Sustainability - Level 2 Flashcards
What is sustainability?
Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
(Brudtland Report 1987)
What are the key principles of sustainability?
- Social principles
- healthy communities - Economical
- economy/ jobs. - Environmental
- protecting environment. Regeneration.
What regulations and codes of practice govern the residential industry’s approach to sustainability?
MEES - Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
EPC - Energy Performance Certificates
National Planning Policy Framework - requires new developments to be planned in ways that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
What are some method of measuring sustainability?
- BREEAM - Life Cycle Assessment
- assessment tool - rates building’s environmental impact.
- Considers -energy consumption, water, transport links, waste management, health and wellbeing.
Name some legislation relating to sustainability
Climate Change Levy - tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the UK. Energy generated from renewable sources in exempt.
Name a document produced by RICS that advises about sustainability
Contamination, the environment and sustainability 2010
Guidance Note
What are Energy Performance Certificates?
- provides a record of the energy efficiency rating of a building.
- A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
- property’s energy use and typical energy costs
- Improvements that could upgrade this rating
What should be included in a EPC certificate?
- Address and floor area of property
- EPC reference number
- Technical information on property’s energy provision
- Estimation of energy running costs
- An energy performance rating from A+ to G
How long is a EPC valid?
For 10 years unless the building is altered
What are the penalties for not disclosing EPC information?
Residential - £200 civil fixed penalty .
Who polices the EPC?
Local Authorities’ Trading Standards team
What are the minimum requirements for residential lettings?
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 require a minimum of E from 1st April 2018.
Where can you get advice for upgrading your EPC rating?
The EPC certificate will provide a list of reccommendations.
What are some examples of energy efficiency upgrades?
LED lightbulbs, insulation, double glazing, combo boiler.
What does the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 state?
What the minimum efficiency standards for properties. Minimum of EPC E from 1st April 2018.
What are the key principles of the RICS Environmental Risks and Global Real Estate Guidance Note 2018?
guidance on environmental considerations and management
e.g. preparation of environmental reports.
What are your local authorities planning guidelines for sustainability?
- Cycling
- Electric car chargers
- Emissions-based parking charges
What does the RICS do to ensure sustainability?
- Guidance docs
- Built Environment Carbon database
- Information papers/ research
- Sustainability Agenda
What is the UK’s target for cutting carbon emmissions?
Cut by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050
Net zero 2050
Who does the UK monitor the target process?
They set a ‘carbon budget’ every 5 years
sets challenging targets and increasingly strong regulations.
What is the EPBD?
The Energy Performance Building Directive.
It is European legislation which compels member states to ensure buildings are subject to energy labelling and energy use reduction.
What part of the Building Regulations reflects energy usage?
Part L
What are the current EPC rules?
As of April 1st 2020 all existing lets, require a EPC rating of E or above.
What are the EPC exemptions?
- listed buildings
2. below 50 sqm
Where must you pre-register exemptions?
Local Authority Private Rented Sector Exemptions Register
Update every 5 years.
What are the non-compliance penalties for residential properties?
Policed by Local Authority.
- breach < 3 months £2,000
- breach > 3 month £4,000
Residential landlords are required to spend up to £3,500 on improving energy efficiency at properties where an AST granted on or since 1st April 2019.
What are possible future updates to the MEES regime?
UK government have indicated that the minimum MEES threshold will rise from E rating C by 2030.
Name other key energy regulations
Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004
Energy Act 2011
What is the Climate Change Act 2008?
An Act to set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions
What are other sustainability issues?
- health and wellbeing - WELL Building Standard
- developers are focusing on place making to ensure a positive contribution for occupiers ad the community
- RICS SKA Rating
- Better Buildings Partnership
What is the RICS SKA Rating ?
A scheme aims to be the standard measure of a building fit out.
What grants are available?
Green Homes Grant - CANCELLED
Your voucher covers up to two-thirds of the cost of your chosen improvements, with a maximum government contribution of £5,000.
- You can pay in advance, get a Green Deal finance plan, or use other schemes to fund the work. You can also combine ways to pay.
Energy Act 2011
3 objectives:
to tackle barriers to investment in energy efficiency;
to enhance energy security;
to enable investment in low carbon energy supplies.
Requirement that properties (in whole or part) cannot be let with an EPC rating of F or G, which is to come into force on 1 April 2018
Building regs: Part L: Conservation of Fuel and Power - 2021 updates?
- Government has said it will introduce a 2022 interim update to Part L -
- Will require at least a 31% reduction in emissions compared to current standards.
What is The Future Homes Standard?
- Due 2025
- require new homes to be ‘zero carbon ready’
- homes will produce at least 75% less carbon emissions than what’s currently allowed
- achieved by electrical heating instead of gas boilers
- heat pump and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
Clean Growth Strategy 2020 - aims?
- fuel poor homes to be upgraded to EPC C by 2030
- as many homes as possible to be EPC C by 2035
- improve EPCs of privately rented homes - aim of upgrading as many as possible to EPC C by 2030
MEES exemptions
Wall insulation exemption
All recommended improvements have been made but property remains below an E
Devaluation exemption
When is an EPC needed?
- needed whenever a property is built, sold or rented.
- must be ordered for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent.
When are EPCs needed for private rented properties?
- from 1 April 2020 landlords will not be able to continue letting/or new tenancy for property with EPC rating of F and G .
- Domestic landlords must use their own funding to cover the cost of improving their property to EPC E.
- This requirement is subject to a spending cap of £3,500 (inclusive of VAT) for each property
What is BREEAM?
The BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
is a standardised environmental assessment method and rating system used for non-domestic new buildings or major refurbishments.
What is BREEAM?
The BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
is a standardised environmental assessment method and rating system used for non-domestic new buildings or major refurbishments.
Sustainability in the Red Book
VPGA 8
significant market influence and valuations for secured lending
advised to collect and record appropriate and sufficient sustainability data,
for future comparability, even if it does not currently impact on value.
What is COP 26?
Conference of the parties
UN climate change conference
Goals:
Secure global net zero by mid century and keep limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees within reach.
Encourage investment in renewables
Adapt to protect communities
Build defences, warning system and resilient infrastructure
Mobilise finance
Unleash money in private and public sector finance.
What is RICS Sustainability Report 2021?
- Sought the opinions of over 4,000 professionals on sustainability issues
- Results indicate industry is making progress, but not at the rate needed to meet climate obligations.
- evidence of an emerging rent and price premium for green buildings, though a relatively small share report value uplifts exceeding 10%.
- Need for a global standard on carbon measurement.
What is RICS Sustainability ActionAgenda?
Part of RICS 2020 Futures Report
RICS is committed to aligning the commercial and public interests in this area and developing practical solutions that enable our profession to help drive positive change.
RICS Building Carbon database, a free-to-use, publicly available resource for building professionals to benchmark their designs and have access to more detailed comparative data on carbon emissions and
Launched a professional statement on whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, which sets out specific mandatory principles and supporting guidance for the assessment of environmental performance of buildings
