RICS APC Sustainability 2

Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Measuring only operational energy use

Answer

Calculating the carbon tax liability

Answer

Measuring carbon in the surrounding landscape

Question 2

What is a 'Passivhaus' standard building?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

A building with no windows

Answer

A building powered entirely by solar panels

Answer

A traditional stone-built house

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Building only circular buildings

Answer

Only using recycled materials

Answer

A financial model for funding construction

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

To enforce building regulations

Answer

To manufacture green building materials

Answer

To conduct Ofsted inspections of schools

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Conservation of fuel and power (energy efficiency)

Answer

Fire safety

Answer

Structural safety

Answer

Drainage and waste disposal

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Painting buildings green

Answer

Washing buildings with eco-friendly products

Answer

Planting trees around a development