Sustainability Flashcards

Question

What is meant by the term solar gain?

Answer 1

Solar gain is the name given to the increase in temperature of a space due to solar radiation. A building can retain solar gain by having high thermal mass or can avoid it by using reflective materials and insulation.

Answer 2

- Limiting the size and area of openings such as doors and windows. - Insulating walls and roof spaces to prevent indirect solar gains into the building.

Answer 3

- Heat from the ground is absorbed into a fluid inside a ground pipe. - The fluid then passes through a compressor that raises it to a higher temperature, which can then heat water for the heating and hot water circuits of the house. - The cooled ground-loop fluid passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy from the ground in a continuous process as long as heating is required.

Answer 4

- Decreases the demand for water. - Reduces the need for imported water. - Lower operational costs can be gained.

Answer 5

The RICS SKA ratings encourages green codes of practice for commercial properties. RICS Sustainability Report 2022 - Highlights the increasing need for sustainable strategies across the built environment to meet net zero commitments. In 2023, RICS launched V2 of the “whole life carbon assessment for the built environment”

Answer 6

- Printing only when necessary. - Car sharing. - Recycling. - Use of cycle to work schemes. - Use of cloud-based storage systems.

Answer 7

The RICS whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) is a ‘Professional Standard’ for consistent and accurate carbon measurement in the built environment. This is the 2nd Edition extended to cover the buildings life cycle known as ‘cradle to grave’.

Answer 8

Known as ‘cradle to grave’ taking into consideration the: - Manufacturing process - Transport - Construction - Use - Demolition

Answer 9

Conference of Parties A collection of Nations come together to discuss the ongoing threat of climate change.

Answer 10

A point in a building which allows heat to pass through - such as gaps in the insulation. Condensation occurs on the surface, sometimes interstially which is inside the surface.

Answer 11

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

Answer 12

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

Answer 13

Sets out emission reduction targets within the UK. It commits the UK to reducing greenhouse gasses by 80% by 2050 but this was updated in 2019 to be net zero by 2050.

Answer 14

RICS Value the planet ‘Our Value the Planet campaign promotes the preservation of the planet through the implementation of the UN’s sustainable development goals. We encourage our professionals to implement the SDGs. The campaign also offers us a great opportunity to highlight the public interest responsibility of RICS and demonstrate the benefits that the surveying profession provides in offering solutions to society’s most challenging issues.’ Ref: RICS

Answer 15

Green construction is creating structures that are environmentally efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.

Answer 16

Energy Performance Certificate - It is the measure of the designed energy usage. Rates properties A-G and must provide recommendations to improve the property.

Answer 17

When a building is built, sold or rented.

Answer 18

Commercial property’s over 500 sq. m frequently visited by the public.

Answer 19

- Listed buildings (where improvements would alter the character – check with LA) - Places of worship - Temporary structures

Answer 20

The rate of heat transfer through a structure.

Answer 21

Watts per meter square kelvin

Answer 22

Carbon neutral by 2050

Answer 23

The government has announced that by 2025, all new homes will be banned from installing gas and oil boilers and will instead be heated by low-carbon alternatives. The ban is part of a UK action plan to reach carbon net zero by 2050.

Answer 24

SAP stands for ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’ and is the government’s method for calculating the energy performance of dwellings. These calculations are only necessary for residential properties.

Answer 25

Economic Sustainability: - Project costs /recycling and re-using materials. - Operation costs. Environmental Sustainability: - Minimise the impact on the environment. - Reducing energy use - Minimising waste - Using sustainable materials Social Sustainability: - Creating healthy and comfortable living environments. - Affordable housing - Retaining our built heritage

Answer 26

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards set minimum energy efficiency levels for all private rented properties (domestic and commercial). It is illegal to rent out a property with an EPC rating less than an E.

Answer 27

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. This method assesses the environmental rating to cover a broad range of issues such as energy, waste, transport, materials and pollution.

Answer 28

BREEAM is an holistic approach not just for energy efficiency but including waste, transport, materials etc. Covers new builds and fit-out /refurbishments - where as SKA is project driven and only covers fit-out/refurbishment SKA Ratings are focused on internal fit outs and alterations. Led and owned by the RICS.

Answer 29

The MEES regulations make it unlawful to let a Private Rented property with an EPC rating below an E. The government implemented the regulation to achieve the UKs targets for decarbonisation. This is subject to exemptions which must be registered online. The Government intends to raise the minimum rating to C by 2030 and is currently consulting on how to implement this. Previous action for this was overturned due to the cost of living crisis.

Answer 30

MEES Regulations apply to both domestic and non-domestic properties in England and Wales. There are certain exemptions such as: - Places of worship - Temporary buildings (expected lifespan of less than 2 years)

Answer 31

A property owned by a landlord and leased to a tenant.

Answer 32

Bio Diversity Net Gain This measures the positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity by comparing the development to what was there before. This is an obligation on developers to deliver a minimum of 10% biodiversity uplift on new developments in England from November 2023. A Biodiversity Net Gain Statement will be required alongside a planning application before a Biodiversity Net Gain Plan is then submitted and approved prior to commencement of development.

Answer 33

I would consult with an ecologist. They will: - Measure the biodiversity of the existing habitat - Advise on creating and enhancing on-site habitats

Answer 34

For new developments in England from November 2023

Answer 35

The BREEAM rating is reflected in a series of stars on the BREEAM certificate. - Outstanding (5*) - Excellent (4*) - Very Good (3*) - Good (2*) - Pass (1*) - Unclassified (0*)

Answer 36

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 This brought into force Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the residential Private Rented Sector

Answer 37

If the breach has been ongoing for less than three months, the financial penalty cannot exceed the greater of £5,000 or 10% of the rateable value of the property, subject to a cap of £50,000. If the breach has been ongoing for three months or more, the financial penalty cannot exceed the greater of £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value of the property, subject to a cap of £150,000.

Answer 38

The Report, takes onboard feedback from 4,600 professionals across 36 countries. This shows that although there is a global desire for green building certification, other factors are seen as less important or too expensive, suggesting a trend toward window dressing rather than a real desire for change. Decarbonisation remains the top priority for the sector although cost and a return on investment are seen as the principal barrier to change. Embodied carbon must be reduced by at least 40% across the sector by 2030. To achieve this, the measurement of carbon emissions across the whole life cycle must become common practice.

Answer 39

European Union's main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings. Recent revisions of the directive to achieve a fully decarbonised building stock by 2050. Requirement for all new buildings to have zero on-site emissions from fossil fuels by 2030. Publicly-owned buildings required to reach this milestone by 2028.

Answer 40

ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. These are the 3 main topic areas that companies are expected to report in. - Environmental: Best practice of a company to improve the environmental performance of assets such as energy, waste, and water. - Social: Using local suppliers, supporting charitable causes, promoting diversity and inclusivity and hosting community events. - Governance: Corporate structure, transparency, business ethics and anti-corruption.

Answer 41

Emissions based on the buildings full life cycle to include - Embodied Carbon - Operational Carbon - User carbon.

Answer 42

Describes a consistent process for conducting WLCAs. Including guidance on assumptions and data choices, so that WLCA results are reliable and comparable.

Answer 43

WLCAs should be undertaken in a sequential fashion during the early design, technical design, construction and post-completion phases of a project, in order to be integrated into the decision-making framework for a project. As the project progresses, the ability to influence whole life carbon decreases but the accuracy of assessment increases

Answer 44

Whole life carbon refers to the carbon impacts over the entire life cycle of a built asset, from its construction through to its end of life. The climate change impacts of emissions based on the buildings full life cycle to include Embodied, Operational and user carbon. - Production /Manufacture /transportation - Construction - Use - End-of-life (demolition) - Beyond end of life (re use /recycling) These phases are measured in terms of their global warming potential (GWP) - Embodied: Materials and construction processes. - Operational: Carbon emissions from all energy use during the time an asset is in use. - User: Carbon emissions are the emissions generated from workers commuting to an office building.

Answer 45

UK Sustainability Reporting Standards These are new UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards which are expected to take effect January 1, 2025.

Answer 46

Introduced by the UK government to enhance the energy efficiency of rented properties to achieve the overall target of net-zero by 2050.

Answer 47

No, there are certain exceptions particularly for historical buildings.

Answer 48

The government had been planning to gradually raise these requirements over the next years, however these plans have been postponed. The current MEES requirements is subject to review, which I should hope will be addressed following the up and coming general elections. The industry should expect development of MEES to be announced this year, more than likely slower than the previously proposed B by 2030 target. I am aware the government is also introducing the UK SDS to establish a harmonised sustainability reporting framework.

Sustainability Flashcards

(73 cards)