Sustainability Flashcards
(24 cards)
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What sustainability accreditations are you aware of?
BREEAM, LEED, WELL, NABERS
How have sustainable technologies been incorporated into one of your projects?
PV Panels, Electric vehicle charging, Air source heat pumps, Recycled materials
Is sustainability around saving the environment at all costs?
No, because there are three pillars to sustainability: Economical, Sociological, Environmental
What are the 3 pillars of sustainable development?
Economical, Sociological, Environmental
What changed in the latest update to Part L in the Building Regs?
Stricter U values for Roofs, Walls and windows, Higher performance targets, CO2 emissions reduced by 31% for dwellings and 27% for other buildings, Emphasis on low carbon heating systems, Step towards the future homes standard, Fabric first approach
What is your understanding of the future homes standard?
Set of regulations aimed at ensuring that homes built from 2025 onwards are significantly more energy efficient and produce fewer carbon emissions: Carbon emissions reduction (75-80% fewer carbon emissions), Improved fabric efficiency (thicker insulation), Low carbon heating systems, EV Charging infrastructure
What is the Building Safety Act? Are you aware of the potential impact on project costs.
Increased costs for fire safety, Increased cost for design fees, BSA PD role is now required which was not before, Further design costs as design and construction may not be able to be completely overlapped as before
What is your understanding of Net Zero Carbon?
Essentially this means achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount that is removed or offset. Showing a counterbalance.
What are the UK goals for achieving NZ?
Net zero by 2050 - The Uk aims to achieve Net zero by 2050 (counterbalance of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere by 2050), 68% reduction by 2030 – In line with the Paris agreement - Committed to reducing emissions by 68% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, Sector specific policies on how to achieve it, Investment and jobs
How feasible is it to deliver low embodied carbon projects in your opinion?
I think ultimately it is feasible but is it a trade off between sustainability and cost, The current legislations are now moving towards more sustainable ways of construction and therefore clients and developers will need to commit to this to align with the regulations, Largely, the number of sustainable introductions that can be used can be done with feasible costs too, for example PV panels, air source heat pumps etc and it will only improve.
What are some of the most commercially viable solutions to reduce operational carbon on projects?
More efficient and sustainable heating, Fabric first approaches, increased upfront costs for lower costs in the future
What are some of the sustainable accreditations you are aware of?
BREEAM, WELL, NABERS, LEED
What does BREEAM mean?
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
How do you get these accreditations / process required?
BREEAM takes into consideration 10 different elements of a building and scores it on them. They are scored on a benchmark for the type of project etc: Management – procedures and processes, Health & wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land use and ecology, Pollution, Innovation
What is BIM? What are the levels?
BIM is a collaborative process that involves creating and managing digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of buildings or other built assets: Level 0 – Basic 2D CAD with no collaboration, Level 1 – Combination of 3D CAD and 2D for drafting documentation, Level 2 – Separate 3D models are created by different stakeholders and exchanged, Level 3 – Real-time collaboration a shared model for seamless data integration
When was the last COP meeting held? What was the outcome?
COP 28, held in Dubai 2024. The key outcomes were: Global stocktake – showed that progress in addressing climate change is too slow, Fossil fuels – root cause of carbon omissions and climate change, marking the “END” of the fossil fuel era, Renewable energy and energy efficiency – over 100 countries agreed to triple renewable energy capacity, Inclusivity – Emphasis was placed on ensuring full inclusivity on climate action, involving a diverse stakeholder input.
What does COP stand for?
Conference of the parties
What is an EPC certificates and what are the different grades?
Energy performance certificate, Gives information about the energy efficiency of a building, From A – G (least efficient), Considers, energy efficiency, lighting, renewable energy, insulation, etc.
What MEES?
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, Aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings, particularly in the private rental sector, Introduced in April 2018 and supports the NZ 2050 target
What is the differences between Net Zero carbon and Carbon neutral?
Carbon Neutral = Balancing out total carbon emissions by offsetting them (e.g., planting trees, buying carbon credits). Net Zero Carbon = Reducing carbon emissions as much as possible and only offsetting the residual emissions that are unavoidable.
What was the Paris Agreement?
International treaty adopted in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change conference, held in Paris. Key targets: Keep the rise in global average temperature well below 2 degrees and pursue efforts to limit to 1.5 degrees, Achieve Net Zero emissions in the second half of the 21st century (2050 onwards), Strengthen climate resilience – help countries adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change
What is the Bruntland report?
Report produced in 1987, chaired by the former prime minister of Norway. Titled “our Common Future”. It defined sustainable development as: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Led to the global call to action and the Paris Agreement
What legislation are you aware of in relation to sustainability?
Approved Document L – Conservation of fuel and power, Approved Document S – Infrastructure for Electric Vehicle charging, Environmental Act 2021 – UK legislation setting the framework for environmental protection following Brexit.
