Sustainability

Question 1

Can you define SUSTAINABILITY?

Answer 1

To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Question 2

Can you give me some examples of sustainable considerations in construction?

Answer 2

• Land use (Greenfield, Brownfield)
• Design (Materials, embodied energy.
• Waste management (Recycling)
• Operational energy
• Renewables (Wind, Photovoltaic solar)

Question 3

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 3

It stands for the British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
They are a tool to grade the environmental weightings.

Question 4

What does LEED stand for?

Answer 4

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Question 5

What is you understanding of the MEES regulations 2015?

Answer 5

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards required a landlord of a commercial property to achieve a certain energy performance under the Energy Act 2011.

Question 6

What are the proposed changes under the MEES 2015

Answer 6

Non domestic properties

• Achieve a C by 2027
• Achieve a B by 2030

Question 7

How long is an EPC valid for?

Answer 7

10 Years unless the building is altered

Question 8

Are you aware of any changes to the Climate Change Act 2008.

Answer 8

It was amended in 2019 to require the UK to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon’ by 2050.

Question 9

What is COP26 (Conference of the parties)?

Answer 9

• It is the most recent UN Climate Change Conference

Question 10

What was agreed at COP26?

Answer 10

• reduce the use of coal (responsible to 40% of CO2 emissions
• Aid developing countries in move to cleaner energies.

Question 11

How does COP26 relate to the Paris agreement

Answer 11

• At the COP21 meeting in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement was formed.
• They agreed to pursue efforts to prevent temps rising more than 1.5C above pre- industrial levels.