Sustainability (L1)

Question 1

What does BREEAM stand for?

Answer 1

• British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Question 2

What types of things are in the assessment categories?

Answer 2

• Construction waste
• Public transport
• Indoor air quality
• Post occupancy evaluation of energy systems
• Whole life cycle costs
• Irrigation systems to roofs
• PV panels for renewable energy
• Security needs assessments
• Landscape and ecological improvements
• Building user guides
• Health and wellbeing
• Biodiversity improvements

Question 3

What are the ratings?

Answer 3

• Outstanding - 90%+
• Excellent - 75-89%
• Very Good - 60-74%
• Good - 45-59%
• Pass - 30-44%

Question 4

How do you approach a project where the client wanted to achieve BREEAM Excellent?

Answer 4

• Advise client on appointing an approved BREEAM consultant
• Set up meetings at project initiation to understand and assign credits to stakeholders to achieve excellent
• Regular check in with project team to ensure information is being prepared as necessary for the BREEAM pre construction, design stage and Post construction phase
• Produce tracker for each stakeholder outlining the requirements and status against each credit
• Understand client goals for sustainability and budget constraints
• Advise on stations consultancy services required to cover of BREEAM credits
• Make sure the client is aware of what is required to achieve 75-89%

Question 5

What is your understanding of the RICS Environmental Assessment Method (SKA)?

Answer 5

• RICS sustainability assessment certification system designed specifically for commercial fit out projects
• Does not require complex assessment
• Well suited for business looking to achieve sustainability goals in interior design and building operations

Rating system 1-3 Stars

• 1 Star: Basic sustainability efforts
• 2 Star: Good sustainability
• 3 Star: Excellent sustainability

Assessment categories:

• Energy; renewable energy, technology etc
• Waste; minimising construction and operational
• Water; water saving initiatives
• Indoor environment quality; air quality, thermal comfort
• Wellbeing; daylighting, good ventilation
• Transport; proximity to bike storage, transport
• Innovation; sustainability solutions or technologies

Question 6

What is your understanding of the relationship between property development and the effects it has on the environment? What regulations and standards are in place to control?

Answer 6

• Construction industry accounts for majority of carbon emissions produced in the UK
• Loss of green spaces, agricultural land, habitats
• Noise pollution
• Air pollution
• Water usage
• Waste construction and landfill
• Regualtioy frameworks and environmental standards are introduced to control the carbon emissions and work towards sustainable construction throughout the design, construction and use of buildings

Regulations such as

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
• Building Regulations Part L
• Green Building Certifications and Technologies
• MEES

Question 7

What have you addressed in your sustainability section within your design and access statement?

Answer 7

• Loss and gain of green spaces
• Landfill waste / recycling materials
• Construction methods to reduce waste, exposed block work as opposed to plasterboard use reducing waste and materials used
• Incorporation of SUDs attenuation tank installed to control surface water drainage during storms to prevent flooding
• Use of recycled materials
• Low carbon technologies such as radiant heating panels, heat recovery units, LED lighting with absence detectors

Question 8

What is a Design and Access statement?

Answer 8

• Written statement submitted with planning application to give brief overview of the proposals
• Proximity to local roads and footpaths
• Scale of the development
• Location and orientation
• Building materials and appearance in relation to surrounding environment
• Access to and use of the proposed building
• Sustainable technologies and features implemented
• Impact on local amenities and ecology

Required when:

• Major development; residential more than 10 dwellings, non residential floor space of 1000m2 +
• Listed and conservation areas
• Site of specific scientific interest
• Change of use to public use

Question 9

What

Question 10

What are the principles and reasoning on how the design, construction, and technologies can contribute to sustainable building?

Answer 10

1. Sustainable design principles
   - Insulation and airtightness
   - Energy efficiency
   - SUDS
   - Renewable energy
   - Material selection
   - Consider prefabrication
2. Sustainable construction processes
   - Reduce waste on site
   - Efficient machinery/ transportation
   - Pre fabrication
3. Sustainable Technologies
   - Air source heat pumps
   - Heat recovery units
   - Renewable energy technologies
   - Low energy use systems such as radiant heating, LED lighting on absence detection

Question 11

What is BREEAM, and why is it used?

Answer 11

• British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
• Use to assess the building design, connection and use for carbon emissions and score the overall development in terms of sustainability
• Sometimes required in some authorities as a planning condition

Assessment categories such as;
- Energy Use
- Waste Management
- Public Transport
- Biodiversity net gain
- Sustainable drainage systems
- Indoor air quality
- Security needs assessment
- Health and wellbeing
- Ecology enhancement

Assessment ratings include:
- Outstanding - 90%+
- Excellent - 75-89%
- Very Good - 60-74%
- Good - 45-59%
- Pass - 30-44%