CIH Level 2 Award In Sustainable Living (QCF)

CHARTERED-INSTITUTE-OF-HOUSING

vocational

This subtopic explores the concept of sustainable living, emphasising the integration of environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability within housing and community contexts. Learners examine how individuals and housing professionals can adopt and promote practices that minimise resource use, reduce waste, and support resilient neighbourhoods. Practical application focuses on using diverse communication channels to share credible information, enabling others to make informed choices that contribute to long-term sustainability goals.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for demonstrating a clear understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, economic) with relevant housing or community-based examples.
Look for evidence that the learner can identify and use at least two credible sources (e.g., government publications, CIH guidance, academic research) when gathering information on sustainable living.
Credit should be given when the learner shows how information was shared appropriately for a specific audience, such as using simple language for tenants or visual aids for community groups.
Assess whether the learner reflects on the effectiveness of their information-sharing method and suggests improvements based on feedback or outcomes.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for demonstrating a clear understanding of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, economic) with relevant housing or community-based examples.
Look for evidence that the learner can identify and use at least two credible sources (e.g., government publications, CIH guidance, academic research) when gathering information on sustainable living.
Credit should be given when the learner shows how information was shared appropriately for a specific audience, such as using simple language for tenants or visual aids for community groups.
Assess whether the learner reflects on the effectiveness of their information-sharing method and suggests improvements based on feedback or outcomes.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Structure your evidence to explicitly link theory to practice: for instance, illustrate the meaning of sustainable living through a case study of a local housing retrofit project that considers energy efficiency, tenant wellbeing, and cost-effectiveness.
💡For the information-sharing objective, document each step clearly: how you identified knowledge gaps, selected sources, prepared materials, delivered the message, and evaluated its impact.
💡Use the Chartered Institute of Housing’s own publications and toolkits as key references to ground your work in recognised professional standards.
💡If submitting a portfolio, include tangible evidence such as screenshots of social media posts, leaflets designed, or feedback forms to demonstrate practical application of sharing information.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Narrowly defining sustainable living as only environmental actions (e.g., recycling) without addressing social equity (e.g., affordable warmth) or economic viability (e.g., long-term cost savings).
Relying on unverified internet sources or personal opinion rather than professional or evidence-based materials when gathering information.
Failing to tailor the shared information to the target audience, leading to disengagement or misunderstanding, for example using technical jargon with residents.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Understand the meaning of sustainable living., Understand how to gain and share information on sustainable living.

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

CIH Level 2 Award In Sustainable Living (QCF)

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Key Terminology

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in CHARTERED-INSTITUTE-OF-HOUSING vocational Service Industries

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Food and transport choices for sustainable living

Reduce, reuse and recycle household waste

Sustainable living