Sustainability

Question 1

What is COP26 and what does COP stand for?

Answer 1

• COP is the Conference of the Parties
• Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty agreed in 1994.
• The 2021 meeting was the 26th meeting which is why it’s called COP26.

Question 2

What happened at COP26?

Answer 2

• The private sector is now under more intense scrutiny from both clients and institutional investors on ensuring net-zero commitments are robust and legitimate.
• There are new requirements for all listed companies in the UK to produce net-zero transition plans by 2023.

Question 3

Please explain your understanding of the term sustainability?

Answer 3

• To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Key principles were also set out within the Brundtland Commission Report, Our Common Future 1987 which identified the need for sustainable development based around environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.

Question 4

What are the key principles of sustainability?

Answer 4

Social - Building healthy communities with sufficient numbers and range of buildings.

Economical - Build strong, responsive, competitive economies ensuring sufficient land and right types.

Environmental: - Contributing towards the protection and enhancement of our natural, built and historic environment.

Question 5

What are the core principles of Planning and Decision
making around sustainability?

Answer 5

• Creative processes should be used not just scrutiny.
• Account for the character of the surrounding area.
• Support a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy.

Question 6

What are the most common environmental issues
experienced on construction sites?

Answer 6

 Risks of Water Pollution.
 Air and Noise Pollution.
 High Energy Consumption and carbon emissions.
 Risk of land contamination.
 Damage to wild habitats.

Question 7

What are the key pieces of legislation that affect
sustainability in construction?

Answer 7

 Building Act – This is the primary piece of UK Legislation that enables the Building Regulations to be enforced.

 Clean Air Act – This legislation provides local authorities within England to introduce measures in order to control air pollution.

 Climate Change Act – This is a legally binding framework to tackle climate change. It imposed targets to cut greenhouse emissions compared with 1990 levels 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Question 8

What are the Key Building Regulations that relate to
sustainability in construction?

Answer 8

• Building Regulations Part L — Conservation of Fuel and Power.
• Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.
• Requires that EPC’s are produced for dwellings and non-dwellings.

Question 9

What are the different forms of taxation relating to sustainability?

Answer 9

• Landfill Tax which is an environmental tax payable in addition to landfill rates charged by private disposal companies.
• The tax was introduced as a means to encourage alternative methods of disposal such as recycling.

Question 10

What different code of practice are you aware of for
measuring sustainability?

Answer 10

BREEAM (Life Cycle Assessment).
- Sets best practice standards for the environmental performance of buildings through specification, design, construction and operation.
- BREEAM Stands for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.

SKA Ratings
- An RICS Environmental assessment method for non-domestic fit outs such as office refurbishments.
- SKA can act as an alternative to BREEAM which have higher costs in comparison.

WELL Building Standard
- The WELL Building Standard is an international system that measures, monitors and certifies a series of features to promote occupant wellbeing.

Question 11

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 11

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty concerning climate change.
• It was adopted by nearly every nation and came into affect in 2016.
• The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius whilst targeting levels below 1.5 degrees Celsius when compared to pre-industrial levels.

Question 12

Can you explain your understanding of the term carbon neutral?

Answer 12

• Carbon neutrality is to have a balance between the carbon emitted and the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere.
• This is an important measure of the impact that businesses and projects have on the environment and global warming.

Question 13

What is an EPC?

Answer 13

• Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in 2007 and are a legal requirement for a building to be sold, let or constructed.
• Once obtained, an EPC is valid for 10 years.

Question 14

What things do you implement to promote
sustainability?

Answer 14

 Printing only when necessary.
 Recycling.
 Being careful to minimise waste where possible.

Question 15

What are the key principles of BREEAM?

Answer 15

• BREEAM promotes sustainable building design and construction. Key principles include:
• Assessing buildings on sustainability criteria
• encouraging environmental best practices,
• reducing energy consumption,
• minimizing environmental impact.

Question 16

What are the key principles of SKA?

Answer 16

• SKA Rating is a sustainability assessment tool for fit-out projects in the UK. Key principles of SKA include:
• Flexibility: Tailored to various project types and sizes.
• Sustainability: Focusing on environmental and social sustainability aspects.
• Benchmarking: Comparing fit-outs against a standard to encourage better sustainability practices.

Question 17

What is LEED sustainability acreditation?

Answer 17

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system.

LEED certification provides cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.

Question 18

What are the key principles of WELL?

Answer 18

• WELL, a building certification system, emphasizes occupant health and well-being.
• Key principles include air and water quality, lighting, fitness, and nourishment.

Question 19

How did you contribute when exploring WELL Gold and Platinum?

Answer 19

• For Well Gold a client will need to score a total of 60 points.
• For platinum it is 80 points.
• Scoring is listed on WELL Website. I.e. 1pt for water quality / 3pts for light quality

Question 20

Give me an example of something sustainable you have incorporated onto a project?

Answer 20

Google Expansion Project

Question 21

Are you aware of any sustainability legislation?

Answer 21

• The environment act 2021
• The Paris agreement
• Climate change act

Question 22

What are the EPC requirements going forward?

Answer 22

• Government regulations require all rental properties to have an EPC rating of E or higher before being let to tenants.
• This could be changing to C by 2025.