Sustainability Flashcards

What is the purpose of a 'Whole Life Carbon Assessment' for a building?

Answer: Assessing total carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle, including embodied, operational, and end-of-life carbon

A Whole Life Carbon Assessment evaluates the total carbon emissions across a building's entire lifecycle: from material extraction and construction through operation and maintenance to demolition and disposal.

What is a 'Passivhaus' standard building?

Answer: A building designed to achieve ultra-low energy consumption through superinsulation, airtightness, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery

Passivhaus is a rigorous energy performance standard that achieves very low energy consumption through superinsulation, extreme airtightness, triple glazing, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).

What does 'circular economy' mean in the context of construction?

Answer: Designing buildings and using materials so that resources are kept in use for as long as possible, with waste and environmental impact minimised

The circular economy in construction means designing for disassembly, reusing materials, minimising waste, and keeping resources in productive use for as long as possible, rather than the traditional linear 'take-make-dispose' model.

What is the purpose of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)?

Answer: To campaign for a sustainable built environment and provide guidance to the industry

The UKGBC is a membership organisation that campaigns for a sustainable built environment, provides net zero guidance, and helps the property and construction industry reduce its environmental impact.

What does 'Part L' of the Building Regulations in England primarily cover?

Answer: Conservation of fuel and power (energy efficiency)

Part L of the Building Regulations covers the conservation of fuel and power, setting requirements for energy efficiency in new and existing buildings, including insulation, heating, and ventilation standards.

What is 'greenwashing' in the context of property and sustainability?

Answer: Making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental credentials of a product, service, or building

Greenwashing involves making misleading claims about environmental performance or sustainability credentials, which is increasingly scrutinised by regulators and the RICS.