Sustainability

Question 1

What are RICS doing to support surveyors in regards to sustainability?

Answer 1

• Research - The future of policy and standards for low and zero carbon homes
• Training (Renovalue) - Integrating sustainability in Valuation practice.
• Data - RICS Building Carbon database, a ‘building passport’, a public resource to benchmark decisions, and find comparative data.
  RICS docs - PS ‘Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment’ 2017, IP ‘Sustainability and Residential Property Valuation’ 2011.
• World Built Environment Forum - increase expert collabortation and share insights on the built environment.

Question 2

What are the current EPC rules?

Answer 2

Needed whenever a property is built, refurbished (when heating/air con/ ventilation is altered), sold or rented.

Question 3

What are the key principles of the Climate Change Act 2008? And how have these changed recently?

Answer 3

Legally binding commitment to cut Co2 emissions by 80% from 1990 level to 2050. Amended in 2019 to achieve net zero by 2050.

Question 4

What does the EPBD stand for? And what is the legislations purpose?

Answer 4

Energy Performance of Building Directive - a european legislation to compel all states to ensure buildings are subject to building labelling and energy use reduction.

Question 5

What are the five key provisions of the EPC regime?

Answer 5

1. Higher standards of energy conservation
2. Establishing a calculation methodology
3. Minimum requirements for energy performance
4. Energy certification for buildings when sold or let
5. Mandatory inspections of boilers & ac systems

Question 6

Which residential properties are exempt from EPC certification?

Answer 6

• Listed buildings/conservation areas
• Religious buildings
• Buildings with no heating
• Buildings due to be demolished or redeveloped
• Temporary buildings (less than two years)

Question 7

What information must be listed on an EPC?

Answer 7

Address
Floor area
Reference no.
Rating A+ - G
Estimated running costs
Benchmarking information
Techincal Info

Question 8

How long is an EPC valid for?

Answer 8

10 years unless the building is altered.

Question 9

What are the EPC penalties for residential property? And who is responsible for this?

Answer 9

Residential: £200 fixed penalty

Local authority Trading Standards

Question 10

What is the purpose of MEES 2015? And the key policies for property owners?

Answer 10

Make it unlawful to let a building unless it has a minimum EPC rating of E. For residential it has applied to all existing leases from 1st April 2020.

Question 11

What are the exemptions from MEES?

Answer 11

If a building is exempt from having an EPC.
If the tenancy is for less than 6 months, or longer than 99 years.
If it’s not feasible to improve the EPC rating to the min. level.
When a devaluation case of more than 5% can be proven.
Exemptions MUST be pre-registered on the local authority’s PRS Exemptions Register and renewed 5-yearly.

Question 12

What effects are MEES policy changes having on property owners? April 2019

Answer 12

Landlords of residential properties are required, from April 2019 to spend up to £3,500 to improve the energy efficiencies of their property. (E rating)

Question 13

What are other regulations associated with sustainability?

Answer 13

Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme & Climate Change Levy

Question 14

What is ESOS

Answer 14

An energy assessment scheme that is mandoatry for large organisations in the UK. Three requirements to:

1. Measure total energy consumption across business
2. Conduct energy audits and identify energy recomendatons
3. Report compliance to Environment agency

Question 15

What is the Climate Change levy?

Answer 15

Tax on energy used by businesses. Charged by energy provider who pass it onto UK Treasury. No tax for renewable sources.

Question 16

What are the recent changes to the climate change act 2008?

Answer 16

UK commited to achieving net zero by 2050. Funds and REITS have also commited to net zero under a Better Buildings Partnership pledge.

Question 17

How do they intend to achieve net zero?

Answer 17

UK Green Building Councul have established a framework for the achieving net zero:

1. Identify net zero carbon scope
2. Reduce construction impacts
3. Reduce operational energy use
4. Increase renewable energy use on and off site
5. Offset any remaining carbon

Question 18

Why are developers considering renewable materials and technologies?

Answer 18

Achieving a low carbon emission solution produces potential payback period which is attractive to purchasers.

Question 19

What sustainable initiatives did the government outline in the recent budget?

Answer 19

• The Nature for Climate Fund - £640m (tree planting and restoring peatland)
• £5.2bn over 5 years to combat flooding. Investing in SuDs to manage water flows
• Earlier the government stated by 2025, it would introduce a future homes standard for new build homes as part of building regs.

Question 20

Do you think enough is being done to achieve net zero?

Answer 20

I think the actions outlined in the budget were slightly disappointing. I would like to see more of an emphasis on sustainable transport, the introduction of electric cars and charging docks.

Question 21

Which countries have also pledged to be net zero?

Answer 21

Bhutan, Costa Rica, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, the Marshall Islands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

Question 22

What are the key principles of the energy act 2011?

Answer 22

1. A step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses,
2. Makes improvements to enable and secure low-carbon energy supplies
3. Fair competition in the energy markets

Question 23

What is its definition of sustainability?

Answer 23

Meeting the needs of today without prejudicing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 24

Why are occupiers and investors keen to improve their carbon footprint?

Answer 24

Ethical driver – it’s the right thing to do
Legal – there is legislation in place
Economic – affects things like tenant attitude, Market Rent

Question 25

What is MHVR

Answer 25

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery provides fresh filtered air into a building whilst retaining most of the energy that has already been used in heating the building. Heat Recovery Ventilation is the solution to the ventilation needs of energy efficient buildings.

Question 26

Witchford - what is solar battery storage and what was the cost?

Answer 26

A device that reserves energy for later consumption that is charged by a connected solar system. The cost was estimated at £2,500 per unit.

Question 27

Witchford - what is electric car charging dock and what was the cost?

Answer 27

An EV charging dock is an element in an infrastructure that supplies electric energy for the recharging of plug-in electric vehicles. The cost is estimated at £1,000 at construction stage, for retrofit it is more like £2000 per unit.

Question 28

Are you aware of any proposals for EV charging docks?

Answer 28

New government proposals to have an EV charging dock to each new house. Other options for developers to install the EV cabling as ducting infrastructure, which the EPBD refers as a minimum.

Question 29

What is the Brundtland report?

Answer 29

Published in 1987 by the UN. Defined the principles of sustainable development.

Question 30

What is the important role sustainability plays in real estate?

Answer 30

As surveyors, we are uniquely placed to steer the built environment towards more sustainable practices. Important to make buildings more sustainable to help meet carbon emission targets (cut by 100% - increased target in 2019 - under 2008 Climate Change Act), to reduce the costs involved in running a building, and to meet social/cultural demand for more sustainable building.

Question 31

What legislation is MEES under? Penalties for a breach

Answer 31

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, in accordance with the Energy Act 2011 Less than 3 months - £2000 More than 3 months - £4000

Question 32

If you are marketing a property, when must an EPC be commissioned?

Answer 32

Ensure the EPC is comissioned BEFORE marketing. Typically 7 days procurement. A further 21 days is allowed if after using all reasonable efforts the EPC cannot be obtained within seven days. Agent’s responsibility to procure. Rating graph should be displayed on marketing material, and a link must be included to front page from online marketing material.

Question 33

Under what legislation is an EPC required?

Answer 33

The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 under the Energy Act 2011.

Question 34

How does placemaking link to sustainability?

Answer 34

Developers are focusing on ensuring that development schemes contribute positively to communities, occupiers and reduce negative environmental impacts. They do this by considering layout, using renewable materials and technologies, make use of solar gain, assessing density, including greater green space.

Question 35

What are the bands for EPCs and what’s the lowest rating?

Answer 35

A – G. Out of 100. Lowest score is 1.

Question 36

What is a PEA? & the requirement for marketing?

Answer 36

A Predicted Energy Assessment is a certificate that is produced when the Design Final SAP calculation has been submitted. It is required when marketing a property off-plan and must be incorporated into sales particulars. It should be replaced when an EPC can be produced.

Question 37

Are there any RICS documents relating to sustainability?

Answer 37

PS - Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, 2017. Information Paper on Sustainability and Residential Property Valuation, 2011

Question 38

Can you explain the PS - Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, 2017?

Answer 38

Sets out specific mandatory principles and supporting guidance for the assessment of environmental performance of buildings.

Question 39

Can you explain the Information Paper on Sustainability and Residential Property Valuation, 2011?

Answer 39

Aims to help valuers consider sustainability issues and their implications when undertaking valuations of residential property.

Question 40

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 40

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (5 ratings used to assess new and refurbished commercial and residential property)