Sustainabilty Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is cop 26
Conference of parties attended by countries who signed the united nations framework convention on climate change
What happened at cop 26 in 2021
• At COP26 a newly established Glasgow Financial Alliance was announced for Net Zero carbon emissions of $130 trillion of private capital to accelerate the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
• The private sector is now under more intense scrutiny from both clients and institutional investors on ensuring net-zeto commitments are robust and legitimate.
• There are new requirements for all listed companies in the UK to produce net-zero transition plans by
2023.
What is sustainability
To meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Key principles of sustainability
• Social - Building healthy communities with sufficient numbers and range of buildings.
• Economical - Build strong, responsive, competitive economies ensuring sufficient land and right types.
Environmental: - Contributing towards the protection and enhancement of our natural, built and historic environment.
Core principles of planning and decision making around sustainability
• Creative processes should be used not just scrutiny.
• Proactive steps should be taken to achieve sustainable development.
• Secure the development of high quality built assets.
• Account for the character of the surrounding area.
• Support a climate-resilient and low-carbon economy.
• Conserve & enhance natural environment and reduce pollution,
• Encourage use of brownfield sites.
• Conserve heritage.
• Maximise use of public transport, cycling and walking.
• Support health, social and cultural well-being.
Most common environmental issues on site
Water pollution
Air and noise pollution
Carbon emissions
Land contamination
Damage to wild habitats
Key legislation that affects sustainability in construction
Ad
D Irish
Key building regulations that relate to sustainability in construction
Add Irish
Different forms of tax relating to sustainability
Add Irish
Code of practice for measuring sustainability
BREEAM (life cycle assessment )
Sets best practice standards for environmental performance
Stands for building research establishment environmental assessment method
• The assessment is undertaken by a licensed assessor based on energy, land & ecology, water, health & wellbeing, pollution, materials and waste and management.
• BREEAM applies to new and refurbishment projects, domestic and non-domestic.
Rating are:
• Outstanding.
• Excellent.
• Very Good.
• Good.
• Pass.
• Unclassified.
SKA Ratings
0 An RICS Environmental assessment method for non-domestic fit outs such as office refurbishments.
• The scheme assesses fit out projects against a set of sustainability good practice criteria, known as Good Practice Measures (GPM).
o SKA can act as an alternative to BREBAM which have higher costs in comparison.
LEED (Life cycle assessment)
LEED stands for leadership energy and environmental design
In is a USA version of breeam
• LID sanch for Leadenhip in Enogy and Be
• It is a U/SA equivalent of BREAM.
Ratings are
• LEED Centifiod.
• Silver.
• Gold.
• Platinum.
This method reviews embodies aspects of carbon emissions as well as lifecycles assessment
What procedures does ur firm implement to promote sustainability
• Recycling of cardboard, paper and plastics.
• Use of Energy efficient lighting (motion sensors).
• Energy efficient equipment (LED lamps, energy efficient monitors).
• All company cars are to be EV’s by 2025.
• Cycle to work schemes.
• Reduce printing by using cloud-based systems.
• Chariable contributions (ace planting / eavironmental programmes).
• Sign up to Green initiatives and codes of practice (use office space with high EPC / BREEAM
Name some sustainable building methods
• Use of recycled materials such as reclaimed timber, recycled tiles and plastics.
• Ground Source Heat Pumps.
• Air Source Heat Pumps.
• Solar Pancis.
• Wind Turbines.
• Solar Shading,
• Rain water harvesting
• Green Roofs.
• Automated Building Systems (Lighting sensors).
What is green roofs
• A green roof is a roof covering that is partially or completely covered with vegetation that is placed over a waterproof membrane.
• Additional layers such as drainage layers, irrigation systems or root barriers may also be placed over the membrane.
• Rooftop ponds are an alternative form of green roof which are used to treat grey water.
• The vegetation, soil, drainage layer, root barriers and irrigation system are typically the key components of a green roof.
• Advantages of Green Roofs are that they absorb rainwater, provide extra insulation, increase biodiversity by providing habitats for wildlife, are aesthetically pleasing and lower urban air temperatures.
What are photovoltaics
• Photovoltaics allow the conversion of sunlight into electricity.
• Sunlight contains energy known as photons.
• When photos hit solar modules within the solar panel they cause electrons to flow through the bottom layer.
• The movement of electrons generates electricity that flows to an inverter.
• The inverter converts DC electricity into AC that is then used to power the building.
What is a sockaway
• Soakaways offer a means of surface water drainage attenuation.
• They consist of large holes or pits that receive surface water from a drainage pipe.
• The soakaway allows the collected surface water to gradually infiltrate through the soil.
What is carbon neutral
• Carbon neutrality is to have a balance between the carbon emitted and the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.
• This is an important measure of the impact that businesses and projects have on the environment and global warming.
• To date no artificial carbon sinks are able to remove carbon from the atmosphere at the levels required to offset global warming.
What is solar grain
• Solar gain is the name given to the increase in temperatue as a space, clapes oe radiation (the bear from the sun).
• A building can retain this solar gain by having high thermal mans or can avoid a by using reflective materials and insulation.
How can solar gain be manage in building
• Limiting the size and area of openings such as doors and windows.
• Shading or orientating doors and windows from direct sunlight.
• Using reflective materials on the glass and building fabric.
• Insulating walls and roof spaces to prevent indirect solar gains into the building.
How does a ground source heat pump work
• Heat from the ground is absorbed at low temperatures into a fluid inside a loop of pipe (a ground loop)
buried underground.
• The fluid then passes through a compressor that raises it to a higher temperature, which can then heat water for the heating and hot water circuits of the house.
• The cooled ground-loop fluid passes back into the ground where it absorbs further energy from the ground in a continuous process as long as heating is required.
What is SUDS
• SUDS will slow down surface water run off by allowing it to infiltrate and soak into natural contours and landscapes.
• SUDS are considered to be environmentally friendly as they do not rely on the manufacture of plastic or clay drainage components and instead utilise natural vegetation and material to absorb surface water.
Benefits of BREEAM certified building
• BREEAM buildings help clients to benefit from lowering the running costs of their buit assets and minimising the impact on the environment through consideration at planning, design, construction and opention phases.
• Other benefits include greater marketability to building tenants through lower running costs and creating desimble places to live and work.
• A higher building value and positive PR message is also achieved through the increased sustainability of the building, particularly when achieving BREBAM excellent and very good mtings.
Benefits of rainwater harvesting
• It decreases the demand for water.
• It reduces the need for imported water.
• Rainwater harvesting promotes both water and energy conservation.
• Improved BREEAM compliance can be achieved.
• Lower operational costs can be gained.
What is an EPC
• Enengy Performance Cerficates were introduced in 2007 and un a legal roguin
be sold, let or constructed.
• Once obtained, an EPC is valid for 10 years.
The most efficient built assets typically have the lowest fuel bills and are in band A.
• EPC’s are rated on a scale of A-G.
• The energy efficiency of the built asset along with the posential efficiency following improven identificd.
• The EPC will also show the amount of CO2 emissions produced by the property in suesses and wi advise the amount this could be reduced by.
RICS sustainability initiatives
• The RICS SKA ratings encourages green codes of practice for commercial properties.
• RICS has also launched the Value the Planet’ campaign and committed to forming a climate change expert panel to implement the UN’s sustainable development goals.
• RICS has launched a Responsible Business Report filled with solutions for companies to operate in a greener capacity, regardless of the firm’s size. This includes introducing higher recycling rates and reducing energy, transport and water use where possible.
