Terms Flashcards
acid rain
precipitation that is unusually acidic. It has harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Mostly caused by human emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds which react in the atmosphere and produce acid.
adaptive plants
non-native plants that use fertilizer, pesticides and water in a given landscape. They are not considered invasive.
adaptive reuse
adaptive reuse is the process of adapting old structures for purposes other than initially intended.
agrifiber product
products made from agricultural fiber such as wheat board and straw board.
air conditioning
a system or process for controlling the temperature, humidity, and sometime the purity of the air in an interior space (office, warehouse)
air quality standards
The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations that are not to be exceeded during a given time in a defined area?
airbone pollutant
Any substance in the air that could, in high enough concentration, harm man, other animals, vegetation, or material
albedo
A material’s ability to reflect sunlight measured on a scale of 0 (black) to 1 (white). A value of 0.0 indicates that the surface absorbs all solar radiation and a value of 1.0 represents total reflectivity.
alternative fuel vehicle
any method of powering an engine that does not involve solely gas.
ambient temperature
temperature of the surrounding air or other medium (EPA)
aquifer
an underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, silt, or clay) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well.
ASHRAE
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is an international technical society for all individuals and organizations interested in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration.
baseline building performance
Total building energy costs annually. This value is used to compare against design cases to compare energy savings.
baseline vs. design
The comparison between a standard gage and the estimated in a building’s design scenario. In LEED, the baseline usually refers to the EPAct of 1992 water flow and flush rates.
biodegradable
capable of being decomposed by natural agents, mainly bacteria
biodiversity
the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem or for the entire Earth
biofuel
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
biomass
renewable energy source, refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel.
bioswale
Are landscape elements designed to slow the flow of rainwater and increase groundwater recharge while also removing silt and pollution from surface runoff water.
blackwater
Wastewater generated from toilet flushing and sometimes kitchen sinks
British Thermal Units (BTU)
A term used to describe the heating or cooling capacity of a system or fuels.
brownfields
previously developed or redeveloped land that may be contaminated.
building codes
a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures.
building commissioning
Is the process of verifying in a new construction, that all the systems and subsystems are efficiently designed and installed properly to achieve the owner’s project requirements and as designed by the building architects and engineers.
building density
floor area of the building divided by the total area of the site, computed as square ft per acre.
building footprint
The area of the building as defined by the perimeter of the structure (parking lots not included)
building related illness
When symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
built environment
the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in a scale from personal shelter and buildings to neighborhoods and cities
byproduct
Material, other than the principal product, generated as a consequence of an industrial process or as a breakdown product in a living system.
carbon dioxide
A colorless, odorless gas that is present in the atmosphere and is formed when any fuel containing carbon is burned.
carbon footprint
an assessment of the greenhouse gases emitted by a particular organization, project, or activity.
carbon neutrality
achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing the carbon footprint with an equivalent amount of sequestered or offset of greenhouse gases
carpool
when two or more people share a ride in the same vehicle
chiller
part of refrigeration systems, a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle.
chloroflurocarbons
Any of various halocarbon compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, once used widely as aerosol propellants and refrigerants
closed system
A system with a closed loop, which is thought to be more sustainable
commingled recycling
when all recyclables for collection are mixed but kept separate from other waste
commissioning
systematic process of assuring that a building and its systems performs in accordance with the design intent and the owners requirements
commissioning plan
document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources, and documentation requirements of the commissioning process.
commissioning report
documentation of the results of the commissioning process, including the as-built state of the HVAC system and any unresolved issues
compact flourescent lamp (CFL)
a type of fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp and fit into existing light fixtures formerly used for incandescent bulbs,
composite wood
wood manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers or veneers of wood together with adhesives to form composite materials
conservation
the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion
construction and demolition debris
Waste building materials, dredging materials, tree stumps, and rubble resulting from construction
construction and waste management plan
Administration and procedural requirements for salvaging, recycling and disposing of non-hazardous demolition and construction waste.
conventional irrigation
watering using above ground sprinkler heads
cooling tower
heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere.
cradle to cradle
a term used to describe the life-cycle analysis conducted on a product’s ability to recycle into a new product at the end of its useful life
cradle to grave
the linear view of the life of a product from creation to disposal
credit interpretation rulings
process for project teams to obtain technical guidance on how LEED requirements pertain to their projects
corporate sustainability report CSR
a third party verified report that includes info on how the manufacturer extracts or sources materials.
custodial effectiveness assessments
a survey of building occupants that ask questions about the green cleaning program, and helps determine if occupants are exposed to pollutants.
demand response
A resource that allows end-use electric customers to reduce their electricity usage in a given time period
diversion rate
the percentage of waste materials diverted from traditional disposal such as landfilling or incineration to be recycled composted or reused.
diverse use
a distinct officially recognized business, non-profit , civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units or offices.
drip irrigation
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
dry pond (detention pond)
used to store excess rainwater. Dry ponds are basins whose outlets have been designed to detain rainwater runoff for some minimum time. The rainwater will slowly seep into the ground to recharge aquifers
ecosystem
A collection of living things and the environment in which they live.
embodied energy
all the energy used to grow, extract and manufacture a product
emergent properties
properties or patterns that a complex has, but which the individual members do not have. The end result is that the system now has more than just the sum of its parts.
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
energy conservation
any behavior that results in the use of less energy
energy management system
A control system capable of monitoring environmental and system loads and adjusting HVAC operations accordingly in order to conserve energy
energy star portfolio
an interactive energy management tool for tracking and assessing energy and water consumption across the entire portfolio
energy star rating
Energy star is a program that was first developed in 1992 by the EPA as a method to identify and promote energy efficient products
energy use intensity EUI
a unit of measurement that describes a building’s energy use relative to its size.
environmental sustainability
Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations (EPA)
environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
Mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and smoke exhaled by the smoker.
environmentally preferable products
Products that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.
environment product declaration (EPD)
a statement that the item meets the environmental requirements of ISO 14021-1999, ISO 14025 2006, EN 15804, or ISO 21930 2007
environmental sustainability
long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations (EPA)
erosion
the carrying away or displacement of solids usually by the agents of currents such as wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement in response to gravity.
erosion and sedimentation control plan
a written plan that outlines strategies to reduce rainwater runoff for the purposes of reducing erosion, pollution and sedimentation of nearby bodies of water, especially important during construction where so much dirt, dust, and waster are present.
evapotranspiration
water leaving plants and soil and returning back to the atmosphere.
externality
A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the price of the goods or services.
feedback loop
information of a result of a system returning to the system so that the system can make appropriate changes.
fenestration
any opening in a building, such as windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, etc
floodplain
flat or nearly flat land adjacent to a stream or river that experiences occasional or periodic flooding
floor area ratio
the relationship between the total building floor area and the allowable land area the building can cover
flush-out
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.
fossil fuels
A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from the accumulated remains of ancient plants and animals and used as fuel.
gallons per flush
the unit of measurement by which flow rate of toilets and other flushing devices such as urinals are measured and regulated
gallons per minute
the unit of measurement by which flowing devices such as faucets and showers are measured.
global warming
An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth.
graywater
non-industrial wastewater generated from domestiv processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing.
green building
green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.
greenfield
a site that is underdeveloped and in a natural state or has been used for agriculture
greenhouse gases
A gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, which contributes to potential climate change
green cleaning
the use of environmentally-friendly ingredients and chemicals for household, manufacturing and industrial cleaning
green power
renewable energy such as solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal energy
green washing
advertising a product or policy to be more beneficial to the environment than is true
hard cost
purchase price of a hard asset such as masonry, wood, steel, carpet, tile, mechanical systems, roofing
hardscape
areas where the upper soil is no longer exposed, including paved areas, walkways fountains, etc.
harvested rainwater
rainwater that has been collected for uses such as landscaping irrigation, toilet flushing, or other non-potable water uses
health product declaration (HPD)
a standard format for reporting product content and associated health information for building products and materials
heat islands
air and surface temperature differences between developed and undeveloped areas
heat island effect
the ability of dark, non-reflective paved areas-city streets, rooftops, and sidewalks to absorb and radiate heat, making urban areas and the surrounding suburbs noticeably hotter than rural towns nearby.
high performance green building
a building that is energy efficient
hybrid vehicle
vehicle which has both a gas powered engine and an electric engine to achieve better fuel economy
HCFC
hydrochlorofluorocarbons that are used in refrigerants and propellants that are known to harm the ozone layer.
IBEAM -Indoor air quality building education and assessment model
guidance tool designed for use by building professionals to help manage in indoor air quality in commercial buildings which should be a part of indoor air quality management plans
Indoor environmental quality
the concept that takes into consideration all impacts of the indoor environment on human health and performance, including indoor air quality, etc.
indoor environmental quality management plan
a plan that takes into consideration all aspects of the indoor environment and documents strategies to protect the quality of spaces
infill development
development that occurs within established urban areas where the site or area either is a vacant place between other developments or has previously been used for another urban purpose.
integrative process
a comprehensive approach to building systems and equipment. Project teams look for synergies among systems and components.
integrated pest management IPM
the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
invasive plants
indigenous or exotic plants that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources.
irrigation efficiency
the percentage of water volume beneficially used by plants to the volume of water delivered through an irrigation system
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
how prerequisites and credits are grouped depending on the building type and rating system.
LEED CIR
ruling process for project applications seeking technical and administrative guidance on how LEED credits apply to their projects and vice versa
LEED Project boundary
the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification.
LEED Techincal Advisory Group TAG
provide a consistent source of sound technical advice with respect to products, tools, and services
life cycle assessment (LCA)
the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service
life cycle costing (LCC)
the evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, maintenance, repair and replacement costs as well as savings LCC evaluates economic performance
light pollution
excessive or obtrusive artificial light that obscures the stars in the night sky for city dwellers, interferes with astronomical observatories, etc.
light trespass
light that passes beyond the project boundary
load shedding
action to reduce the load on something, especially the interruption of an electricity supply to avoid excessive load on the generating plant
low impact development (LID)
An approach to land development that works with nature to manage rainwater as close to its source as possible
market transformation
systematic improvements in a market or segment of a market to achieve a lasting share of energy-efficient products and services, ie High Efficiency washers replacing regular washing machines in the US
mass transit
passengers transportation services which are available for use by the general public such as trains
material reuse
a different term from adaptive reuse because materials are reused in a way that is the same or similar to how it was used before
MERV/Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value
standard comparison of the efficiency of an air filter. The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 16
metering
measuring the amount of resources used over a period of time
Montreal Protocol
an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of CFCs by 2010 and HCFCs by 2030
Native or indigenous plants
Native plants are adapted to local conditions and are easier to grow and maintain.
natural or indigenous plants
native plants are adapted to local conditions and are easier to grow and maintain.
natural ventilation
uses the natural forces of wind and buoyancy to deliver fresh air into buildings
negative feedback loop
a system where the output may signal the system to stop changing thermostat
nested system
systems within systems that are related because they affect and effect each other
net-zero energy
a project that can produce all the energy it requires on site yet still might be connected to the regular utility grid.
nonpoint source pollution
pollution of water generally results from multiple sources vs just one source.
non-potable water
water that is not treated to drinking water standards and is not meant for human consumption
non-renewable resource
a natural resource that cannot be produced, regrown, 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.
off-gassing (outgassing)
the slow release of a gas that was trapped or absorbed in some material.
on site wastewater treatment
Using local systems to treat waste generated on site and avoid adding waste to public facilities
open system
a system that constantly takes in items from outside the system, used them and then released them as waste.
open grid pavement
pavement that is less than 50% impervious and contains vegetation in the open cells
open space
ground areas that are vegetated and pervious. Sometimes green roofs
ozone
A gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is not usually emitted directly into the air, but at ground level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and VOCs in the presence of sunlight
passive design
building design that takes advantage of the local climate to provide some or all of the heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation needs
peak demand
the maximum electricity load at a specific point in time
performance monitoring
A continuous process of collecting and analyzing data to compare how well a project is working against expected results of the project based on performance indicators
positive feedback loop
system where a energy is taken from the output of a system and reapplied to the input. IE: adults make children who in turn make more adults
post-consumer material
recycled material generated from the waste of household, commercial, industrial, or institutional end-users
post-consumer recycled content
the percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste.
potable water
water is of sufficiently high quality so that it can be consumed or utilized without risk of immediate or long term harm by humans or animals.
pre-consumer content
content from industry scraps that was diverted from the waste stream and used for other purposes. IE: sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips, print overruns
process water
water used for building systems such as boiler feed water, cooling water for heat exchangers, chillers, etc.
prime farmland
previously undeveloped land that is suited for agriculture
rain garden
similar to a bioswale, a depression with vegetation that filters and slows down rainwater to reduce peak discharge rates
rainwater harvesting
the process of collecting, storing, and using rainwater
rapidly renewable materials
materials and products are made from plants that are typically harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter and are grown and harvested sustainably
regenerative
similar to cradle to cradle, process that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.
refrigerant
substances used to transfer heat during the mechanical cooling process within air conditioning and refrigerator systems
regional material
material that is sourced and manufactured within 500 miles of the project
renewable energy
energy generated from natural resources
REC/ renewable energy certificate
Green Tags/Renewable Energy Credits/ Tradable Renewable Certificates are tradable environmental commodities in the US which represent proof that 1 MWh of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy source
retrocomissioning
when an existing building undergoes the commissioning process to discover if improvements or changes should be made to improve the building.
sick building syndrome
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.
site disturbance
the areas of the project that is impacted by construction activity LEED project should attempt to limit site distrubance
smart growth
developing in areas near transportation, housing, and jobs therefore leaving open space and farmland free from development
soft cost
an expense item that is not considered a direct construction cost
solid waste management policy
plan that identifies a diversion rate goal and covers how waste will be either disposed or reused or recycled by addressing sorting, collection and final disposal of items in an existing building
solar reflectance
the fraction of solar energy that is reflected by a surface on a scale of 0 to 1
solar reflectance index
a measure of the constructed surface’s ability to stay cool in the sun by reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation. Scale 0 to 100
street grid density
centerline miles/square mile, a centerline mile is measuring a particular road down its center. Higher street grid densities are beneficial for pedestrians
submeter
meters placed on smaller portions of a larger system, ie submeters monitoring water use on each floor of a project
sustainable purchasing policy
gives preference to the purchase of environmentally preferable products and the companies that supply them.
system thinking
viewing the world as an interrelated set of systems that can influence one another.
transportation demand management
an attempt to reduce peak period transportation use such as flex time in which employees may come to work before or after rush hour
triple bottom line
an expanded baseline for measuring performance, adding social and environmental dimensions to the traditional profit measure, so decisions are viewed in the long term with their impacts on people, planet, and profit
U.S. Green Building Council
a member-based non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, buildt, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
value engineering
a review process that identifies and selects the lowest lifecycle cost options in design, materials and processes that achieves the desired level of performance, reliability and customer satisfaction
ventilation rate
the rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building, usually expressed in LEED as the number of changes of outdoor air per hour
volatile organic compound
compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility and therefore can enter the air easily
wastewater
the spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains suspended matter
water balance
an accounting of all water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water;s quality
water pollution
the presence in water of enough harmful or objectionable material to damage the water’s equality
waste diversion
waste materials diverted from traditional disposal such as landfills or incinerators to be recycled, composted or re-used.
waste to energy
the conversion of non recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas.
wet pond (retention pond)
a pond designed to bold a specific amount of water indefinitely
xeriscaping
landscaping and gardening in ways that eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation.
Daily averages
All the occupants of a given type for typical 24 hour day of operation
Daily averages
All the occupants of a given type for typical 24 hour day of operation
Peak totals
Peak totals are measured at the moment in a typical 24 hr period when the highest number of a given occupant type is present.
basis of design
the information necessary to accomplish the owner’s project requirements, including system descriptions, indoor environmental quality criteria, design assumptions, and references to applicable codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines
cradle-to-gate assessment
analysis of a product’s partial life cycle, from resource extraction (cradle) to the factory gate (before it is transported for distribution and sale). It omits the use and the disposal phases of the product.
densely occupied space
n area with a design occupant density of 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet (93 square meters)
grams per brake horsepower hour
metric used to communicate how many grams of emissions (e.g., nitrogen oxide or particulate matter) are emitted by an engine of a specific horsepower rating over a one-hour period
regularly used exterior entrance
a frequently used means of gaining access to a building. Examples include the main building entrance as well as any building entryways attached to parking structures, underground parking garages, underground pathways, or outside spaces. Atypical entrances, emergency exits, atriums, connections between concourses, and interior spaces are not included.
thermal emmitance
Thermal emittance is the ability of a surface to shed thermal radiation.
