Level 1 - Sustainability

Question 1

N1. What are the Building Regulations?

Answer 1

• A set of regulations and standard that all new buildings must be built to.

Question 2

N2. Can you name some of the building regulations?

Answer 2

• A = Structure.
• B = Fire Safety.
• C = Site Preparation.
• D = Toxic Substances.
• E = Resistance to Sound.
• F = Ventilation.
• G = Sanitisation and Hot Water.
• H = Drainage and Waste Disposal.
• J = Heat Producing Appliances.
• K = Prevention from falling, collision or impact.
• L = Conservation of Fuel and Power.
• M = Accessibility.
• N = Glazing.
• P = Electrical Safety.
• Q = Security.
• R = High speed comms networks
• 7 = Materials and workmanship

Question 3

N3. Can you tell me more about Part L?

Answer 3

• Part L Conservation of Fuel and Power.
• It is broken down in 4 parts.
o Part L1 A = Conservation of Fuel and Power in a new Dweling.
o Part L1 B = Conservation of Fuel and Power in an Existing Dwelling.
o Part L2 A = Conservation of Fuel and Power in a new non-domestic.
o Part L2 B = Conservation of Fuel and Power in an existing non-domestic.
• In 2013, the performance criterion for a Part L was increased by 6% for dwellings, and 9% for non-domestic buildings.

Question 4

N4. Can you explain BREEAM?

Answer 4

• BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method, is a way of rating the sustainable performance of a building.

Question 5

N5. What are the BREEAM Ratings?

Answer 5

• Unclassified. (below 30%)
• Pass. (30% and over)
• Good. (45% and over)
• Very Good. (55% and over)
• Excellent. (70% and over)
• Outstanding. (85% and over)

Question 6

N6. What can be done onsite to improve sustainability?

Answer 6

• Waste Management, i.e. the segregation of waste for recycling.
• Just in time Deliveries.
• Waste Management Plans.

Question 7

N7. What is a Waste Management Plan?

Answer 7

• It will outline how materials will be managed efficiently, and how waste will be disposed of legally.
• It should explain how the re-use and recycling of materials will be maximised.

Question 8

N8. What do you understand sustainability to be in principle?

Answer 8

• Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 9

N9. What Statutory Requirements do you know about relating to Sustainability?

Answer 9

• Climate Change Act 2008.
• Energy Protection Act 2005.
• COSHH.
• Building Regs.
• Energy Performance Certificates.
• Control of Asbestos Regulations 2008.

Question 10

N10. What is the Climate Change Act 2008?

Answer 10

• A Framework setup to create an economically viable path to reducing green house gas emissions.
• Introduced as a result of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• As a result of the Kyoto Protocol in 1992.

Question 11

N11. What did the Climate Change Act 2008 introduce?

Answer 11

•	The Carbon Reduction Targets:
o	34% efficiency by 2020.
o	50% efficiency by 2030.
o	80% efficiency by 2050.
o	All in comparison to the 1990 emission levels.

Question 12

N. What happened in 1992 in Rio?

Answer 12

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (U N F C C C)

Question 13

N. What did the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change introduce?

Answer 13

• The Kyoto Protocl, which the UK signed up to an eventually influenced the introduction of the Climate Change Act 2008.

Question 14

N. What is the Energy Protection Act 2005?

Answer 14

• A piece of legislation aimed at governing the use of energy and its markets.

Question 15

N. What is COSHH?

Answer 15

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

Question 16

N. What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Answer 16

• An EPC is a rating system for rating the sustainability of a building.

Question 17

N. What is the Control of Asbestos Regulation 2008?

Answer 17

• A piece of legislations which imposed obligations on Employers to:
o Manage exposure to asbestos within the workplace.
o Undertake Risk Assessments before commencing work around asbestos.
o Create a detailed plan (Method Statement) of how the works will be carried out around the asbestos.
o Prevent and reduce exposure.

Question 18

N. What are the types of asbestos?

Answer 18

• White = Chrysotile.
• Brown = Amostie.
• Blue = Chrosidolite.

Question 19

N. What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 19

• Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method.

Question 20

N. What is BREEAM?

Answer 20

• A method of assessing, rating and certifying a building sustainability.

Question 21

N. How is a building rated under BREEAM?

Answer 21

• Against nine criteria:

1. Energy.
2. Land use.
3. Water.
4. Health and Wellbeing.
5. Pollution.
6. Transport.
7. Materials.
8. Waste.
9. Management.

Question 22

N. What is the process of getting a BREEAM Rating?

Answer 22

1. An assessment should be carried out at design stage to receive an interim certificate.
2. A second assessment should be carried out post construction to receive the final certificate.

Question 23

N. What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Answer 23

• It gives a property a rating based on its energy efficiency, from A – G.

Question 24

N. What renewable technologies do you know off?

Answer 24

• Wind = Wind Farms (Wind Turbines).
• Hydro Electric = Water from dams.
• Solar = Poly voltaic Panels and solar panels.
• Ground = Ground Source heat pumps.

Question 25

N. What is a Passivehaus?

Answer 25

• A Fabric first approach, whereby the materials used to insulate a building mitigate the requirement for space heating, whilst also creating good indoor quality. Achieved through Good insulation, air tightness and solar gains.

Question 26

N. What is a Brownfield Site?

Answer 26

• Brownfield land refers to land that has been previously used for industrial purposes, or commercial usage and is now being redeveloped.

Question 27

N. What is a Greenfield site?

Answer 27

• Sites or land that is not constrained by any existing buildings or structures. It is the opposite of Brownfield land.

Question 28

N. Is the RICS interested in Brown/greenfield land?

Answer 28

• Yes, in 2014 the RICS suggested that a new classification, called amberfield land be introduced, to highlight land that was/could be developed.

Question 29

N. What rating service does the RICS provide with regards to assessing sustainability?

Answer 29

• RICS Fit out Rating (SKA)

Question 30

N. What is SKA?

Answer 30

• A environmental assessment tool for sustainable fit outs.

Question 31

N. When can SKA be used?

Answer 31

• It can be used on any non-domestic fit out project, informally or by professionals, with similar criteria to BREEAM.

Question 32

N. What does EA stand for?

Answer 32

• Environmental Agency.q

Question 33

N. What does the EA do?

Answer 33

• Is in charge of protecting and enhancing the environment of England.q

Question 34

N. What does WRAP stand for?

Answer 34

• Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Question 35

N. What is WRAP?

Answer 35

• A registered charity, aimed a reducing waste on projects and products.

Question 36

N. What is the Carbon Trust?

Answer 36

• An organisation aimed at helping other organisations reduce their carbon emissions, through improving their energy efficient and carbon management.

Question 37

N. What is Embodied carbon?

Answer 37

• Embodied carbon is considering all the carbon the will be used in the creating of a product. From sourcing the materials, manufacture, delivery, construction, and disposal.

Question 38

N. What is Contaminated land?

Answer 38

• Any land which appears to be in a condition that could cause harm to a Human, or the environment.

Question 39

N. How do you identify contaminate land?

Answer 39

* First undertake a desktop study, to review historical data on the land use. * Take invasive samples and test the quality of the land. * Remediate the area.

Question 40

N. Who pays for remediation?

Answer 40

* In the first instance it should be the person who contaminated the land. * If they are not available, then it should be the current owner. * If no owner, then the Local Authority or Environmental Agency will remdiate.

Question 41

N. Are there any RICS Guidance notes for contaminated land?

Answer 41

Advice is needed by all types of owners, occupiers, lenders, investors, and public and private bodies as to: • their environmental duties and liabilities; • how to determine and quantify liability; • the implications for asset management arising from any actual or potential liabilities; • who to look to for advice and how advisors should be appointed; • the steps to take to minimise or eliminate liability; and • the likelihood of ongoing, new or potential liability

Question 42

1. What is sustainability?

Answer 42

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. RICS Guidance Note - Sustainability improving performance in existing buildings (1st 2013) Clients may have an existing environmental policy or Environmental Management System that sets out an overall sustainability vision, as well as detailed objectives and targets.

Question 43

2. Why do you feel sustainability is important to you as a surveyor and to the profession generally?

Answer 43

The earth's capacity is finite. Unsustainable land-use practices, buildings and construction coupled with an ever-growing population are responsible for the depletion of natural resources and loss of biodiversity and habitat. At global, national and local levels RICS and its members are committed to creating and maintaining a healthy environment not only for today but also for future generations by adhering to the following principles: * protection of the environment through the preservation of natural capital; * promotion of social equity by ensuring access to services for the benefit of all; and * support of a healthy local economy, including high levels of employment.

Question 44

3. What is the Energy Act (2013)?

Answer 44

Government legalisation setting targets for the reduction in carbon emissions setting a 2030 target range, including measures for electricity market reform.

Question 45

4. What is the Green Deal?

Answer 45

A mechanism for funding energy efficiency improvements Instead of paying up-front to have energy efficiency measures installed in a property, the cost is funded by long-term savings on electricity bills. The green deal launched in autumn 2012, but financing did not become available until January 2013. A green deal assessor is require to inspect the property and specify energy efficiency measures to be installed, in domestic properties these are limited to a value of up to £10K (there is no limit on non-domestic properties). ‘Green Deal Providers’ finance the upfront costs and are paid back through savings in utility bills. Accredited installers install the measures. The pay-back period for domestic properties must not exceed the length of time the improvements last. For non-domestic properties, the pay-back period may be shorter, to allow payback within the lease period. Energy efficient measures for installation could include: • Double glazing • Solar thermal • PV panels

Question 46

5. What is the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2012)?

Answer 46

* Target for all new buildings in the EU to be ‘Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings’ from 2020 (all new public buildings from 2018) * Requirement for EPCs and DECs * From April 2018, it will be unlawful to rent out residential or business premises with an EPC rating of F or G

Question 47

5a. Can you explain EPC's and DEC's?

Answer 47

Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings A building that has a very high energy performance. The nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby. Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) • Buildings are rated from A to G on EPC's, with A representing a very efficient building and G a very inefficient building. • EPCs are required for all commercial buildings over 50m2 when they are built, sold, let, refurbished. • EPCs are valid for 10 years and must be made available free of charge to tenants. • Obtaining an EPC is the responsibility of the party undertaking the construction works. Display Energy Certificate (DEC) • Show the energy performance of a building based on actual energy consumption. • Rated from A to G. • Required on public buildings. • On buildings less than 1000m2 DECs are valid for 10 years. • On all other buildings they are valid for 1 year and must be updated annually.

Question 48

6. What is the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012)?

Answer 48

The 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive establishes a set of binding measures to help the EU reach its 20% energy efficiency target by 2020. Under the Directive, all EU countries are required to use energy more efficiently at all stages of the energy chain from its production to its final consumption.

Question 49

7. What are the goals of the Climate Change Act (2008)?

Answer 49

To reduce emissions by at least 80% in 2050 from 1990 levels.

Question 50

8. What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 50

An international treaty, which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, based on the premise that • global warming exists • man-made CO2 emissions have caused it. Requires an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 1990 levels.

Question 51

9. Why might BREEAM be used?

Answer 51

Benifits/Advantages ``` Increase asset value; Reduce operating costs; Planning policy / requirement; Client corporate social responsibility; and PR. ```

Question 52

10. What is the Code for Sustainable Homes?

Answer 52

The code for sustainable homes is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. The code provides 9 measures of sustainable design: • Energy/CO2 • Water • Materials • Surface water runoff (flooding and flood prevention) • Waste • Pollution • Health and well-being • Management • Ecology

Question 53

11. What is LEED?

Answer 53

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The most recognised green building certification worldwide and is used throughout North America and internationally. Best suited to: • New build developments; • Major refurbishments; • Existing buildings in operation. Least suited to: • Existing building minor refurbishments. ``` Buildings are rated on a scale of: • Certified; • Pass; • Silver; • Gold; • Platinum ```

Question 54

12. What is SKA Rating?

Answer 54

Founded by Skansen as a result of research by the RICS and AECOM. • SKA Rating is an environmental assessment method for sustainable fit-outs in the UK.

Question 55

13. What are sustainable technologies?

Answer 55

``` Ground Source Heat Pumps Photovoltaic Panels Solar Thermal Panels Wind District Heating Biomass ```