10/23/2014

Glossary

The term ‘acid rain’ means

any form of precipitation
that contains harmful
substances such as
nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
They major human
sources do come from the
industry, transportation,
and a variety of power
plants.

Acid Rain

Glossary

Non‐native plants that reliably

grow well in given habitat with
minimal winter protection, pest
control, fertilization, or irrigation
once their root systems are
established. These plants have
adapted to the local climate with
low maintenance and are not
considered invasive plants or
weeds.

Adaptive plants

1
 10/23/2014

Glossary

The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations

that are not to be exceeded during a given time
in a defined area (EPA).

Air quality standards

Glossary

Material other than earthen material placed on

the surface of the active face of a municipal solid
waste landfill at the end of each operating day to
control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and
scavenging. Generally these materials must be
processed so they do not allow gaps in the
exposed landfill face. (CalRecycle)

Alternative daily cover

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Alternative fuel 

Low‐polluting, nongasoline fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, propane,

compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, methanol, and ethanol

Glossary

Vehicles that use low‐polluting,

non gasoline fuels such as
electricity, hydrogen, propane
or compressed natural gas,
liquid natural gas, methanol,
and ethanol. In LEED, efficient
gas‐electric hybrid vehicles are
included in this group.

Alternative fuel vehicle

3
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Temperature of the surrounding air or

other medium (EPA).

Thermostat

Glossary

An aquifer is a wet underground

layer of water‐bearing
permeable rock or
unconsolidated materials from
which groundwater can be
usefully extracted using a water
well. Aquifers are critically
important in human habitation
and agriculture. Deep aquifers
in arid areas have long been
water sources for irrigation.
Many villages and even large
Aquifer cities draw their water supply
from wells in aquifers.

4
 10/23/2014

Glossary

A product formulated from multiple materials

(e.g., concrete) or a product made up of
subcomponents (e.g., a workstation)

Glossary

ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating,

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) is
an international technical society for all
individuals and organizations interested in
heating, ventilation, air‐conditioning, and
refrigeration.
Examples of ASHRAE Standards:
Standard 55 – Thermal environmental conditions
for human occupancy
Standard 62.2 – Ventilation and acceptable
indoor air quality in low‐rise residential bldg.
Standard 90.1‐ Energy standard for buildings.

5
 10/23/2014

Glossary

A process used to remove volatile organic

compounds (VOCs) from a building by elevating the
temperature in the fully furnished and ventilated
building prior to human occupancy. Bake‐out is an
artificial acceleration of the process of outgassing.

Bake‐ out

Glossary

Materials and products that make up the building or

are permanently and semi‐permanently installed in
the project (e.g., flooring, casework, wall coverings)

6
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Total building energy costs

annually. This value is intended to
be used to compare against design
case to compute energy savings
from a proposed design.

Baseline bldg performance

Glossary

A continuous network consisting of any

combination of the following 1) off street
bicycle paths or trails at least 8 feet (2.5
meters) wide for a two‐way path and at
least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide for a one‐
way path 2) physically designated on‐
street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5
meters) wide 3) streets designed for a
target speed of 25 mph (40 kmh)

Bicycle network

7
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Capable of decomposing under

natural conditions.

Glossary

The variation of life forms within a given ecosystem or the

entire earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of
the health of biological systems.

Biodiversity

8
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Solid, liquid or gaseous fuel derived from relatively

recently dead biological material and is distinguished
from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead
biological material.

Biofuel

Glossary

A renewable energy source, refers to plant matter

grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel. It
excludes organic material which has been transformed
by geological processes into substances such as coal or
petroleum.

Biomass

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

A storm water control feature that uses

a combination of an engineered basin,
soils, and vegetation to slow and detain
storm water, increase groundwater
recharge, and reduce peak storm water
runoff. It is designed to remove silt and
pollution from surface runoff water.

Bioswale

Glossary

Blackwater is non‐potable water.

Exact definitions for what
constitutes blackwater vary, but
wastewater from toilets and
urinals is always considered
blackwater. Water from food
preparation areas is sometimes
considered blackwater, based on
state and local laws.

Blackwater – toilet & urinal

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The amount of heat required to raise the

temperature of one pound of liquid water by
one degree F. This standard measure of energy
is used to describe the energy content of fuels
and compare energy use.

BTU

Glossary

Land previously used for industrial

purposes or certain commercial uses. The
land may be contaminated by low
concentrations of hazardous waste or
pollution and has the potential to be
reused once it is cleaned.

Brownfield

11
 10/23/2014

Glossary

A luminaire classification system that

classifies luminaires in terms of backlight
(B), uplight (U), and glare (G) (taken from
IES/IDA Model Lighting Ordinance).

Glossary

A set of rules that specify the

minimum acceptable level of safety
for constructed objects such as
buildings and non‐building
structures. Building codes protect
public health, safety and general
welfare as they related to
construction and occupancy of
buildings and structures. Building
codes are applied by contractors and
Bldg permit architects and enforced by the
issuing authority, such as city
inspectors.

12
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Floor area of the building divided by the

total area of the site, computed as square
feet per acre.

Building density

Glossary

Also known as building shell. The exterior

surface of the building including all walls,
windows, floor, and roof.

Bldg envelope

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The area of building as defined by the

perimeter of the structure. Parking
lots, walkways, and landscaping are
not included.

Bldg footprint

Glossary

A colorless, odorless gas that is present in

the atmosphere and is formed when any
fuel contained caron is burned. It is
breathed out of an animal’s lungs during
respiration, is produced by the decay of
organic matter, and is used by plants in
photosynthesis.

CO2

14
 10/23/2014

Glossary

It is an enhanced bus system

that operates on exclusive bus
lanes or other transit rights‐of‐
way. The system is designed to
combine the flexibility of buses
with the efficiency of rail.

Bus rapid transit

Glossary

A measure of greenhouse gas

emission associated with an activity.
A comprehensive carbon footprint
includes building construction,
operation, energy use, building‐
related transportation, and the
embodied energy of water, solid
waste, and construction materials.

Carbon footprint

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

A device that removes heat from a liquid, typically as

part of a refrigeration system used to cool and
dehumidify buildings.

Chiller

Glossary

The process of verifying and documenting that a building

and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed,
installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the
owner’s project requirements. Systematic process of
assuring that a building performs in accordance with the
design intent and the owner’s operational needs.

Commissioning agent

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The individual designated to organize,

lead, and review the completion of
commissioning process activities. The
CxA facilitates communication among
the owner, designer, and contractor to
ensure that complex systems are
installed and function in accordance
with the owner’s project
requirements.

Commissioning Authority

Glossary

Commissioning plan: a document that outlines the

organization, schedule, allocation of resources, and
documentation requirements of the commissioning
process.

Commissioning report: a document that details the

commissioning process, including a commissioning
program overview, identification of the commissioning
team, and description of the commissioning process
activities.
Commissioning report

17
 10/23/2014

Glossary

A type of fluorescent lamp designed to replace an

incandescent lamp and fit into existing light fixtures
formerly used for incandescent bulbs. Compared to
incandescent lamps giving the same amount of visible
light, CFLs generally use less power, have a longer rated
life, but a higher purchase price.

CFL

Glossary

Wood manufactured by binding together the strands,

particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with
adhesives, to form composite materials.

Composite wood

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Glossary

Waste and recyclables

generated from
construction and from
the renovation,
demolition, or
deconstruction of
preexisting structures. It
does not include land‐
clearing debris, such as
soil, vegetation, and
Construction and demolition debris rocks.

Glossary

Construction waste bins

A plan that diverts construction debris from landfills through recycling, salvaging and
reusing.

19
 10/23/2014

Glossary

An unwanted airborne element that

may reduce indoor air quality (ASHRAE
Standard 62.1‐2007)

Contaminants

Glossary

Heat removal devices used to transfer process

waste heat to the atmosphere. It uses water to
absorb heat from air‐conditioning systems and
regulate air temperature in a facility.

Cooling tower

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The practice of placing windows,

and other transparent media, and
reflective surfaces so that, during
the day, natural light provides
effective internal illumination. It is
used to reduce or eliminate electric
lighting.

Daylighting

Glossary

A change in electricity use by demand‐side

resources from their normal consumption patterns
in response to changes in the price of electricity or
to incentive payments designed to induce lower
electricity use at times of high wholesale market
prices or when system reliability is jeopardized.

21
 10/23/2014

Glossary

The area of the project site that has

been disturbed for development.
This area includes the building
footprint, hardscapes, and parking
lots.

Development footprint

Glossary

Method which minimizes

the use of water and
fertilizer by allowing water
to drip slowly to the roots
of plants, either onto the
soil surface or directly onto
the root zone, through a
network of valves, pipes,
tubing, and emitters.

Drip irrigation

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Excavated areas that detain

stormwater and slow runoff but are
dry between rain events. Wet ponds
serve a similar function but are
designed to hold water all the time.

Dry pond

Glossary

A basic unit of nature that includes

a community of organisms and
their non‐living environment linked
by biological, chemical and physical
process.

Ecosystem

23
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Discarded office equipments such as

computers, monitors, copiers,
printers, scanners, fax machines,
appliances such as refrigerators,
dishwashers, water coolers, external
power adapters, and televisions and
other audiovisual equipment.

Electronic Waste

Glossary

Emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy

radiated by a particular material to energy
radiated by a black body at the same
temperature. It is a measure of material’s
ability to radiate absorbed energy.

Emissivity

24
 10/23/2014

Glossary

The exterior plus semi‐exterior portions of

the building. Exterior consists of the
elements of a building that separate
conditioned spaces from the outside (i.e.,
the wall assembly). Semi exterior consists of
the elements of a building that separate
conditioned space from unconditioned
space or that encloses semi‐heated space
through which thermal energy may be
transferred to or from the exterior or
conditioned or unconditioned spaces (e.g.,
attic, crawl space, basement).

Glossary

Building components and appliances that use less energy

to perform as well as or better than standard products.

Energy efficient 
products

25
 10/23/2014

Glossary

A control system capable of

monitoring environmental and system
loads and adjusting HVAC operations
accordingly in order to conserve
energy while maintaining comfort
(EPA).

Energy management system

Glossary

Energy Star is program that was first developed in

1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) as a method to identify and promote products
that are energy efficient. Products carrying this
symbol provide a way for businesses and consumers
to save money, while at the same time, protect our
environment.

ENERGY STAR rating

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

A statement that the item meets the

environmental requirements of ISO
14021–1999, ISO 14025–2006 and EN
15804, or ISO 21930–2007.

Glossary

Mixture of smoke from the burning end

of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and smoke
exhaled by the smoker. (EPA)

Tobacco smoke

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The carrying away or

displacement of solids
(sediment, soil, rock and other
particles) usually by the
agents of currents such as
wind, water, or ice by
downward or down‐slope
movement in response to
gravity.
Erosion

Glossary

Measures undertaken by the maker of a

product to accept its own and sometimes other
manufacturers’ products as postconsumer
waste at the end of the products’ useful life.
Producers recover and recycle the materials for
use in new products of the same type. To count
toward credit compliance, a program must be
widely available. For carpet, extended producer
responsibility must be consistent with NSF/ANSI
140–2007. Also known as closed‐loop program
or product take‐back.

28
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Any opening in a building, such as

windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls,
etc., designed to permit the passage of
air, light, vehicles, or people.

Fenestration

Glossary

Floodplain
Flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a stream or river that experiences occasional or
periodic flooding.

29
 10/23/2014

Glossary

The total building floor area divided by the total

buildable land area.

Floor area ratio

Glossary

When large amounts of outdoor air are forced

through a recently completed building for a period of
time so that the majority of pollutant emissions from
building materials, finishes, and furnishings can be
removed from the building before occupancy. LEED
requires a minimum 2‐week flush out period to occur
after construction, and before occupancy.

Flush‐out

30
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Glossary

A hydrocarbon deposit, such as

petroleum, coal, or natural gas,
derived from the accumulated
remains of ancient plants and
animals and used as fuel. Carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse
gases generated by burning fossil
fuels are considered to be one of
the principal causes of global
warming. It is considered non‐
renewable resource.
Fossil fuel ‐ Coal

Glossary

A very harsh, bright, dazzling light that

interferes with visibility.

Glare

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Glossary

Non‐industrial wastewater generated from

domestic processes such as dish washing, laundry
and bathing. Some states and local authorities
allow kitchen sink water to be included in gray
water. Check local codes in order to comply with
local regulations.

Gray water

Glossary

A piece of previously
undeveloped land, in a
city or rural area,
either currently used
for agriculture,
landscape design, or
just left to nature.

Greenfield

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Glossary

A soil‐ and vegetation‐based approach to wet

weather management that is cost‐effective,
sustainable, and environmentally friendly. This
method infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and
reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural
hydrologies.

Green Infrastructure

Glossary

A subset of renewable energy composed of grid‐

based electricity produced from renewable
energy sources

Green Power

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Glossary

Vehicles achieving a minimum green score

of 45 on the American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual
vehicle rating guide (or a local equivalent
for projects outside the U.S.).

Green Vehicles

Glossary

Purchase price of a hard asset such as land,

building, inventory, equipment or machine,
as opposed to accounting, banking,
financing, or legal cost.

Construction cost

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Rainwater that has been collected for uses such

as landscaping irrigation, toilet flushing, or other
non‐potable water uses.

Harvested rainwater

Glossary

The absorption of heat by

hardscapes, such as dark, non‐
reflective pavement and buildings,
and its radiation to surrounding
areas. Particularly in urban areas,
other sources may include vehicle
exhaust, air‐conditioners, and
street equipment; reduced airflow
from tall buildings and narrow
streets exacerbates the effect.
Heat island effect

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

A structure designed to conserve

water and energy; use space,
materials, and resources efficiently;
minimize construction waste; and
create a healthful indoor environment.

High‐performance bldg

Glossary

It is a group of buildings, structures,

objects, and sites that have been
designated or determined to be
eligible as historically and
architecturally significant, and
categorized as either contributing or
noncontributing to the historic nature
of the district.

Historic District

36
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Vehicle which has both a gas powered

engine and an electric engine to
achieve better fuel economy and lower
emissions.

Hybrid vehicle

Glossary

Equipment, distribution systems,

and terminals that provide the
processes of heating, ventilating, or
air‐conditioning. (ASHRAE Standard
90.1‐2007). These systems seek to
provide thermal comfort and
acceptable indoor air quality.

HVAC

37
 10/23/2014

Glossary

Mainly artificial structures – such

as pavements (roads, sidewalks,
driveways and parking lots) that are
covered by impenetrable materials
such as asphalt, concrete, brick,
and stone‐ and rooftops. Soils
compacted by urban development
are also highly impervious. These
surfaces promote stormwater
runoff instead of absorption into
Impervious pavement ground.

Glossary

The air quality within buildings as it relates to the

health and comfort of building occupants.
(ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – 2007)

Indoor air quality

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Uncontrolled inward air leakage to conditioned

spaces through unintentional openings in
ceilings, floors, and walls from unconditioned
spaces or the outdoors caused by the same
pressure differences that induce exfiltration.

Infiltration

Glossary

The incident luminous flux density on a differential

element of surface located at a point and oriented in a
particular direction, expressed in lumens per unit area.
Since the area involved is differential, it is customary to
refer to this as illuminance at a point. The unit name
depends on the unit of measurement for area:
footcandles if square feet are used for area, and lux if
square meters are used. (Adapted from IES) In lay terms,
illuminance is a measurement of light striking a surface. It
is expressed in footcandles in the U.S. (based on square Illuminance
feet) and in lux in most other countries (based on square
meters).

39
 10/23/2014

Glossary

All the individuals involved in a building project

from early in the design process, including the
design professionals, the owner’s representatives,
and the general contractor and subcontractor.

Integrated design team

Glossary

Nonnative vegetation that has been introduced to

an area and that aggressively adapts and
reproduces. The plant’s vigor combined with a
lack of natural enemies often leads to outbreak
populations.

Invasive Plant

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Glossary

LEED: LEED is a third party certification program and the

nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction
and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED category: A subset of the LEED Rating system. Each

rating system has six different green building categories.

LEED prerequisite: a required LEED Green building rating

system component whose achievement is mandatory and
does not earn any points.

LEED credit: An optional LEED Green building rating system

component whose achievement results in the earning of
points toward certification.

Glossary

LEED intent: part of the LEED rating system. Specifies the

environmental goal of each LEED credit.

LEED online: the online software used to manage the entire

LEED project certification process and manage credits.

LEED credit checklist: Excel spreadsheet that helps project

teams track their credits against requirements for
certification.

LEED Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR): ruling process for

project applicants seeking technical and administrative
guidance on how LEED credits apply to their projects and vice
versa. (USGBC)

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

LEED Charrette: a collaborative session where building

stakeholders and building experts address design and project
issues early in the building process.

LEED rating system: encourages and accelerates global

adoption of sustainable green building and development
practices through the creation and implementation of
universally understood and accepted tools and performance
criteria. (USGBC). There are multiple rating systems
depending on the type of building project.

LEED points: A LEED rating is achieved through earning

points in each of the six LEED categories.

Glossary

LEED project boundary: the portion of the project site

submitted for LEED certification. For multiple building
developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of
the development as determined by the project team.

LEED rating system: provide a consistent source of sound

technical advice with respect to products, tools and services.
TAGs act in an advisory capacity in responding to credit
interpretation requests (CIRs), credit rulings and credit ruling
appeals while maintaining consistency, integrity and technical
rigor in the development of LEED. (USGBC)

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

LEED requirements and submittals: Each LEED credit has

requirements that must be met and documentation that must
be submitted to prove the credit requirements were met.

LEED Technical Advisory Groups (TAG): provide a consistent

source of sound technical advice with respect to products,
tools, services. TAGs act in an advisory capacity in responding
to credit interpretation requests (CIRs), credit rulings and credit
ruling appeals while maintaining consistency, integrity and
technical rigor in the development of LEED. (USGBC)

Glossary

(LCA, also known as life cycle assessment,

ecobalance, and cradle‐to‐grave analysis) is
the investigation and valuation of the
environmental impacts of a given product
or service caused or necessitated by its
evidence.

Life‐cycle‐costing: evaluates a product’s

‘economic performance’. This differs from
life cycle assessment which evaluates a
LCA products ‘environmental impact.’

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Excessive or obtrusive artificial light that

obscures the stars in the night sky for city
dwellers, interferes with astronomical
observatories, and like any other form of
pollution, disrupts ecosystems and has
adverse health effects.

Light pollution

Glossary

Obtrusive illumination that is unwanted

because of quantitative, directional, or
spectral attributes. Light trespass can
cause annoyance, discomfort,
distraction, or loss of visibility.

Light trespass

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

An intentional action by a utility to

reduce the load on the system. Load
shedding is usually conducted during
emergency periods, such as capacity
shortages, system instability, or
voltage control.

Load Shedding

Glossary

An approach to managing rainwater runoff that

emphasizes on‐site natural features to protect
water quality, by replicating the natural land
cover hydrologic regime of watersheds, and
addressing runoff close to its source. Examples
include minimizing land disturbance, preserving
vegetation, minimizing impervious cover, rain
gardens, vegetated swales and buffers,
permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, soil
amendments.

Low Impact Development

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Water that is fed into a cooling tower system or

evaporative condenser to replace water lost
through evaporation, drift, bleed‐off, or other
causes

Makeup Water

Glossary

Passenger transportation services which are

available for use by the general public, such as
trains, subways, and busses.

Mass transit

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Glossary

White and colored paper, envelopes, forms,

file folders, tablets, flyers, cereal boxes,
wrapping paper, catalogs, magazines, phone
books, and photos.

Mixed Paper

Glossary

Native plants are adapted to local conditions and

are easier to grow and maintain. They are non‐
invasive. This low‐maintenance approach means
savings in both time and money. Once
established, native plants better withstand
variations in local climate such as droughts and
freezes.

Native plants

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Glossary

Water that is not treated to drinking water

standards and is not meant for human
consumption.

Non‐potable water

Glossary

A natural resource that cannot be produced, re‐

grown, regenerated, or reused on a scale which
can sustain its consumption rate. These resources
often exist in a fixed amount, or are consumed
much faster than nature can recreate them. Eg.
Fossil fuel and nuclear fuel.

Non‐renewable ‐ Coal

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The slow release of a gas that was trapped or

adsorbed in some material. Off‐gassing can be
significant if it collects in a closed environment
where air is stagnant or recirculated and the gas
has negative health effects.

Off‐gassing ‐ paints

Glossary

Pavement that is less than 50% impervious

and contains vegetation in the open cells

Open grid pavement

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

The percentage of the surface area of a paving

material that is open and allows moisture to pass
through the material and soak into the ground
below.

Perviousness

Glossary

The slow release of a gas that

was trapped or adsorbed in
some material. Off‐gassing can
be significant if it collects in a
closed environment where air is
stagnant or recirculated and the
gas has negative health effects.

PV panel

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Any substance introduced into

the environment that adversely
affects the usefulness of a
resource or the health of
humans, animals, or
ecosystems. (EPA) Air pollutants
include emissions of carbon
dioxide, sulfer dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, mercury, small
Pollutant particulates, and large
particulates.

Glossary

A waste type produced by the end consumer

of a material stream; that is, where the waste‐
producing use did not involve the production
of another product. Examples include
construction and demolition debris, yard
waste, and materials from curbside recycling
program (aluminum cans, newspapers, plastic
bottles, milk jugs).

Post consumer recycled content

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Water that meets or exceeds EPA’s drinking water quality

standards and is approved for human consumption by the
state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be
supplied from wells or municipal water systems.

Potable water

Glossary

Content form industry scraps that was diverted

from waste stream and used for other
purposes. Examples include sawdust, wood
shavings, wood chips, and print overruns.
Excluded are materials that are re‐incorporated
into the same manufacturing process that
generated it.

Pre‐consumer recycled content

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

Land that has the best physical and chemical

characteristics for producing food, feed, forage,
fiber, and oilseed crops and that is available for
these uses, as determined by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service.

Prime farmland

Glossary

Water that is used for industrial processes and

building systems, such as cooling towers, boilers, and
chillers. It can also refer to water used in operational
processes, such as dishwashing, clothes washing, and
ice making..

Process Water

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 10/23/2014

Glossary

A stormwater management feature

consisting of an excavated depression and
vegetation that collect and infiltrate runoff
and reduce peak discharge rates.

Rain garden

Glossary

Materials and products are made from plants that are

typically harvested within a ten‐year cycle or shorter and
are grown and harvested sustainably.

Rapidly renewable ‐ Bamboo

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Glossary

Wastewater that has been

treated and purified for reuse.

Reclaimed Water

Glossary

A compound used in refrigerators/ freezers and

air conditioners to lower temperatures.

Refrigerant

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Glossary

Energy generated from

natural resources – such as
sunlight, wind, tides, and
geothermal heat –which are
naturally replenished.

Renewable energy‐ wind

Glossary

Also known as Green tags, renewable energy

credits, or tradable renewable certificates (TRCs),
are tradable environmental commodities in the
United States which represent proof that unit of
electricity was generated from an eligible
renewable energy resource. RECs are sold
separately from electricity itself and thus allow the
purchase of green power by a user of
conventionally generated electricity.

REC

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Glossary

Construction materials recovered

from building sites and reused on
different building sites in the same or
different capacity. Examples can
include flooring, brick, cabinets,
decorative items, beams, and doors.

Salvaged material

Glossary

Indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the

generation of purchased electricity, heating/cooling, or
steam off site, through a utility provider for the entity’s
consumption.

Scope 2 Emissions

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Glossary

Used to describe situations in which building occupants

experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to
be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness
or cause can be identified. Complaints may be localized in
a particular room or zone or be spread throughout the
building. (EPA)

SBS

Glossary

An expense item that is not considered

direct construction cost. Soft costs
include architectural, engineering,
financing, and legal fees, and other pre‐
and post‐ construction expenses.

Soft cost

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Glossary

Solar Reflectance (aka albedo) is a measure of a

material’s ability to reflect sunlight on a scale of 0
to 1. An albedo value of 0.0 indicates that surface
absorbs all solar radiation, and a 1.0 albedo value
represents total reflectivity.
Solar reflectance

Solar Reflective Index (SRI): a value that incorporates both solar reflectance and
emittance in a single value to represent a material’s temperature in the sun. SRI
quantifies how hot a surface would get relative to standard black and standard white
surfaces. It is expressed as a fraction (0.0 to 1.0) or percentage (0% to 100%).
Materials with highest SRI values are the coolest choices for paving.

Glossary

A set of uniformity criteria that ensure consistent

intelligibility and directionality of audible
frequencies for all occupants within a space.

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Glossary

The distribution of
acoustic energy as a
function of frequency
for human speech.

Glossary

Water from precipitation that flows over surfaces into

sewer systems or receiving water bodies. All
precipitation that leaves project site boundaries on the
surface is considered storm water runoff.

Storm water runoff

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Glossary

Meeting the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs (EPA)

Sustainability

Glossary

The stewardship and use of forest

lands in a way, and at a rate, that
maintains their biodiversity,
productivity, regeneration
capacity, vitality and their
potential to fulfill, now and in the
future, relevant ecological,
economic and social functions, at
local, national, and global levels,
and that does not cause damage
Sustainable forestry to other ecosystem.

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Glossary

The use of environmentally preferred products

for goods and services.

Sustainable purchasing

Glossary

Provides the information needed to understand, operate,

and maintain the systems and assemblies within a
building. It expands the scope of the traditional operating
and maintenance documentation and is compiled of
multiple documents developed during the commissioning
process, such as the owner’s project requirements,
operation and maintenance manuals, and sequences of
operation.

Systems Manual

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Glossary

Human thermal comfort is defined by ASHRAE as

the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with
the surrounding environment (ASHRAE Standard
55). Maintaining thermal comfort for occupants
of buildings or other enclosures is one of the
important goals of HVAC design engineers.

Thermal comfort

Glossary

A roof of a building that is

partially or completely
covered with vegetation and
soil, or a growing medium
planted over a waterproofing
membrane.

Vegetated roof

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Glossary

The glass portion of an exterior window that

permits views to the exterior or interior. Vision
glazing must allow a clear image of the exterior
and must not be obstructed by frits, fibers,
patterned glazing, or added tints that distort
color balance.

Vision Glazing

Glossary

Compounds that have a high vapor pressure and

low water solubility. Many VOCs are human‐
made chemicals that are used and produced in
the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and
refrigerants.

VOC ‐ paints

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Glossary

The conversion of nonrecyclable waste

materials into usable heat, electricity, or
fuel through a variety of processes,
including combustion, gasification,
pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and
landfill gas (LFG) recovery.

Waste to energy 

Glossary

The spend or used waster from

a home, community, farm, or
industry that contains dissolved
or suspended matter. (EPA)

Waste water

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Glossary

Water budget is a project‐specific method

of calculating the amount of water
required by the building and associated
grounds. It takes into account indoor,
outdoor, process, and makeup water
demands and any on site supply including
estimated rainfall. Water budgets must be
associated with a specified amount of
time, such as a week, month, or year and a
quantity of water such as kGal, or liters.
Sample Water Budget

Glossary

Wetland

Wetland is an area that is inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a

frequency and duration sufficient to support vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and
similar areas, but exclude irrigation ditches unless delineated as part of an adjacent
wetland.

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Glossary

A landscaping method that makes

routine irrigation unnecessary by
using drought‐adaptable and low‐
water plants, as well as soil
amendments such as compost and
mulches to reduce evaporation.

Xeriscaping

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