Sustainability Flashcards
(20 cards)
1) What is sustainability?
In RICS Guidance Note on Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation, sustainability is defined as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
2) What is the RICS role in promoting sustainability?
- Evidence based research on matters such as how the property industry can help achieve net zero
- Best practice statements and guidance notes on sustainability within the context of the commercial real estate industry
- Best practice training
3) Why is sustainability important within our line of work?
- The most relevant issue for many chartered surveyors is energy use within their clients’ buildings and the associated regulation
- Understanding energy performance certification and minimum performance standards is therefore very important
4) What is the UK Gov’s view on sustainability within context of real estate industry?
- UK Gov has legally binding commitment to cut UK’s CO2 emissions by 80% compared with 1990 levels by 2050
- This has resulted in stronger regs
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is EU legislation to ensure buildings are subject to energy labelling and energy use reduction
- To reflect this, UK Gov has amended energy requirements and introduced Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations
- Five key provisions:
o Higher standards of energy conservation for new & refurbished buildings
o Establishing calculation methodology for energy performance
o Minimum requirements for energy performance of all buildings
o Energy certification for all buildings when leased or sold
o Mandatory inspection of boilers
5) What is an energy performance certificate?
Outlines the energy performance of that specific building using a rating system following an energy performance assessment by a specialist
6) What are the current EPC rules?
- EPC’s required for all commercial buildings over 50 sqm:
o When it is newly built, sold or let for term of more than 6 months and less than 99 years
o When it is newly refurbished and heating, A.C. and ventilation systems have been altered - Resi buildings included
- Also required for sub-letting and assigning
- Exemptions = religious buildings, listed buildings, buildings with no heating, temporary buildings, buildings due to be demolished
7) What are the EPC requirements for marketing?
- Must be commissioned within 7 days of commencement of marketing (28 day limit for procurement)
- Agents responsible for procuring EPC’s
- Only actual rating required to be displayed on marketing material
- All online marketing material must have link to EPC
- Valid for 10 years unless building altered
- EPC online register hold EPCs available for inspection
8) What is on the front cover of an EPC?
- Address of property & floor area
- EPC certificate reference number
- Technical info on property’s energy provision
- Estimation of energy running costs
- AN energy performance rating from A+-G
- Benchmarking info (recommendations for improvement)
9) What are the penalties for not displaying an EPC / having EPC commissioned?
- Policed by Trading Standards Office of local authority
- Commercial = max. penalty 12.5% of RV (min. of £500, max. of £5k fine)
- Resi = £200 fine
10) What are the minimum energy efficiency standards 2021?
- Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 require minimum EPC rating of Level B to let a building from 2030 onwards
- These are known as the MEES
11) Are there any exemptions from MEES?
- If building does not need EPC
- Places of worship
- Buildings with no heating
- Where tenancy less than 6 months with no security of tenure
- Where tenancy for more than 99 years
- When not feasible to improve EPC rating to E or above even when all possible improvements with a payback of 7 years or sooner have been made. 3 quotes for relevant works must be obtained from energy assessors (payback means energy savings covering cost of improvement works within 7 years)
- When devaluation case can be proven (by more than 5%)
- When 3rd party consent for improvements is refused
- Last 4 exemptions last for 5 years and cannot be transferred
- Exemptions must be pre-registered
12) What are the penalties?
Commercial penalties for failing to comply with MEES
o Where breach lasted less than 3 months up to £5k or 10% of RV whichever is higher, with max. of £50k
o Where breach lasted longer than 3 months up to £10k or 20% of RV whichever is higher, with max. of £150k
- Policed by Local Authority
13) What is the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
- Energy assessment scheme which is mandatory for large organisations in UK (more than 250 employees, turnover more than £50m and annual balance sheet total of 43m euros)
- Required to:
o Measure total energy consumption across buildings, transport and industrial activities
o Conduct energy audits to identify cost effective energy efficiency recommendations
o Report compliance to environmental agency
14) What is the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme?
- Formerly known as carbon reduction commitment scheme, CRC to be scrapped following Gov’s business energy taxation review (2015)
- Replaced by Climate Change Levy increases in April 2019
15) What is the Climate Change Levy?
- CCL = tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in UK
- Introduced as incentive to increase energy efficiency within businesses
- Consumers charged by energy providers who forward to UK treasury
- Energy generated from renewable sources is exempt
16) What is a Display Energy Certificate?
- DEC’s required for public buildings larger than 250 sq m
- Display actual energy used and CO2 emissions
17) You’ve mentioned BREEAM, what is that?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
- Voluntary environmental assessment tool to rate new and refurbished commercial and resi buildings
- Buildings’ environmental impact rated by BREEAM assessors by reference to 9 environmental weightings including:
o Energy consumption
o Water use
o Transport links
o Waste management
o Health & wellbeing
o Innovation
o Land use
o Materials
o Management
- Five BREEAM ratings are:
o Pass
o Good
o Very good
o Excellent
o Outstanding
18) How do you think we can help achieve net zero?
- UK Green Building Council has framework and suggests the following:
o Establish net zero carbon scope
o Reduce construction impacts
o Reduce operational energy use
o Increase renewable energy supply
o Offset any remaining carbon
19) What are some of the other key things to consider when discussing sustainability?
- Health & wellbeing of building occupants, rapidly becoming key issue
- WELL building Standard – rated in respect of spaces which optimise health & wellbeing
- Baytree Dunstable – outdoor running track
- Environmental assessments often needed to support planning applications
- More efficient construction materials
20) What is the RICS Ska rating scheme?
- Aims to be standard measure of a building’s fit-out sustainability
- Gold, silver or bronze awarded
