Definitions Flashcards
Evapotranspiration
Evapotranspiration is the loss of water by evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants
Hard costs
Prices of hard assets that are direct construction costs
Examples: land, equipment, building materials
Soft costs
Expenses that are not considered a direct construction cost.
Examples: Engineering fees, architect fees, legal fees
Evapotranspiration Rate
The amount of water necessary to grow a plant
Eutrophication
The ecosystem’s response to excess chemicals from fertilizers or sewage
What are bio-based materials?
Products meeting the Sustainable Agricultural Standard
Heat Island Effect
Absorption of heat by dark, non-reflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas
Montreal Protocol
International treaty that agreed to:
1) Phase out CFCs by 2010
2) Phase out HCFCs by 2030
Potable Water
Meets or exceeds EPA’s standards for drinking water quality and is approved for human consumption.
Process Water
Used for industrial processes and building systems.
Ex: Boilers, cooling towers, clothes washers and chillers
Non-process (Regulated) Energy
1) Lighting
2) HVAC
3) Service Water Heating
4) Chillers
5) Boilers
Emittance
The ratio of emissivity between the object being reviewed and a perfect blackbody.
(between 0 and 1)
Ex: This objects emittance is .1 of a blackbody.
Emissivity
The measure of an objects ability to emit infrared energy. From 0 (mirror) to 1 (blackbody).
Ex: This objects emissivity is .5 overall.
Albedo
Ability of a surface to reflect sunlight (0 to 1)
Also known as reflectance.
What are Diverse Use spaces?
Spaces that have multiple uses.
Ex: Supermarkets, Pharmacy (w/ grocery), Gym (w/ childcare), Community facilities
(with 100+ full time jobs may be counted 2x)
Hydrozone
The practice of clustering plants with similar water needs in an effort to save water.
Graywater
Untreated water that has not come in contact with toilet waste. Governed by Uniform Plumbing Code
Ex) Bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, laundry machines but NOT kitchen sinks or dishwashers
Blackwater
Wastewater from toilets and urinals
Process Energy Examples
Office equipment, computers, laundry washing and drying, kitchen cooking and refrigeration
Heat Island
Difference in thermal gradient between
developed and undeveloped areas
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
Ability of a surface to reject solar heat, on a scale of 0-100.
A combination of reflectance and emittance
What are inherently non- emitting materials?
Naturally occurring materials and products that are made from inorganic materials (e.g., granite)
emit either very low or no VOCs
What is district energy system?
Are networks of hot and cold water pipes, typically buried underground, that are used to efficiently heat and cool buildings using lessenergythan if the individual buildings were to each have their own boilers and chillers
What is gerrymandering?
A gerrymandering example would be the LEED project boundary excluding unreasonable sections or creating unreasonable shapes just to comply
with the credits or prerequisites
What is blowdown?
The removal of makeup water from a cooling tower or evaporative condenser
recirculation system to reduce concentrations of dissolved solids
Net metering
Selling excess energy generated by onsite renewables back to the utility
What is Certified Wood?
Wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Must have a Chain of Custody (COC) Certificate
What is PBT?
Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic