Sustainability Flashcards
(34 cards)
What does COP stand for?
A conference of the parties, is a gathering of international governments to discuss and set targets for climate change.
Explain your understanding of the term sustainability.
- sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without harming the ability of those in the future to meet their needs.
What are the key principles of sustainability?
- Social, economic, and environmental
To build healthy communities, strong economies and protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environments
What are the most common environmental issues experienced on construction sites?
- protected species such as bats, newts or on Oxfordshire Roman snails!
-Risk of pollution to waterways or the ground from runoff and spills - Air and noise pollution
- the wastage of materials and packaging
What are the key pieces of legislation that affect sustainability in construction?
- Building act - This enforces the building regulations which include part L, the conservation of fuel and power.
- Clean Air Act - The legislation controls the release of air pollution
-Climate Change act - This is a legally binding framework to tackle climate change. which sets out the targets to cut emissions by 80% by 2050.
What are the key regulations that relate to sustainability in construction?
- Part L of the building regulations
- the MEES minimum energy efficiency standards which set out targets for EPC’s on domestic and non-domestic properties and restrict their sale or lease if they do not meet the targets
What are the different forms of taxation relating to sustainability?
- The Landfill Tax - the aim of the tax is to encourage recycling
What different codes of practice are you aware of for measuring sustainability?
- There are schemes such as:
- BREEAM - 5 different ratings from outstanding to pass
-SKA - for fit-outs
-LEED - used in the US
What procedures does your firm implement to promote sustainability?
- Within the offices we encourage recycling
- our pool cars at the head office are now EV’s
- they offer a cycle to work scheme
- We use volunteering days to support local environmental causes, such as wildlife hospitals and the local wildlife trust.
What is the Paris Agreement?
- The Paris Agreement is an international treaty in which the signatory countries agreed to limit global warming to below 2 degrees C increase, compared with pre-industrial levels.
Name some sustainable building methods.
- traditional building methods using natural materials
- modern methods of construction
- re-using of materials and minimising waste to lower the embodied energy.
- increased energy efficiency and performance
- use of low-energy technology and energy generating technology such as ASHPs and PVs.
- passive design features such as green roofs and rain water harvesting
What are green roofs?
Green roofs are designed so that the roof covering is partially or completely covered by vegetation; there are two types, intensive and extensive, depending on the type of plants grown on them.
The vegetation slows down the water draining from the roof.
What are photo voltaic, and how do they work?
PV panels use the sun’s energy to create electricity.
What is a soakaway and how does it work?
A soakaway is where surface water is drained away to a holding area, which will slowly allow the water to dissipate into the surrounding ground. This means the water does not have to enter the mains sewer system.
Can you explain your understanding of the term carbon neutral?
- Net carbon neutrality is where as much carbon is sequestered or offset as is generated during the use of the building.
- This typically does not account for embodied carbon
What is meant by the term solar gain?
- Solar gain is the build-up of heat in a building from the sun’s heat. This is particularly an issue with large amounts of south-facing glazing.
How can solar gain be managed?
- Solar gain can be combated through shading, reflective coatings, high thermal mass and night flushing.
How does a ground source heat pump work?
Ground-source heat pumps use consistent ground temperatures, which are passed through the heat pump compressors using refrigerant to boost the temperature to that required for the heating and/or hot water system.
Please explain you understanding of SUDS?
Sustainable urban drainage systems aim to slow down water entering the mains sewer system through the use of soakaways and attenuation.
This can help relieve flooding and take pressure off the drainage systems.
What are the benefits of a BREEAM certificate
- it can be a planning requirement
- it can encourage investment and improve salebility/ rental income
- it will result in a better-performing building
What are the benefits of rainwater harvesting?
- it decreases the demand for water on-site
- it promotes water conservation
- Lowers operational costs
What is a EPC?
An energy performance certificate is a legal requirement for buildings to be let or sold.
It gives a rating to a property based on its energy efficiency, and suggested improvements.
the MEES regulations set a minimum rating at which a building can be sold or let.
They are notoriously inaccurate, particularly for traditionally constructed buildings.
What sustainable initiatives are you aware of that are being implemented by the RICS?
- The RICS have launched a whole life carbon calculator
- They provide the SKA rating system to encourage green fit-outs for offices
What things do you do to promote sustainability?
- I am a sustainability champion for my office, which includes arranging the recycling schemes for the office, suggesting improvements and organising volunteering days
- On a personal level I am vegetarian and I avoid flying
- within my work I champion the re-use of materials and I try to specify green materials where possible such as natural insulations.
