Sustainability (Level 1) Flashcards
What design considerations would you expect an architect to make when designing a sustainable building?
Maximising daylight / Window area
Use ventilation
Design for simplicity of operation and long life
Reuse materials
What is the outline of Passivhaus?
Ensuring the building can be sustainable throughout every season. Keeping warm air in (winter) and keeping hot air out (summer).
Can you explain more on Passivhaus?
It’s a voluntary standard for ultra-low energy buildings to achieve thermal comofrt with minimal heating and cooling by focusing on high insulation, airtight construction and efficient ventilation.
What is a Waste Management Plan?
Defines how materials will be managed efficiently and disposed of legally. How materials will be reused and recycled.
What’re landfill taxes?
Environmental tax levied on waste at landfills
Charged by weight
Has two rates lower (inert) and standard (all other waste)
The purpose is to minimise the volume of non-recyclable solid waste and store it with minimal damage to the public.
Do you know the rate of landfill tax?
As of April 2025
Standard rate - £126.15 per tonne
Lower rate - £4.05 (for soil or rocks)
What is the ULEZ and how will it affect construction companies?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone has been introduced to minimise the levels of air pollution
HGV’s require paying up to £100 a day with smaller vehicles not up to standards will pay £12.50
Between the south and north circular
Will inevitably increase material prices due to the additional charge for deliveries - especially that of large quantity.
How can you ensure that your supply chain working sustainably?
Issue a PQQ to the supply chain (suppliers/SC)
Timber FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Comply with modern slavery
Mapping of materials
List some recyclable materials
Glass, wood, tin, cardboard, plasterboard (Gypsum products), some plastics
List some reusable materials
Bricks, demo waste for aggregate, foundations
What is the definition of a sustainable material?
A sustainable material does not deplete non-renewable (natural) resources. They have no adverse impacts on the environment when used.
What is the FSC?
FSC Timber (Forest Stewardship Council)
Certified wood products or materials come from a responsibly managed forest verified by the FSC a non-profit org promoting sustainable forestry practices
List some sustainable FF&E (Furniture, fixtures and equipment)
Aerators on taps
LED lights
Solar panels
How might you design a building to reduce water consumption?
Smaller sinks, Reduce toilet cisterns from 6L to 3L, rainwater harvesting (greywater toilets) and vacuum toilets.
What are greywater toilets?
Water that comes from home that isn’t from toilets. This includes food scraps from the sink, shower water and detergents being drained.
Two tanks - One for treament and the other to store
Uses electricity but can save thousands of litres of water a year per person.
How might a building generate sustainable energy?
PV Panels
Wind turbines
Hydro turbines
(Active buidlings generate energy)
How might a building conserve energy?
Maximise sunlight and ventilation through window design and building position.
Thick walls
Insulation
Double/triple glazing
(Passive buildings conserve energy)
What is the difference between a directive, act and regulation?
Directive - Mandates or encourages specific actions or reporting practices to ESG issues
Act - Legislation passed by parliament. Acts set out broad legal/policy principles.
Regulation - Guidelines that dictate how the provisions of the act are applied. Enforceable by law.
Name some of the legislation in the UK that relate to sustainability
Environment Act 2021
Climate Change Act 2008
Energy Act 2011
Building Regulations (Part L - Conservation of fuel and power & Part O - Overheating)
What is the Environment Act 2021?
Sets new enviornmental targets and establishes the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to oversee their implementation
Focuses on bidiversity, water / air quality & waste reduction
What is the Climate Change Act 2008?
Commitment to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (1990 base date).
Committee of Climate Change established to advise government and report annually to parliament.
Followed Kyoto Protocol 2005.
What is the Energy Act 2011?
Big 6 energy providers must deliver efficiency measures to domestic users
Introduced Green Deal
What’s the Green Deal?
Loans paid back to government on top of energy bills, but with insulation energy bills should be overall lower
Widely criticised and ultimately failed due to high interest rates on the loan and little awareness of the scheme
What is Part L of Building Regs
Conservation of fuel and power, split into 4 parts
Improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions from buildings
Updates focus on improving efficiency and sustainability of new buildings (resi and commercial)
What is Part O of Building Regs
Overheating
Limit solar gain, provide adequate ventilation, shading may be required, thermal insulation and in last resort cooling
What are the MEES?
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
To improve energy efficiency in buildings
Buildings all given EPC rating (Energy Performance Certficate) A-G
F and G are unlettable
What is an EPC rating?
Energy Performance Certificate
Required for any property that’s built, sold or rented.
Information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
Recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money
Energy rating from A to G (Valid for 10 years)
Name some international regulations relating to sustainability
Kyoto Protocol 2005
Paris Climate Accord 2015
What is the Kyoto Protocol 2005?
International treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Actions reflect the countries wealth, capacity to reuce emissions and emissions output.
Countries must prepare policies and regulations to reduce GHG, increase absorption and review and report emissions.
What is the Paris Climate Accord?
Mitigation, adaption and financing for greenhouse gases.
Aim to keep temperature from rising 2 degrees by 2100.
Countries free to set their own targets.
What is BREEAM?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
Best practice guidance and standards for the environment performance of buildings through design, spec, construction and operation.
Based on energy, water, health, well-being, pollution and waste.
Rated classified from pass to oustanding.
Not required by law, however a min. standard can be inserted into the contract (a KPI)
High classification is good for reputation and adds value to properties which is good for investors
What is the NHBC?
National House Building Council
Raises construction standards of new homes through it’s 10 year buidling warranty.
Not law to use, however generally a KPI or inserted into the contract that NHBC sign-off required.
What is LEED?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Widely used in US, whereas BREEAM is more popular in UK.
Based on water efficiency, materials and resources, innovative design, etc.
Classified as: certified, silver, gold or platinum
What is the SKA Rating?
RICS Environmental assessment method
Created for non-domestic fit-out projects, rates sustainability of the fit-out and is separate from base build
What is BMS?
Building Management System
Computer based to control and monitor buidling services
Can optimise buildings performance, give better control, gather data, report, improve safety and decrease operating expense
Can alert when parameters are exceeded
Intelligent BMS collates a range of info on one interface
What is a BEMS?
Building Energy Management System
Used to monitor buidling services specifically to energy usage such as AC, heating, lighting.
Real time remote monitoring
Records historic data useful for benchmarking
Can be used to optimise energy use without comprising comfort or performance
Saving on energy costs
Requires maintenance however
What are building services?
Building services are the electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems for a building (MEP)
Systems installed to make a building more efficient, safe, confortable and functional
Controlled by sensors, clocks and switches
What is meant by ecological footprint?
Humans demand on nature
Requirements from nature to support people/economy, such as plant food, fish, livestock, timber, forest to absorb CO2, etc.
What is ecological footprint accounting?
Measures populations demand on resources against the ecosystems capacity to supply them
What is biological capacity?
The capacity for an ecosystem to support people/an economy/a town
Define sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
What is sustainability in construction?
Largest user of global resources and contributors to pollution
Using renewable and recyclable materials
Reduce waste, water and energy consumption
BREEAM and other methods to assess impact
Modern Methods of Construction
How does your company ensure they are sustainable in the industry?
Number 1 (4th year running - 2020-2023) sustainable homebuilder in UK by ‘NextGeneration’
THL include a number of sustainability policies within tender and Contract information such as timber procurement, group sustainability and procurement policies.
BLL - Engages compliance with stakeholders, suppliers, employees, etc.
What are the 3 pillars of sustainabiity?
Economic, Social and Environmental
Environmental - Companies reducing their carbon footprints, packaging waste, water usage and their overall effect on the environment
Social - A sustainable business should have the support and approval of its employees, stakeholders and the community it operates in.
Economic - A business must be profitable. However compliance and risk management also fall under this category.
How can you have a sustainable site set up?
Greywater (stormwater) for welfare toilets
PIR lights
Use renewable/recycled materials
What percentage of the total UK carbon emissions are attributed to the built environment?
25% for the total UK greenhouse gas emissions
List some sustainable construction methods
GSHP / ASHP
Green/Blue roofs (water retention)
PV Panels (harness energy)
Greywater plumbing systems (irrigation & storm water)
Solar thermal cladding
Self healing concrete (highways)
Hydro energy
Wind turbines
Prefab / Modular
What are ground source heat pumps?
Harnesses natural heat from underground by pumping water through it in pipes. The heat then increases the temperature and used for hot water.
They need electricity to run but they use less energy than what they produce.
What are air source heat pumps?
Air to air - heats or cools the air
Air to water - heats water using refrigerant
Uses heat from outside air to heat your home. A liquid refrigerent absorbs heat from the air outside, it’s compressed to increase its temperature and hot refrigerant passes through coils to heat your central heating system.
How can contaminated land be treated?
Treating the soil
Excavating and removing the contaminated land
Groundwater treatment
Capping off with fresh soil or concrete
What water conservation methods are there in construction?
Efficient irrigation
Rainwater harvester
Greywater recycling
Leak detection and repair
How can energy be sustainably generated?
Solar energy - using solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity
Wind energy - harnessing power of wind with tubrines to generate electricity
Hydro power - energy from moving water to turbines to generate electricity
Geothermal energy - GSHP
How can energy be conserved?
Energy efficient appliances
Switch to LED bulbs / turn off lights
Unplug devices
Heating and cooling measures
Use natural light
Life cycle cost (LCC)
This is the calculation of cost associated with assets construction, operation and maintenance. Primary focus is the direct cost
Whole life cost (WLC)
This is the calculation of cost associated with broader costs including direct costs and encompassing external costs, income factors and non-construction costs over the lifespan of the building.
Cost benefit analysis
Quantifying both the costs and benefits of energy efficiency measures over their lifespan.
Uses net present value, benefit cost ratio and rate of return.
Used to ensure the benefits of energy conservation outweighs the cost
Carbon estimating
The process of quantifying and tracking an organisations or individuals greenhouse gas emissions, measured in metric tons of co2 equivalent
Display Energy Certificates (DEC)
Measures the actual usage of a building based on annual assumption. Legally required for all buildings accessed by members of the public. Must be displayed in a prominent location or face a fine.
Difference between EPC & DEC?
DEC measures actual usage whereas EPC measures energy efficiency of the building
What is meant by the term ‘net zero’
Achieving a balance where the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere is equal to or less than the amount removed, effectively neutralizing the overall impact.
What’s the difference between the Paris Climate Accord and the Kyoto Protocol?
Kyoto is a legally binding treaty focussed on reducing emission targets and Paris is a global response to climate change (not legally binding).
Can you tell me where the latest COP29 was held?
COP stands for Conference of the parties and the 29th conference was held in Baku, Nov 24.
Can you tell me where COP30 will be held?
COP stands for Conference of the parties and the 30th conference will be held in Belem, Brazil, Nov 25.
What is meant by the term Global Carbon Market?
This refers to an international system that allows the buying and selling of carbon emissions, allowances or credits. Designed to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon.
Can you provide a high level overview of the RICS Sustainability report?
Provides a detailed analysis of the current state of sustainability in the built environment sector
Higher demand for green buildings but high upfront costs
Emphasises level of commitment to achieve 2050 net-zero targets
What is your understanding of the term green roof?
Roof covering that is partially or completely covered in vegetation (over waterproof membrane)
This increases biodiversity providing habitats for wildlife as well as absorbing rainwater and are aesthetically pleasing.
What is a soakaway?
Offers a means of surface water drainage attenuation. Large holes or pits that receive surfacewater and collects water to gradually inlfiltrate the soil
