Sustainability SoE Flashcards
What is the process of obtaining a BREEAM accreditation on a project?
Choose the BREEAM scheme that applies to your project. More than likely be BREEAM New Construction.
Appoint an assessor
Conduct a pre- assessment
Register for an assessment
Get certified
What is BREEAM?
o Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology
o Sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings, through specification, design, construction and operation
o Undertaken by a licenced assessor
o Applies to new and refurbishment projects
o Domestic and non-domestic
o Ratings:
- <30% Unclassified
- 30% Pass
- 45% Good
- 55% Very good
- 70% Excellent
- 85% Outstanding
Why is BREEAM important?
o Allows for clients, project teams and facilities managers to be certain that the required standard of environmental best practice is being adopted on their project
o Can be used as a marketing tool
o Some clients may require BREEAM
o The governments Common Minimum Standards referred to in the Government Construction Strategy require that an environmental assessment is carried out on all public projects and states that where BREEAM is used, all new projects are to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating.
o Local planning authorities may require BREEAM certification, either as part of a local plan or as a planning condition imposed on developments
How would you change a design to improve its BREEAM accreditation?
o Getting BREEAM advise early on in the design process
o Design your building for an EPC rating of ‘A’
o This is because ‘Energy’ has the joint highest section weight at 15% and accounts for the largest section of credits, with a total of 31.
o Energy efficient measures
o Low-carbon and renewable technologies
o Carbon offsetting need to be at the forefront of design
o Examples of renewable energy technologies includes; solar panels, wind, thermal energy systems.
o Reduction of water consumption
o Responsible sourcing of materials
o Insulation
o Cyclist facilities
o Recycle waste storage
o Enhancing site ecology – appoint a qualified Ecologist early on
o Re-use of façade
o Re-use of structure
o Flood risks
What are EPCs?
o Energy performance certificates quantity the energy efficiency of buildings
o The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012 required that EPC’s are produced for dwellings and non-dwelling
o EPCS have been required since 2008
o Enforced by the Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015
o Required when buildings are built, sold or rented
o Rated from A to G
o Undertaken by accredited assessors
o Valid for 10 years
o Exceptions: places of worship, temporary buildings, standalone buildings with floor area less than 50sqm and industrial buildings with low energy requirements
Has there been any recent regulation around EPCs?
- From 1 April 2023, it became an offence to continue to let or rent out a commercial property if it does not have a rating of at least E. The penalty is based on the rateable value of the property and will be between £10,000 – £150,000 per breach. Details of the breach may also be made publicly available.
- The requirement for residential EPC ratings to be E or higher has already been in place since 1 April 2020
- Government have proposed that all residential rental properties will need an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above from 2028
- The original proposal was that the new regulations will be introduced for new tenancies from 2025, followed by all tenancies from 2028; however this was changed in March 2023.
The penalty for not having a valid EPC will also be raised from £5,000 to £30,000 from 2028.
What have been the minimum requirements for EPC ratings?
Since October 2008, rental properties in England and Wales have required an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
The minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) was introduced in March 2015 by the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. The MEES Regulations originate from the Energy Act 2011 which contained the previous coalition government’s package of energy efficiency policies including the Green Deal.
On April 1st 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) came into force. This required all properties being let or sold in England and Wales to have a minimum EPC rating of ‘E’ or above.
From 1st April 2020, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards apply to all existing tenancies – not just new ones or renewals.
If your property doesn’t have a valid EPC rating of ‘E’ or above by this date, it cannot be legally let.
What is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate gives detailed information about your property’s energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions.
To receive an EPC, you must have an Energy Assessment Survey carried out at your property. Your Domestic Energy Assessor will perform internal and external inspections to determine how energy efficient your building is and what possible level of efficiency is achievable if improvements are made.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is needed when a new building is constructed or when an existing buildings is marketed for sale or rent.
An EPC enables you to consider energy efficiency and potential energy costs.
How would you improve your EPC?
Installing cavity wall and loft insulation
Draught-proofing windows and doors
Insulating pipes and tanks
Installing a condensing boiler
Reducing water usage
Considering energy efficient glazing
Considering renewable energy technology such as a wood fuelled heater, solar panels or wind turbines
Installing low-energy usage light bulbs
What buildings are exempt?
If your property is listed or protected and the improvements would unacceptably alter it, it is exempt from EPC requirements.
Exemptions also apply to:
Temporary buildings (to be used for two years or less)
Places of worship
Some industrial site or workshops
Detached buildings with a floor space of 50 metres squared or less
Buildings that are due to be demolished
What happens if you don’t have an EPC?
Your property cannot be legally let if it doesn’t have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. If you are found to have no EPC, you may be fined up to £5,000 by your local authorities.
When the regulations are updated, the penalty for not having a valid EPC of ‘C’ or above will be raised to £30,000.
You must provide your tenant with a copy of the EPC at the beginning of the tenancy or – if you have renewed the certificate whilst they’re in situ – at the earliest opportunity.
What are the EPC requirements for Scotland?
All rental properties in Scotland require an energy rating of ‘E’ or above to be let.
What is on the front cover of an EPC Cert?
Address of property
floor area
epc significant reference number
technical information on the properties energy provisions
estimate of the energy running costs
energy performance rating from A-G
EPC online register (anyone can look it up)
Are you aware of Display Energy Certificates?
Seperate to EPCs
required on public buildings over 250sqm (townhall)
Display actual energy used and CO2 emissions
Aware of the Climate Change Act 2008?
Legally binding framework to tackle climate change
Imposed targets to cut greenhouse emissions compared with 1990 levels
+ 34% by 2020
+ 80% by 2050
