Sustainability

Question 1

What is RICS commitment to Sustainability?

Answer 1

1.) Creating Homes Fit for Future
2.) Placemaking and Generation to delivery growth
3.) Future skills for sustainable built environment

Question 2

What is net zero?

Answer 2

BBP PLEDGE
reducing carbon emissions significantly
(gas and waste materials)

adding no more greenhouse gases to the Earths atmosphere than the amount your taking out*

Question 3

How can we help achieve net zero?

Answer 3

establish scope
reduce construction impacts
reduce operational energy use
increase renewable energy supply
offset remaining carbon eg reforestation

Question 4

What is an EPC?

Answer 4

Energy Performance Certificate

Question 5

What are the current EPC regulations?

Answer 5

all non-domestic properties over 50sqm must have an EPC rating of E. (apart from exemptions)

Question 6

What are the exemptions for not having an EPC?

Answer 6

if building is below 50 sqm
religious building
if building is due to be demolished
letting for less than 6 months a year
lease longer than 99 years
buildings with minimal energy use

Question 7

What does an EPC show?

Answer 7

certificate grade and number
floor area
address
potential score
recommendations for improvement
estimation of running cost
reference no
benchmarking info

Question 8

Which factors mainly effect EPC ratings?

Answer 8

lighting
windows (insulation)
heating (gas boiler!!)
insulation

Question 9

What are the penalties for not having an EPC?

Answer 9

Commercial: Max penalties- 12.5% of properties RV (Min £500, Max £5,000)

Question 10

what are the current and upcoming MEES regulations?

Answer 10

CURRENT: All existing leases must have a minimum EPC rating of E.

UPCOMING:
2027- Min C rating for all existing leases
2030- Min B rating for all existing leases

Question 11

What are the exemptions to MEES?

Answer 11

if a building does not need an EPC
if the EPC will devalue the property by 5%
tenancy more than 99 years/6 months
tenant refused
payback of 7 years (cost of savings dont repay cost of fixing up property in 7 years)

Question 12

What are the MEES penalties?

Answer 12

less than 3 months- up to £5,000 or 10% of rateable value with max £50,000 penalty

more than 3 months-£10,000 or 20% of rateable value with max penalty of £150,000.

Question 13

Is it different in Scotland?

Answer 13

Action plan prepared
fines £1,000 for non compliance
1000m2 or more

Question 14

What are some key energy regulations?

Answer 14

1. ESOS (mandatory for organisations 250+ to measure energy + report to Environment Agency)
2. Climate Change Levy (tax on energy, incentive to increase energy efficiency, renewable energy sources exempt)

Question 15

What is the difference between ESG and Sustainability?

Answer 15

ESG: specfic tool to measure performance
Sustainability: broad principle- range of practices ‘meeting needs of today without compromising needs of the future’

Question 16

What happened at cop 26?

Answer 16

plan to reduce coal- 40% co2 emissions
commitment to phase down rather than out(china and india)
-agreement to increase money to countries dealing with climate change

Question 17

What is the Paris Agreement?

Answer 17

International Treaty adopted in 2015 covering climate change.
Adopted by 194 parties to tackle climate change

Question 18

What happened at the most recent cop meeting?

Answer 18

COP 28 (December 2023)
-agreed transition away from fossil fuels
-not forced
-to prevent breachment of 1.5c

Question 19

What is RICS doing about sustainability?

Answer 19

WLCA

Question 20

What are green mortgages?

Answer 20

Bank/Lender offering buyer preferential terms if the property offers something that helps environmental performance eg solar panels

Question 21

What did you find interesting about the most recent RICS Sustainability report?

Answer 21

Tina Pallet- we are doing better but not enough
built environment 40% of carbon emissions
WCLA - heart of measuring
demand for sustainable buildings is on the rise
-need joined up action between LL and tenant
-Education and training programmes needed

Question 22

How did you determine the number, location and speed of chargers?

Answer 22

Client gave a brief based on demand
went out to tender requesting a certain amount of number
speed was determined by asset type - office slower, retail faster etc

Question 23

What current grants are available for EV charging?

Answer 23

-workplace charging scheme
-EV charging points for LL (£350 per charger)
-infrastructure grant for staff and fleet
-plug in grant to help cost of vehicle

Question 24

Did you just recommend the cheapest chargers or were there other factors?

Answer 24

-relationship with provider
-terms and conditions
-payback, 25 year income, carbon reduction

Question 25

What is a Green Lease?

Answer 25

A green lease is a lease with clauses in it to help improve the environmental performance of a building.

Question 26

What is an example of a green clause?

Answer 26

EPC certificate
works to improve efficiency
data sharing

-light, medium, dark clauses

Question 27

What is an ESG Audit?

Answer 27

-Evaluating a building on its environmental and social aspects

Question 28

Who determined these factors? (energy etc for esg audit)

Answer 28

based of industry benchmark.
several certifications including Fitwel and BREEAM were considered

Question 29

How is the scoring determined?

Answer 29

each category had sub categories which were numbered 1, 2 and 3