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

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Conservation of fuel and power (energy efficiency)

Answer

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.

RICS APC Practice Test

RICS APC Practice Test

RICS APC Sustainability 2