Document downloads - Sustainability
Available downloads
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Environmental consultant's appointment checklist
Environmental investigations and audits have for some time been a growth area and the number of consultancies has mushroomed. There are now over 400 consultancies in the UK. Therefore, close thought must be given to the selection process.
This is a checklist of factors to consider when appointing an environmental consultant. -
Carbon management of real estate (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This guidance outlines how carbon management can provide real commercial returns as well as making a significant contribution to climate change. -
Towards a low carbon built environment: a road map for action (RICS)
Published February 2009
To begin a process of exploring how the chartered surveying profession could best play its part in preventing climate change, RICS commissioned this study to establish the current state of knowledge and practice in this area, and to describe a possible framework to support moves towards a low carbon built environment.
The primary objective of this report is to try to suggest how a developed country might go about reducing carbon emissions from the built environment, and how that could fit within a wider national programme. -
Why do companies rent green? (RICS)
Published November 2009
This report, by Piet Eichholtz, Nils Kok and John Quigley, examines the tenant-base of 'green' office buildings in the USA, to see which organisations seem most likely to occupy 'green' space. -
ZC2 - 2008 Global Carbon Capacity Index (RICS)
Published March 2009
The results of the 2008 RICS Global Carbon Capacity Index, aimed at tracking progress of countries towards a zero carbon built environment. In 2008, France emerged as the country making most progress. -
Redefining zero: carbon profiling as a solution to whole life carbon emission measurement in buildings (RICS)
Published May 2010
This report, by Sturgis Associates, proposes a new approach to measuring the carbon emissions of buildings, by combining the embedded and operational emissions of buildings. -
Green Gauge survey results 2009 (RICS)
Published August 2009
This RICS Green Gauge research provides the first in a 3-year series of benchmark surveys that will provide the opportunity to examine how RICS members' awareness and understanding of sustainability is changing and evolving over time. The 2008/09 survey suggests that sustainability has become increasingly relevant to RICS members since the RICS Green Profession survey of 2006/07. -
Green roof retrofit potential in city centres (RICS)
Published in 2010
Green roofs are a living vegetated alternative to traditional roofing, comprising a roof structure; a waterproof membrane or vapour control layer; insulation; a root barrier to protect the membrane (i.e. made of gravel, impervious concrete); a drainage system; a filter cloth; a growing medium consisting of inorganic matter, organic material and air; and plants. This paper identifies the potential for green roof retrofits in Melbourne city centre. -
Managing organisational change (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
These papers are aimed at surveyors who are assisting clients with organisational change or are re-organising their own professional practice. -
Performance and perceptions of green buildings (RICS)
Published 2010
The aim of this study is to find out whether or not Green Star certified buildings are living up to their reputation and expectations. What is working and what is not working within the buildings?
What do people like and dislike about their green building? Are there any differences among experiences of staff, tenants and owners? Is there anything in particular that separates top performing buildings from the low performing buildings? By analysing responses to these questions, this research aims to facilitate an increased understanding of Green Star certified buildings and green buildings in general. -
Sustainability and the dynamics of green buildings (RICS)
Published October 2010
In tackling climate change, increasing focus is being given to the operation of the built environment and it has become clear that improvements in the 'sustainability' of buildings can have large effects on the greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency of the economy. This report, by Piet Eichholtz and Nils Kok of Maastricht University, The Netherlands, and John Quigley of University of California, Berkeley, USA, looks at the financial performance of 'green' office building, following their earlier report, 'Doing Well by Doing Good: Green Office Buildings'. The report examines the impact of the economic downturn and recent surge in investment in energy-efficient and sustainable office buildings. Importantly, it also disentangles the 'green' premium. -
An overview and comparison of dispute resolution processes in the UK (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
There are many different dispute resolution processes in the UK, the idea being that all of them strive to meet these aims in different ways. However, 'one size does not fit all', and selecting the wrong process can result in the opposite outcome; an unacceptable result in the longest possible time, with the greatest possible expense and maximum stress on the participants. The purpose of this paper is therefore to give an accurate, non-legalistic and user-friendly overview of the main dispute resolution processes available to the property, land and built environment sectors in the UK. This should assist users in selecting the most suitable dispute resolution process for their particular dispute. -
Surveying safely
Published November 2018
Effective from February 2019
Reissued July 2023
Appropriate management of health and safety is a requirement for all RICS-regulated firms and RICS members, including property-related businesses. The requirement for such management has been put in place in many countries across the globe and across industry sectors and governmental organisations in order to protect individuals from harm.
This professional standard sets out basic, good practice principles for the management of health and safety for RICS-regulated firms and RICS members. It sets out principles for those engaged in the built environment as property professionals and includes health and safety responsibilities:
• at a corporate level (whether the RICS-regulated firm is large or small) and
• at the level of the individual RICS member.
It covers property-related businesses and identifies the moral, ethical and practical issues that confront RICS-regulated firms and RICS members everywhere, in all the work that they undertake.
This document came into effect on 1 February 2019.
This document was reissued in July 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in November 2018 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
Mining Waste Directive 2006/21/EC (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This information paper was intended to explain the background to the MWD and give a broad overview of its implementation in England and Wales. It should not be relied upon as an interpretation of the law. -
Valuation of mineral-bearing land and waste management sites
Published April 2016
Effective from 1 July 2016
Reissued January 2023
The 2nd edition of this global professional standard (effective from 1 July 2016) replaces the 1st edition, which published in 2011. It identifies additional matters that valuers need to take into account when valuing natural resource wasting assets, such as mineral deposits, landfill and waste disposal sites.
This document was reissued in January 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in April 2016 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Sustainability and residential property valuation (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This 1st edition information paper (IP) aimed to help valuers consider sustainability issues and their implications when undertaking valuations of residential property in the UK. -
Conflicts of interest for members acting as dispute resolvers (UK)
Published November 2020
Effective from 1 February 2021
Reissued October 2022
This professional standard covers the appointment of surveyors as arbitrators, independent experts, mediators, adjudicators, and other dispute resolvers.
Surveyors may be appointed as dispute resolvers either by private agreement between the parties in dispute, or via RICS or other formal appointing parties, such as the Law Society or the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).
The aim of this second edition professional standard is to provide advice on dealing with possible conflicts of interest for surveyors who are appointed to resolve disputes. It also helps all parties involved in a dispute to understand the main principles and considerations, and to be aware of when an involvement may develop into a conflict of interest.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in November 2020 as a guidance note. The regulatory requirements remain the same and no material changes have been made to the document. -
SKA rating retail good practice measures - water
SKA comprises 112 good practice measures covering energy, waste, water, pollution, transport, materials, well-being and other activities. For example, when wooden flooring is stripped out it should be sent for reuse to a salvage yard rather than sending it to landfill.
The good practice measures in the water category (displayed in rank order) are: -
Non-domestic real estate climate change model (RICS)
Published March 2012
This research examines the impact of the changing climate on the operating costs and carbon performance of non domestic buildings. -
Green Gauge 2010: Summary report (RICS)
Published September 2011
In 2008, RICS commissioned the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) at Oxford Brookes University to undertake a three year benchmarking and monitoring survey of how RICS members were engaging with the sustainability agenda. This research builds on the RICS Green Profession report of 2007. -
Selling private carbon: or how the real estate industry can learn to love carbon markets (RICS)
Published April 2010
Real estate is one of the largest contributors to the emission of greenhouse gasses and yet the industry is only just starting to appreciate the role that it can play in responding to this. One key way in which it can do so is by participating in carbon offset markets, where the financial benefits can be significant.
Using the USA real estate market as a case study, the relationship between investment decisions based solely on electricity prices, as compared to one that incorporates the monetary benefit associated with carbon offsets is examined. -
Spatial-temporal variation analysis of wooded grassland ecosystem for management of wildlife habitats using landsat imageries (RICS)
Published July 2011
The study reports on spatial and temporal variation analysis of wooded grassland ecosystem as a contribution to sustainable management, conservation and monitoring of wooded grasslands ecosystem in Tarangire national park in Tanzania through mapping and analysing the changes for a period ranging from 1979 to 2009. -
Supply, demand and the value of green buildings (RICS)
Published March 2012
In the current debate on global climate change, buildings are increasingly considered by policy makers, corporations and institutional investors to represent vehicles for achieving energy efficiency, carbon abatement and corporate social responsibility.
This shift in the perception and use value of buildings has led to changes in investment and regulations towards the built environment over the last decade, gradually moving commercial property markets towards increased levels of energy efficiency and sustainability. -
Water scarcity and land use planning (RICS)
Published July 2011
This report has a focus on land use planning, but it also provides a context on the competing demands on water resources in order to understand the relative impact land use development has on water demand when compared to other uses, particularly agricultural production. -
A green profession? RICS members and the sustainability agenda (RICS)
Published June 2007
Is the chartered surveying profession a 'green' profession?
This research looks at the attitudes of chartered surveyors towards sustainable development, what tools and techniques are currently used and what more needs to be done to ensure that chartered surveyors can play their part in tackling what is now regarded as one of the most pressing and urgent global challenges. -
Behavioural finance and urban sustainability (RICS)
Published 2003
This research forms a general evaluation of the scope for using behavioural finance as a basis for research into property markets and urban sustainability. Rather than adopting a practical case study approach the work offers a range of concepts and methodologies that might add something new to sustainability research. -
Benchmarking urban regeneration (RICS)
Published November 2003
The regeneration of significant parts of cities and towns has been a policy objective of successive governments over the past two decades. Numerous evaluations of initiatives and schemes have been commissioned to assess the impact of regeneration as part of the review of policy. -
Property economics: growth theory and valuation of sustainable development options (RICS)
Published May 2005
The diversity of the topics discussed under the heading of sustainable development contributes to the impression that it is a vague concept. Focusing on sustainable development in association with measures of lifestyle and welfare as a process that treats property as a resource which is valued in a manner such that consumption of present users does not reduce the stock of property available for future consumers enables a parsimonious and positive economic construction of one aspect of sustainability. -
Provision of countryside access: Strategic planning, co-ordination and agri-environment schemes (RICS)
Published 2003
This paper investigates the extent to which strategic planning, provision and co-ordination of access between access providers is already taking place, the extent to which new access (statutory and non-statutory) is being provided at a local level and how voluntary access under agri-environment schemes is contributing to overall access provision. -
Reassessing the role of planning in delivering sustainable development (RICS)
Published December 2006
Revisiting the issue of how planning relates to, and delivers on, sustainable development. -
Red man, green man: Performance indicators for urban sustainability (RICS)
Published July 2002
Practitioners in today's property and construction industry are having to grapple with the challenging issues of "sustainable development". Since so much of our built environment is urban, many of these issues are focused on our towns and cities. -
Improving the accuracy of ASTER elevation data for glacial change assessment in Antarctica (RICS)
Published March 2012
In order to improve understanding of processes such as sea level rise and climate change, there is a requirement for enhanced assessment of historical and present-day glacial change in sensitive polar regions such as the Antarctic Peninsula.
Vulnerable coastal societies such as the UK require better, more reliable estimates of sea level rise, and such information is essential in shaping government policy and mitigating impacts upon existing infrastructure. -
An investigation of the issues raised for the construction industry in the United Kingdom by bats (RICS)
Published April 2002
The paper outlines the protection afforded to bats and their roosts, and how it is brought into force in the UK. This protection causes particular problems for construction, and many everyday construction operations that disturb bats and their roosts can be illegal acts. The need for liaison with the relevant statutory bodies is outlined and the detection techniques available for discovering bats are described. -
Water scarcity and its implications for land management: some lessons from Australia (RICS)
Published March 2008
Use of water is an issue that is now getting greater attention and we're now coming to realise that the easy access to water that we have enjoyed in many developed countries we can no longer take for granted. -
Inclusion, equality and the built environment: a glossary of terms (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
This information paper aims to provide students, practitioners and members with definitions of terms regularly used in association with disability, inclusion and equality within the built environment sector.
The glossary is UK based and gives a general introduction to medical and legal terms. It is not the intention to provide a list of all medical terms related to disability/impairments, but rather an outline of some of the more common terms. -
TUPE: information for property managers (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
TUPE stands for The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. New regulations to update TUPE 2006 came into force on 31 January 2014 under The Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.
The purpose of TUPE is to provide employment protection on the transfer of a business from one individual to another or a change in responsibility for a contracted out service. In applying it, employment tribunals generally adopt what they call a ‘purposive’ approach, which effectively means they interpret TUPE to protect employees in line with the social objectives of the European ARD. -
Sustainability: improving performance in existing buildings (ARCHIVED)
This document has been archived and is available on isurv for information purposes only.
Clients are increasingly striving to achieve the standards set for sustainability in new buildings when commissioning works to improve the sustainability of existing buildings, despite both the technical and economic constraints presented.
Sustainable buildings are resource-efficient throughout that building's life-cycle: from location, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition, and aim to complement the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. -
BIM for beginners
The built environment sector is full of debate about BIM. In these times it is crucial to be clear on the current and future state of BIM.
This document is based on key points from the RICS guidance note 'International BIM implementation guide'. It gives a brief introduction to BIM for those who have yet to work with it. It looks at:
- what BIM is
- the technology behind BIM
- how BIM is used in project delivery and
- the implications of BIM on organisations. -
RICS property measurement
Published January 2018
Effective from 1 May 2018
Reissued May 2024
Following the publication of IPMS: All Buildings, please note this document is in the process of being updated. Please see the RICS website for further updates.
RICS property measurement comprises the following two elements:
1. Professional statement: property measurement
a) Application of this professional statement
b) Technical definitions
c) IPMS: Office Buildings, as applied under the professional statement
d) IPMS: Residential Buildings as applied under the professional statement (applies to office measurements and residential measurements only – download these below).
2. RICS IPMS data standard
This document reflects the IPMS standards (IPMS: Office Buildings and IPMS: Residential) and will be updated over time to comply with other IPMS standards, including industrial, retail and mixed use, as they are published.
For all building classes except offices and residential buildings, the bases of measurement contained within the Code of measuring practice, 6th edition (COMP) may still apply though the application of this professional statement applies to all building classes. The COMP was effective globally from 18 May 2015, though early adoption of IPMS is recommended on publication of the new standards.
Software developers and those requiring the use of structured data are advised to follow the schemas as defined, and those wishing to pursue RICS software certification must demonstrate compliance with this data standard. This data standard is an XML schema and is available to download.
A user guide to the standard, intended for implementers, is available for download. For more information please email datastandards@rics.org. -
Developing an approach to sustainable return on investment in the UK, Brazil and the USA (RICS)
Published July 2015
This report develops an approach which places a value on the social and environmental impact of projects and applies these to the built environment. -
Making more brownfield land available for housing (RICS)
Published March 2015
Using Nottingham as a case study, the research looks at the barriers to housing development on brownfield land. -
Climatic risk toolkit (RICS)
Published March 2015
This RICS research report and online tool help the built environment sector in 8 European countries determine the risk and impact climate change will have on non-domestic, or commercial, buildings. -
Natural capital planning tool (RICS)
Published January 2016
This research aims to develop a Natural Capital Planning Tool (NCPT) allowing planners and developers to assess the impact of proposed developments and plans on the provision of ecosystem services. -
Future of policy and standards for low and zero carbon homes (RICS)
Published February 2016
This research evaluates policy and standards for promoting the delivery of low and zero carbon (LZC) new homes in England, in the context of the 2012 Housing Standards Review and the recently withdrawn 2016 zero carbon target. -
Planning tools for strategic management of peri-urban food production (RICS)
Published September 2016
Using Sydney as a case study, this report aims to develop an understanding of what best practice looks for land-use planning on the urban fringe. -
Conflicts of interest – global
Published March 2017
Effective from 1 January 2018
Reissued July 2023
The global professional standard on conflicts of interest provides clear rules for RICS members and regulated firms to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest.
Effective identification and management of conflicts of interest is an essential component of professionalism. The professional standard provides confidence to clients and consumers that RICS members and regulated firms are operating to the highest ethical standards.
Following extensive industry consultation and feedback, RICS developed this professional standard to provide clarification on:
- competing bidders
- effective date/transition
- conflicts arising during professional assignments
- passing confidential information to insurers and legal advisers.
The conflicts of interest professional standard, which supports the RICS Rules of Conduct, places an overarching mandatory requirement on all RICS members and regulated firms and specifies RICS’ expectations of how compliance with the Rules of Conduct should be achieved.
This document was reissued in July 2023 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in March 2017 as a guidance note. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Conflicts of interest: UK commercial property market investment agency
Published May 2017
Effective from 1 January 2018
Reissued June 2024
This professional standard provides RICS members and RICS regulated firms with mandatory requirements when acting on the open market sale or acquisition of a commercial investment real estate opportunity in the UK in order to avoid conflicts of interest prejudicial to their clients’ best interests.
It covers:
- dual agency, including related firms
- multiple introductions and
- incremental advice.
This document was reissued in June 2024 as a professional standard. It had previously been published in May 2017 as a professional statement. No material changes have been made to the document.
See also RICS' global professional standard 'Conflicts of interest' at: www.isurv.com/downloads/download/2140/conflicts_of_interest_–_global -
Whole life carbon assessment for the built environment
Published 19 September 2023
Reissued 21 November 2023
Effective from 1 July 2024
This professional standard will enable professionals to make prudent decisions to limit the whole life carbon impact of buildings and infrastructure. It facilitates carbon measurement from the production of construction materials to the design, construction and eventual end of life of built assets. -
Regenerative landscapes (RICS)
Published March 2018
Ecosystem damage over the last 50 years of the 20th century was greater than in any comparable period of human history, with estimates that the demands of contemporary global society effectively consume 1.5 ‘Planet Earths’. There is a pressing need to use landscapes and other ecosystems in more sustainable and integrated ways.
This regenerative landscapes report highlights the need and the means for rebuilding carrying capacity across rural, urban and other cultural landscapes, with a significant emphasis on water. -
Environmental risks and global real estate
Published November 2018
Effective from December 2018
Reissued April 2024
Both in real terms and in the growth of legislation, environmental considerations affect real estate in all sectors. Increasingly, there are implications for how we buy, sell, use and value real estate.
This first edition professional standard is aimed principally at the land and property acquisition, disposal and asset management stages of the property life cycle. It aims to provide guidance to chartered surveyors who are not specialists in environmental considerations and management or in the preparation of environmental reports including Land Quality Statements and Environmental Screening Reports. -
Changing priorities in investor decision-making: the sustainability agenda
Published July 2018
This report examines the importance placed on environmental sustainability in the decision-making process of UK fund managers when making property investments. It also investigates if green premia for sustainable buildings exist, and the compatibility of environmental sustainable and financial objectives. -
Cities, health and well-being
Published: June 2018
The urban environment has long been recognised as a crucial to human health, but the last few years have seen a marked growth in the health and well-being agenda. This insight paper recognises the major contribution property professionals can make in establishing healthy, liveable places for all. -
Cost reduction and deployment of prefabricated building integrated photovoltaics
This research evaluates the mechanisms driving the cost reductions and deployment of prefabricated Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and explores the benefits, including aesthetics, of integrating photovoltaics within building materials and the challenges that need to be overcome.
Technology development, commercialisation, and manufacturing scaling have contributed significantly to rapid reductions in solar photovoltaic hardware costs. However, the soft costs, including design, financing, procurement, permitting, installation, labour, and inspection, have not declined rapidly. The lack of economic confidence and the lack of collaboration between the PV and building industries make the integration of prefabricated solar panels to the building envelope difficult. This research evaluates the mechanisms driving the cost reductions and deployment of prefabricated BIPV. The research aims to formalise a deployment framework by empirically breaking down prefabricated BIPV cost trajectories into a set of low- and high-level factors and identify their reduction potentials. -
Beyond COVID-19: Reopening of commercial buildings
This document has global applicability and is designed to give support and advice on the preparations and considerations for the reopening of commercial buildings once pandemic lockdown restrictions are lifted.
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Beyond COVID-19: Inspections and visits for non-domestic properties
Recommendations on inspections and visits for non-domestic properties during COVID-19 in England.
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Letting waste sites: an insight into Network Rail policy
Published March 2022
Reissued October 2022
In 2016, Network Rail developed a strategic framework for its sites near railway lines being used for activities such as waste management, storage, processing, recycling and car breaking, as scrapyards, or for moving or storing materials such as scrap metal or chemicals. Network Rail now uses this framework to improve management of its waste-related sites and help minimise risks for itself and tenants alike, as well as supporting continued enhancement of infrastructure for recycling and reusing waste. The company defines waste sites as land that is leased for any waste-related use, or any use that involves bringing waste on or off site.
This practice information from RICS provides an overview of this Network Rail framework, its key component parts, and illustrates best practice for both the leasing and management of such sites. Given the growing demand for sites suitable for waste-related activity, by publishing this paper, RICS provides some key learnings for professionals engaged in advising landlords and tenants of such sites and provides an insight into how best to minimise risk for all concerned.
This document was reissued in October 2022 as practice information. It had previously been published in February 2022 as an insight paper entitled Network Rail policy for letting waste sites: Sharing knowledge to support professionals. No material changes have been made to the document. -
Residential retrofit standard
Published 19 March 2024
Effective from 31 October 2024
RICS’ first residential retrofit standard has been created in response to growing demand for retrofit services. It ensures that consumers carrying out retrofit upgrades to a residential property receive advice from skilled, regulated professionals, and protects the public interest by upholding high standards in a growing market.
This UK professional standard sets out a series of concise mandatory and recommended requirements and is effective from 31 October 2024, establishing benchmarks that guide RICS members in delivering residential retrofit services tailored to their clients' evolving needs.
The implementation of this standard represents an opportunity for RICS residential property surveyors to both upskill and embrace sustainable working practices in response to the growing demand. According to UK government statistics, residential retrofits need to increase to a rate of 500,000 per year by 2025, and one million per year by 2030 to meet the decarbonisation target. Hence, there is a market need for a standard that facilitates reliability and consistency and provides a foundation for professional indemnity.