sustainability Level 1

Question 1

What is the legislation in the UK that deals with the issue of sustainability in building construction?

Answer 1

Environment Act 2021

Question 2

What is Council Climate Change Strategy?

Answer 2

Carbon Neutral By 2030

Question 3

What is an EPC?

Answer 3

Energy Performance Certificate

Question 4

When would such a document be required?

Answer 4

New let or sale of property, completed construction, made changes to heating, air condition, ventilation, insulation

Question 5

What is the role of the BRE?

Answer 5

Building Research Establishment set standards to companies and governments for buildings and infrastructure in sustainability issues: energy, waste, water, materials, health and wellbeing, transport, pollution, land use, management

Question 6

How are the requirements BREEAM, which itself is not a legally binding document, enforced?

Answer 6

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, Licenced BREEAM assessor, register and certificate

Question 7

What steps do you taking your business activity to ensure that your company operates in a sustainable manner?

Answer 7

Carbon offsetting, tree planting and protection, protecting the environment, EPC review

Question 8

Can you give me an example of a method of sustainable construction?

Answer 8

Renewable and recyclable materials, reducing energy used for building materials, reduce energy consumption of finished building, UK net zero verification standards

Question 9

How do you balance the economic, social and environmental impacts of a project?

Answer 9

Set targets and requirements for each aspect before a project. Alter actions to best meet all three

Question 10

Give an example of a sustainable product or technology that you have encountered?

Answer 10

Solar panels, electric cremator

Question 11

Is the Code for Sustainable Homes still a requirement?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

What are the levels for BREEAM? How are they achieved?

Answer 12

Acceptable, pass, good, very good, excellent, outstanding
pre assessment, opportunity assessor, pre meeting, register project, design assessment, post construction assessment

Question 13

What Building Regulations parts cover sustainability?

Answer 13

Part L

Question 14

What current challenges is Covid and/or Brexit bringing to Sustainability?

Answer 14

Brexit: don’t need to meet EU requirements, UK has its own standards.

Question 15

What is MEES and what are its targets?

Answer 15

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
Currently require an EPC rating of at least E
By 2027 the Government wants to enforce a minimum rating of C. They have proposed an even higher minimum rating of B by 2030.