Using Ska Rating with HE Projects

1. Using Ska Rating with HEProjects Sally Sloan Peter James

2. Ska HE Project Considerable interest and some use of Ska Rating in universities, especially UCL RICS, AUDE, Overbury and RLB funding actions to adapt the scheme and develop materials Currently scoping and addressing these questions:1. Does there need to be a completely new scheme for non-lab spaces, or can existing Ska scheme(s) be adapted? 2. Is a set of Ska measures for labs possible and what would it look like?

3. Introduction to Ska Ska Rating is a scheme to assess, and minimise, the environmental impacts associated with the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings and spaces within them Complimentary to BREEAM by dealing with smaller scale projects, and in excluding the building fabric First developed between Skansen, AECOM, RICS and others - now run by RICS There are currently two versions, for Office and Retail.

4. Good practice measures

5. The Assessment Process - 1 Uses a freely available online tool available to all Identifies which good practice measures are ’in scope’ for an individual project- 10 measures are always in scope Has three awards:- Gold 75% of measures in scope- Silver 50% of measures in scope- Bronze 25% of measures in scope Main assessment at Handover stage- Indicative assessment at Design stage- Occupancy assessment possible but little used

6. The Assessment Process - 2 Measures are ranked against each other by importance, primarily sustainability but also feasibility A fixed proportion of the highest ranked measures in scope must also be achieved, aka Gateway measures To be certified projects must be submitted to RICS by an accredited assessor (internal or external)- HE mainly internal to date but external growing

7. HE Use to Date UCL- 26 full projects using Ska Office or Ska Retail- 35-40 projects using home grown ‘mini Ska’ and ‘Ska Lab’ measures for small or specialised projects- Aims at Ska Gold City University- 18 projects using Ska Office- Requires Ska Silver as a minimum standard University of Liverpool- 2 projects using Ska Office and Ska Retail- 1 pilot project to assess residences Universities of East London/Edinburgh- 1 project each

8. The Benefits of Ska Identification of low or zero cost opportunities to save money and/or improve environmental performance Reassurance that issues have been formally addressed e.g. with regard to compliance with regulation Motivation of project managers to achieve the benefits through formal recognition by a prestigious body with easily understandable score

9. Key Issues re Ska and HE Universities tend to own most of their buildings and (should) have a longer term perspective Pressure from HEFCE and other stakeholders to meet long term carbon targets Public nature- gives high visibility- creates challenge of influencing many users Universities have sustainability capacity and mechanisms - Ska less stand alone

10. Key Issues re Ska and HE Most universities operate on integrated campuses- many facilities are shared Many laboratories- highly serviced- high environmental footprint- concentrated on the use stage

11. Difficult Measures

12. D31 Daylight glare control Current Ska wording For office spaces all of the following criteria must be met: • occupant-controlled window coverings (typically blinds or screens) are fitted to the external windows and atria that receive sunlight directly or indirectly; • coverings are designed to provide optimum glare control and allow the best possible retention of views out with the coverings drawn closed; and • fabric screens, where specified, have a visual light transmittance (VLT) of less than 10%. For retail spaces one of the following criteria must be met for all visual display units (VDU) e.g. tills, ATMS: • the VDU must be positioned so that light from the window does not fall on it or cause reflections; • the VDU must be fitted with an anti-glare screen; or • the workspace must be provided with a screen that the staff can position to shield the VDU from the source of glare. HE issue: There can sometimes be a safety or business case why this criteria cannot be met. For example some spaces require black out blinds. . Suggested action: Significant Amendment: if a safety or business case is made,allow a space to be excluded from assessment if it is only a small proportion of the total project floor space, or allow the measure to be ruled out of scope if a significant proportion.

13. E08 Tenancy sub-metering Current Ska wording • Automatic monitoring and targeting (AMT) equipment is installed. AMT equipment comprises meters, an automatic meter reading device and analytical software. • The meter component is installed for each floor and each tenancy area within a floor for space heating and cooling, and domestic hot water. HE issue: ‘Tenancy’ areas often less defined in HE so floor by floor not always appropriate. Suggested action: Significant amendment: Modification required to criteria to allow for alternative area breakdowns. Suggested wording - ‘OR for each usable area breakdown (e.g. wing) where per floor is not feasible.’ Lecture theatres to be classed as independent.

14. D04 Daylighting Current Ska wording Average daylight factor is 2% or greater. HE issue: Would not be applicable to lecture theatres, many of which have no windows to avoid distraction. Suggested action: Significant amendment: Allow lecture theatresto be excluded from assessment if they are only a small proportion of the total project floor space, or allow the measure to be ruled out of scope if a significant proportion.

15. P09 Display Energy Certificate Current Ska wording A DEC is issued for the portion of the space that was fitted out and an advisory report provided. The certificate is issued by an energy assessor who is accredited to produce DECs for office or retail buildings. HE issue: Universities not required to produce for many buildings (though some do). Also university unlikely to get DEC for one space. Suggested action: Significant amendment: If the university does not produce DECs allow measure to be out of scope. If it does, suggested rewording – ‘A DEC is issued INCLUDING the portion of the space that was fitted out and an advisory report provided. The certificate is issued by an energy assessor who is accredited to produce DECs for office or retail buildings.’