Sustainability - Level 2

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

Meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

(Brudtland Report 1987)

Question 2

What are the key principles of sustainability?

Answer 2

1. Social principles
   - healthy communities
2. Economical
   - economy/ jobs.
3. Environmental
   - protecting environment. Regeneration.

Question 3

What regulations and codes of practice govern the residential industry’s approach to sustainability?

Answer 3

MEES - Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

EPC - Energy Performance Certificates

National Planning Policy Framework - requires new developments to be planned in ways that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Question 4

What are some method of measuring sustainability?

Answer 4

• BREEAM - Life Cycle Assessment
• assessment tool - rates building’s environmental impact.
• Considers -energy consumption, water, transport links, waste management, health and wellbeing.

Question 5

Name some legislation relating to sustainability

Answer 5

Climate Change Levy - tax on energy delivered to non-domestic users in the UK. Energy generated from renewable sources in exempt.

Question 6

Name a document produced by RICS that advises about sustainability

Answer 6

Contamination, the environment and sustainability 2010

Guidance Note

Question 7

What are Energy Performance Certificates?

Answer 7

• provides a record of the energy efficiency rating of a building.​
• A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). ​
• property’s energy use and typical energy costs​
• Improvements that could upgrade this rating

Question 8

What should be included in a EPC certificate?

Answer 8

1. Address and floor area of property
2. EPC reference number
3. Technical information on property’s energy provision
4. Estimation of energy running costs
5. An energy performance rating from A+ to G

Question 9

How long is a EPC valid?

Answer 9

For 10 years unless the building is altered

Question 10

What are the penalties for not disclosing EPC information?

Answer 10

Residential - £200 civil fixed penalty .

Question 11

Who polices the EPC?

Answer 11

Local Authorities’ Trading Standards team

Question 12

What are the minimum requirements for residential lettings?

Answer 12

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 require a minimum of E from 1st April 2018.

Question 13

Where can you get advice for upgrading your EPC rating?

Answer 13

The EPC certificate will provide a list of reccommendations.

Question 14

What are some examples of energy efficiency upgrades?

Answer 14

LED lightbulbs, insulation, double glazing, combo boiler.

Question 15

What does the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 state?

Answer 15

What the minimum efficiency standards for properties. Minimum of EPC E from 1st April 2018.

Question 16

What are the key principles of the RICS Environmental Risks and Global Real Estate Guidance Note 2018?

Answer 16

guidance on environmental considerations and management

e.g. preparation of environmental reports.

Question 17

What are your local authorities planning guidelines for sustainability?

Answer 17

• Cycling
• Electric car chargers
• Emissions-based parking charges

Question 18

What does the RICS do to ensure sustainability?

Answer 18

• Guidance docs
• Built Environment Carbon database
• Information papers/ research
• Sustainability Agenda

Question 19

What is the UK’s target for cutting carbon emmissions?

Answer 19

Cut by 80% on 1990 levels by 2050

Net zero 2050

Question 20

Who does the UK monitor the target process?

Answer 20

They set a ‘carbon budget’ every 5 years

sets challenging targets and increasingly strong regulations.

Question 21

What is the EPBD?

Answer 21

The Energy Performance Building Directive.

It is European legislation which compels member states to ensure buildings are subject to energy labelling and energy use reduction.

Question 22

What part of the Building Regulations reflects energy usage?

Answer 22

Part L

Question 23

What are the current EPC rules?

Answer 23

As of April 1st 2020 all existing lets, require a EPC rating of E or above.

Question 24

What are the EPC exemptions?

Answer 24

1. listed buildings

2. below 50 sqm

Question 25

Where must you pre-register exemptions?

Answer 25

Local Authority Private Rented Sector Exemptions Register Update every 5 years.

Question 26

What are the non-compliance penalties for residential properties?

Answer 26

Policed by Local Authority. - breach < 3 months £2,000 - breach > 3 month £4,000 Residential landlords are required to spend up to £3,500 on improving energy efficiency at properties where an AST granted on or since 1st April 2019.

Question 27

What are possible future updates to the MEES regime?

Answer 27

UK government have indicated that the minimum MEES threshold will rise from E rating C by 2030.

Question 28

Name other key energy regulations

Answer 28

Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004  Energy Act 2011

Question 29

What is the Climate Change Act 2008?

Answer 29

An Act to set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions

Question 30

What are other sustainability issues?

Answer 30

1. health and wellbeing - WELL Building Standard 2. developers are focusing on place making to ensure a positive contribution for occupiers ad the community 3. RICS SKA Rating 4. Better Buildings Partnership

Question 31

What is the RICS SKA Rating ?

Answer 31

A scheme aims to be the standard measure of a building fit out.

Question 32

What grants are available?

Answer 32

Green Homes Grant - CANCELLED Your voucher covers up to two-thirds of the cost of your chosen improvements, with a maximum government contribution of £5,000. - You can pay in advance, get a Green Deal finance plan, or use other schemes to fund the work. You can also combine ways to pay.

Question 33

Energy Act 2011

Answer 33

3 objectives:​ to tackle barriers to investment in energy efficiency;​ to enhance energy security;​ to enable investment in low carbon energy supplies.​ Requirement that properties (in whole or part) cannot be let with an EPC rating of F or G, which is to come into force on 1 April 2018

Question 34

Building regs: Part L: Conservation of Fuel and Power - 2021 updates?

Answer 34

- Government has said it will introduce a 2022 interim update to Part L -​ - Will require at least a 31% reduction in emissions compared to current standards. ​ ​

Question 35

What is The Future Homes Standard​?

Answer 35

- Due 2025​ - require new homes to be ‘zero carbon ready’ - homes will produce at least 75% less carbon emissions than what’s currently allowed - achieved by electrical heating instead of gas boilers​ - heat pump and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems​

Question 36

Clean Growth Strategy 2020 - aims?

Answer 36

- fuel poor homes to be upgraded to EPC C by 2030 - as many homes as possible to be EPC C by 2035 - improve EPCs of privately rented homes - aim of upgrading as many as possible to EPC C by 2030

Question 37

MEES exemptions

Answer 37

Wall insulation exemption All recommended improvements have been made but property remains below an E Devaluation exemption

Question 38

When is an EPC needed?

Answer 38

- needed whenever a property is built, sold or rented.​ | - must be ordered for potential buyers and tenants before you market your property to sell or rent.

Question 39

When are EPCs needed for private rented properties?

Answer 39

- from 1 April 2020 landlords will not be able to continue letting/or new tenancy for property with EPC rating of F and G .​ - Domestic landlords must use their own funding to cover the cost of improving their property to EPC E. - This requirement is subject to a spending cap of £3,500 (inclusive of VAT) for each property

Question 40

What is BREEAM?

Answer 40

The BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a standardised environmental assessment method and rating system used for non-domestic new buildings or major refurbishments.

Question 41

What is BREEAM?

Answer 41

The BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a standardised environmental assessment method and rating system used for non-domestic new buildings or major refurbishments.

Question 42

Sustainability in the Red Book

Answer 42

VPGA 8 significant market influence and valuations for secured lending advised to collect and record appropriate and sufficient sustainability data, for future comparability, even if it does not currently impact on value.​

Question 43

What is COP 26?

Answer 43

Conference of the parties​ UN climate change conference​ Goals:​ Secure global net zero by mid century and keep limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees within reach.​ Encourage investment in renewables​ Adapt to protect communities ​ Build defences, warning system and resilient infrastructure​ Mobilise finance​ Unleash money in private and public sector finance.​

Question 44

What is RICS Sustainability Report 2021?

Answer 44

- Sought the opinions of over 4,000 professionals on sustainability issues​ - Results indicate industry is making progress, but not at the rate needed to meet climate obligations.​ - evidence of an emerging rent and price premium for green buildings, though a relatively small share report value uplifts exceeding 10%.​ - Need for a global standard on carbon measurement.​ ​

Question 45

What is RICS Sustainability Action Agenda?

Answer 45

Part of RICS 2020 Futures Report​ RICS is committed to aligning the commercial and public interests in this area and developing practical solutions that enable our profession to help drive positive change.​ RICS Building Carbon database, a free-to-use, publicly available resource for building professionals to benchmark their designs and have access to more detailed comparative data on carbon emissions and ​ Launched a professional statement on whole life carbon assessment for the built environment, which sets out specific mandatory principles and supporting guidance for the assessment of environmental performance of buildings​