acronyms and glossary of terms - studio4...

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Acronyms, Abbreviations & Glossary of Terms

A c r o n y m s a n d G l o s s a r y o f T e r m s

Acronyms & Abbreviations »Glossary of Terms »

Acronyms and definitions that may be unfamiliar or have specific meanings in the context

of sustainability and green building, as defined by USGBC, EPA, ASHRAE, ANSI, SCAQMD, UPC, IPC, IECC and other universally accepted standards

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms

Acronyms & AbbreviationsACCA: Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACEEE: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

AE: Awareness and Education Section

AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

AIA: American Institute of Architects

AFV: Alternative Fueled Vehicle (hybrid-electric, electric, natural gas, bio-diesel, fuel cell)

ALP ENERGY STAR: Advanced Lighting Package

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials

BIPV: Building Integrated Photovoltaics (integrated with roof, spandrels, glazing, shading devices)

BOD: Biological Oxygen Demand (that which is created by the release of nitrogen rich wastewater)

CAE: Combined Annual Efficiency

CDVR: Corrected Design Ventilation Rate (design ventilation rate divided by the air change effectiveness)

CFA: Conditioned Floor Area

CFC: Chlorofluorocarbon (ozone depleting HVAC refrigerants)

CFL: Compact Fluorescent Light

CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute

CFR: U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

CGP: Construction General Permit

CIBSE: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers

CIR: USGBC Credit Interpretation Request

CIWMB: California Integrated Waste Management Board

CO: Carbon Monoxide

CO2: Carbon Dioxide

COC: Chain of Custody

COP: Coefficient of Performance

CRI: Carpet & Rug Institute

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CRS: Center for Resource Solutions

CSI: Construction Specifications Institute

CWA: Clean Water Act (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972)

CZ: Climate zone

DHW: Domestic Hot Water

DOE: U.S. Department of Energy

DU: Distribution Uniformity

EA: LEED Energy and Atmosphere section

ECB: Energy Cost Budget (ASHRAE 90.1 compliance path)

ECM: Energy Conservation Measure (design strategies intended to reduce energy use)

EEM: Energy Efficient Measure (interchangeable with ECM, term used in energy modeling tools

EER: Energy Efficiency Rating

EERE: U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

EF: Energy Factor

EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ETS: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (includes that which is spread through ventilation systems)

FEMA: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council

GBCI: Green Building Certification Institute

GPF: Gallons Per Flush

GPM : Gallons Per Minute

GWP: Global Warming Potential (rating of a gaseous substance’s contribution to greenhouse effects)

HCFC: Hydrochloroflourocarbon (alternative refrigerant that has reduced ozone depleting effects

HFC: Hydroflourocarbon (alternative refrigerant with no ozone depleting effects but some tradeoff)

HEPA: High-Efficiency Particle Absorbing

HERS: Home Efficiency Rating Standards

HET: High-Efficiency Toilet

HOA: Homeowner’s Association

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Acronyms & Glossary of TermsHSPF: Heating Season Performance Factor

HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

HVAC&R: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

IAP: ENERGY STAR with Indoor airPLUS

IAQ: Indoor Air Quality (with respect to human occupancy of a building)

ICC: International Code Council

ICF: Insulated Concrete Form

ID: LEED Innovation & Design section

IDR: Innovative Design Report

IECC: International Energy Conservation Code

IEQ: LEED Indoor Environmental Quality section

IESNA: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America

IPLV: Integrated Part Load Value (chiller efficiency including part load operation for a given cycle)

IPMVP: International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol, Inc.

IRC: International Residence Code

ISO: International Organization for Standardization

KW: Kilowatt

KWH: Kilowatt-hour

LCA: Life Cycle Assessment (a full assessment of a material’s “cradle-to-grave” environmental impacts)

LED: Light-Emitting Diode

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design®

LEED AP: LEED Accredited Professional

LL: LEED Location and Linkages section (Homes)

MEF: Modified Energy Factor

MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (a measure of the effectiveness of air filtration media)

MR: LEED Materials & Resources section

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet (provides essential information on composition and hazards)

NFRC: National Fenestration Rating Council

NPDES: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

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NPS: Non-point Source

O&M: Operation and Maintenance

ODP: Ozone Depleting Potential (rating of a gaseous substance’s ability to destroy stratospheric ozone)

OSB: Oriented Strand Board

OSWER: U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response

RESNET: Residential Energy Services Network

SCAQMD: South Coast Air Quality Management District

SCS: Scientific Certification Systems

SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

SHGC: Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a particular glazing)

SIP: Structural Insulated Panels

SMACNA: Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association

SWPPP: Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

SRI: Solar Reflectance Index

SS: LEED Sustainable Sites section

TASC: Technical Advisory Subcommittee

TP: Total Phosphorous (phosphates, polyphosphates and orthophosphates in stormwater)

TSS: Total Suspended Solids (particles too small or light to be removed from a liquid by gravity settling

UL: Underwriter’s Laboratory

UBC: Uniform Building Code: The International Conference of Building Officials model building code

UPC: Uniform Plumbing Code

USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council

VAV: Variable Air Volume (ventilation system configuration differentiated from Constant Air Volume)

VOC: Volatile Organic Compound (hazardous substances that offgass from certain chemicals

WE: LEED Water Efficiency section

WF: Water Factor

WFA: Window-to-floor ratio

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Glossary of Termsacid rain: precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing of the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants (e.g., primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapor

active ventilation: synonymous with mechanical ventilation

adapted (introduced) plants: non-native plants that survive in a habitat while requiring minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization or irrigation and are considered low maintenance and non-invasive

adaptive reuse: renovating a space to use for a different purpose

adhesives: any chemical substance that is applied for the purpose of bonding two surfaces together other than by mechanical means

accessory dwelling unit: a subordinate dwelling unit that is attached to a principal building or contained in a separate structure on the same property as the principal unit

adjacent site: a site having at least 25% of its boundary bordering parcels that are each at least 75% previously developed; a street or other right-of-way does not constitute previously developed land; instead, it is the status of the property on the other side of the street or right-of-way that matters; any fraction of the boundary that borders waterfront other than a stream is excluded from the calculation; a site is still considered adjacent if the 25% adjacent portion of its boundary is separated from previously developed parcels by undeveloped, permanently protected land averaging no more than 400 feet in width and no more than 500 feet in any one place; the undeveloped land must be permanently preserved as natural area, riparian corridor, park, greenway, agricultural land, or designated cultural landscape; permanent pedestrian paths connecting the project through the protected parcels to the bordering site may be counted to meet the requirement of SLL Prerequisite 1, Option 2 (that the project be connected to the adjacent parcel by a through-street or nonmotorized right-of-way every 600 feet on average, provided the path or paths traverse the undeveloped land at no more than a 10% grade for walking by persons of all ages and physical abilities)

aerosol adhesive: an adhesive packaged as an aerosol product in which the spray mechanism is permanently housed in a non-refillable can designed for hand-held application without the need for ancillary hoses or spray equipment

agrifibre: agricultural fibers such as wheat, straw, cereal straw, sugarcane bagasse, sunflower husk, walnut shells, coconut husks

agrifibre board: a composite panel product derived from recovered agricultural waste fiber and mixed together with a resin; to meet credit requirements, the products must be inside the building’s weatherproofing system, composite components used in assemblies must be included and the product must be part of the base building system

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alley: a publicly accessible right-of-way, generally located midblock, that can accommodate slow-speed motor vehicles, as well as bicycles and pedestrians; an alley provides access to the side or rear of abutting properties for loading, parking, and other service functions, minimizing the need for these functions to be located along streets. It may be publicly dedicated or privately owned and deeded in perpetuity for general public use

air conditioning: the process of controlling the temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution of the air of a conditioned space

air handling units (AHUs): an air handler, or air handling unit (AHU), is a device used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system

airborne pollutant: airborne chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms or damages the natural environment

albedo: (aka Solar Reflectance); the reflectance of sunlight; higher values equal higher reflectivity, lower values equal lower reflectivity

alternative daily cover: materials other than soil used as a temporary overlay on an exposed landfill face; generally, these materials must be processed so that they do not allow gaps in the face surface, which would provide breeding grounds for insects and vermin

alternative fuel vehicle: a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than traditional petroleum fuels (petrol or diesel); also refers to any technology of powering an engine that does not involve solely petroleum (e.g., electric car, hybrid electric vehicles, solar powered)

ambient temperature: temperature of the surrounding air

anticorrosive paint: a paint formulated with a corrosive-resistant pigment (e.g., lead chromate, zinc chromate, red lead) and a chemical and moisture resistant binder; used to protect iron and steel surfaces

applicant: the entity that prepares the LEED-ND project submission and is responsible for project implementation. An applicant may be the developer or another cooperating entity

aquatic ecosystems: a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit within water

aquifer: a subsurface water-bearing layer that will yield water in a usable quantity to a well or spring

architectural porous sealant primer: any material intended for application to a substrate, prior to the application of a sealant, to enhance the bonding surface substances or coatings on porous materials

area median income: the median income of a county as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

area weighted SRI: area calculation of roofs with more than one surface type to determine if the actual total roof area has an average SRI equal to or greater than that of a baseline roof where 75% of the surfaces have an SRI value of 78 and 25% have an SRI value of 30%

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsassembly recycled content: includes the percentages of post-consumer and pre-consumer content; the percentage is calculated by dividing the weight of the recycled content by the overall weight of the assembly

attendance boundary: determines which students attend what school based on where they live within the school district

audiovisual (A/V) media: relating to materials, such as films, slides, video, and sound recordings, that present information in audible and pictorial form

automatic fixture sensors: hard wired or battery operated motion sensors that automatically turn on/off water using fixtures; (e.g., lavatories, sinks, water closets, urinals)

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers

bake out: process of removing VOCs from a building by elevating the temperature in order to accelerate off-gassing

balancing damper: an adjustable plate that adjusts the air flow in HVAC ducts

baseline building performance: annual energy costs of a building for use as a baseline and compared to design options for determining energy savings

baseline case versus design case: amount of design case water saved over the baseline case amount; the baseline case is based on the Energy Policy Act or 1992 (EPAct 1992) for flush and flow rates

baseline irrigation water use: the quantity of conventional irrigation system water used

basis of design (BOD): information gathered to document the owner’s project requirements

bay: a component of a standard, rectilinear building design that is an open area defined by a building element such as columns

bedroom: a room used primarily for sleeping; in LEED for Homes it is any room or space that is intended to be used, or could be used, for sleeping purposes and meets local fire and building code requirements

Best Management Practice (BMP): a method, activity, maintenance procedure, or other management practice for reducing the amount of pollution entering a water body; the term originated from the rules and regulations developed pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act

bicycle network: a continuous network consisting of any combination of physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet wide; off-street bicycle paths or trails constructed before 2010 that are at least 8 feet wide for a two-way path and at least 5 feet wide for a one-way path; off-street bicycle paths or trails constructed in or after 2010 that are at least 10 feet wide for a two-way path and at least 5 feet wide for a one-way path; residential streets designed for a target speed of 25 miles per hour or slower; commercial or mixed-use streets designed for a target speed of 30 miles per hour or slower

bicycle racks: indoor or outdoor bicycle racks, bicycle lockers and indoor bicycle storage rooms

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biochemical oxygen demand: a chemical procedure for measuring the rate of dissolved oxygen by the biological organisms in a body of water; widely used as an indication of the quality of water

biodegradable: capable of being decomposed by bacteria

biodiversity: the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat, or in the world as a whole; (e.g., ecosystem diversity, species diversity, genetic diversity)

biofuel based energy systems: electrical power systems that run on a mixture of volatile, flammable hydrocarbons derived from plant material or animal waste and used as fuel derived from organic materials such as untreated wood waste, agricultural crops and residues, animal wastes, landfill gas and other organic waste

biological control: used for chemical or physical water treatment to inhibit bacterial growth in cooling towers; in agriculture, a method of controlling pests (e.g., insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases) that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms; it can be an important component of integrated pest management programs used for chemical or physical water treatment to inhibit bacterial growth in cooling towers

biomass: a renewable energy source, is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms, such as wood, waste, and alcohol fuels; commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce heat

bioswale: stormwater control feature that uses a combination of engineered basin, soils and vegetation to slow and detain stormwater

blackwater: wastewater from toilets and urinals; definitions vary where wastewater from kitchen sinks, showers and bathtubs are considered as blackwater under some jurisdictions

bleed off or blow down: removal of solids in a cooling tower by releasing the tower’s recirculating water

bleed off rate: the frequency of which bleed off occurs

block: land bounded by the project boundary, transportation or utility rights-of-way that may be publicly dedicated or privately owned and deeded in perpetuity for general public use, waterfront, and/or comparable land division features

borate: a chemical used as an insecticide to inhibit insect infestations in wood and used as a nontoxic wood preservative

breathing zone: part of an occupied room from 3 to 6 feet off the floor and more than 2 feet from walls or fixed air conditioning equipment

brownfield: normally sites which have previously been developed or used for some purpose which has ceased and whose former use resulted in potential pollution or the presence of hazardous substances

British thermal unit (Btu): amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water from 60° F to 61° F

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsbuild-out: the time at which all habitable buildings on the project are complete and ready for occupancy

buildable land: the portion of the site where construction can occur, including land voluntarily set aside and not constructed upon; when used in density calculations, buildable land excludes public rights-of-way and land excluded from development by codified law or LEED for Neighborhood Development prerequisites; an applicant may exclude additional land not exceeding 15% of the buildable land base defined above, provided the following conditions are present: the land is protected from residential and nonresidential construction by easement, deed restriction, or other enforceable legal instrument AND either 25% or more of the boundary of each contiguous parcel proposed for exclusion borders a water body or areas outside the project boundary that are protected by codified law; or ownership of, or management authority over, the exclusion area is transferred to a public entity

Building Automation Systems (BAS): systems that use computer controls to monitor and control building subsystems for maximum operating efficiency and reporting

building density: the total floor area of the building (all levels) divided by the total area of the site (sf per acre)

building engineer: engineering professional experienced in the operation and maintenance of the building’s plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems

building envelope: exterior surfaces of a building (e.g., walls, roof, windows, floor); also referred to as the building shell

building footprint: area of the building structure as determined by the perimeter of the building plan, which is typically the foundation walls; hardscapes, landscaping and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint

building operating plan: document covering the intended operation of each building base system (aka Owner’s Operating Requirements); uses a daily schedule that encompasses Monday thru Sunday plus holidays

built environment: man-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from personal shelter to neighborhoods to the large-scale civic surroundings

byproduct: material, other than the principal material, that is generated as a consequence of an industrial process or as a breakdown product in a living system

bus rapid transit: an enhanced bus system that operates on exclusive bus lanes or other transit rights-of-way; it is designed to combine the flexibility of buses with the efficiency of rail

campus or private bus: privately owned and operated bus or shuttle service providing non-public transportation; in LEED, a campus or private bus line operating within 1/4 mile of the project site can contribute to earning points

cap and trade system: regulatory or management system that sets a target level for emissions or natural resource use and, after distributing shares in that quota, lets trading in those permits determine their price

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carbon dioxide (CO2): a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances; absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis

carbon dioxide levels (CO2): CO2 levels that indicate indoor ventilation effectiveness; compared to outdoor CO2 levels, concentrations above 530 ppm indicate inadequate ventilation, while concentrations above 800 ppm indicate poor air quality

carbon footprint: measure of greenhouse gas emissions 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

carpool: carpooling (also known as car-sharing or ride-sharing), is the shared use of a car by the driver and one or more passengers, usually for commuting

catchment: any structure or land feature which catches and holds stormwater

central vacuum system: also known as ducted vacuum cleaners, move the suction motor and bag to a central location in the building and provide vacuum inlets throughout the building: only the hose and pickup head need be carried from room to room; plastic piping connects the inlets to the central unit

certified wood: wood that has been issued a certificate from an independent organization with developed standards of good forest management, verifying harvesting from responsibly managed forests

chain-of-custody (CoC): certified chain-of-custody systems are used to ensure that wood comes from certified forests; they are established and audited according to rules set by the relevant forest certification system, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

chain of custody certification: method of verifying the possession, location, movements and of materials and products from their creation or collection through any point; verifies proper accounting of material flows and proper use of the FSC name and logo

charrette: collaborative session in which the project team discusses design and construction options

chemical runoff: water that takes chemicals from the project, including landscaping and the surrounding hardscape, to local waterways

chemical treatment: chemicals used to control rusting, biological growth and scaling in cooling towers; other treatments such such as applying ultra-violet light, are considered healthier for humans

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): chemical compounds (halocarbons) made up of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine; CFCs have been used as propellants in spray cans, coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, and in foam, plastics, and cleaning solvents; they are very stable in the troposphere, but are broken down by strong ultraviolet light in the stratosphere and release chlorine atoms that then deplete the ozone layer

churn: the movement, or reorganization, of people and workspaces within a space

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termscirculation loop: a structured plumbing system where cold water is returned to the water heater until hot water reaches the source

clear wood coatings: clear and semi-transparent coatings, including lacquers and varnishes applied to wood substrates to provide a transparent or translucent solid film

climate change: significant change to a given climate over 10 years or more

climate zone: in the U.S., one of eight regions defined by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that characterizes the temperature of an area of the country; climate zone 1 is the hottest and climate zone 8 is the coldest; LEED for Homes awards credit to projects that use strategies appropriate to the project’s climate zone

closed combustion: furnace and water heater designs where the supply air is ducted from the outside and exhaust is ducted to the outdoors: LEED for Homes requires all elements of the systems to be sealed in order to prevent combustion exhaust leakage into the home

coating: a covering that is applied to the surface of an object, usually referred to as the substrate; in many cases coatings are applied to improve surface properties of the substrate (e.g., appearance, adhesion, wetability, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, scratch resistance)

combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration: the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat from one fuel source; it is one of the most common forms of energy recycling

combustion exhaust gases: exhaust gas or flue gas emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline/petrol, diesel fuel, fuel oil or coal; most common gases resulting from fossil fuel combustion include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

comfort criteria: conditions that account for human comfort based on temperature, humidity, clothing and anticipated activity

commingling recycling: places materials to be recycled (e.g., paper, cardboard, plastic, metal) into one container that will be sorted for recycling at a sorting facility

commissioning (Cx): process of ensuring that a building’s complex array of systems are designed, installed, and tested to perform according to the design intent and the owner’s operational needs

commissioning authority (CxA): person designated to organize, lead and review the completion of commissioning process activities; ensures that systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner’s project requirements (OPR)

commissioning cycle: schedule of commissioning phases

commissioning plan: document that describes the organization, schedule, distribution of resources and documentation requirements of the commissioning process

commissioning process: holistic process to ensure building systems are designed, installed and function in accordance with the owner’s intent

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commissioning report: document prepared by the commissioning authority that details the final results of the commissioning process

commissioning specification: details the objective, scope and implementation of the construction and acceptance phases of the commissioning process developed during the design phase; is recorded by adding to the construction documents

commissioning team: project team members responsible for working together to conduct the commissioning process

community connectivity: amount of connection between a site and the surrounding community; the physical location of the site relative to homes, schools, retail, restaurants, medical and other services

community-supported agriculture (CSA): a farm operation for which a community of individuals pledges support so that the farmland becomes, either legally or informally, the community’s farm; the growers and consumers provide mutual support, sharing the risks and benefits of food production; consumers receive portions of the farm’s harvest throughout the growing season

compact fluorescent lamp (CFL): small fluorescent lamp used as a more efficient alternative to incandescent lamps

compensating shower valves: maintains constant water temperatures when the hot or cold water pressure changes

completed design area: total area of the finished area that includes ceilings, floors, full height walls and demountable partitions, interior doors and built-in case goods; exterior doors and windows are excluded

composite wood: also known as engineered wood, man-made wood includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials (e.g., particle board, medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), wheatboard, strawboard, panel substrates, door cores)

composting (or nonwater) toilets: an aerobic processing system for dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that treats excreta, typically with no water or small volumes of flush water, via composting or managed aerobic decomposition

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA): a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries to clean up abandoned or historic waste sites

compressed work week: alternative work arrangement where a standard work week is reduced to fewer than five days, and employees make up the full number of hours per week by working longer hours; most common options in a compressed workweek are: four 10 hour days, three 12 hour days, or a week of five 9 hour days followed by a week of four 9 hour days

concentration: the strength of a solution; in cooling towers, ir is the ratio of the level of dissolved solids in the recirculating water to the level found in the entering makeup water

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsconcentration ratio (cycles of concentration) : in cooling towers, a measure of the degree to which dissolved solids are being concentrated in the circulating water, it is in effect the inverse of blowdown

conditioned space: the part of the building that is designed to be thermally conditioned, normally for the comfort of occupants but at times for other reasons

conductivity meter (EC meter): measures the electrical conductivity in a solution; commonly used in hydroponics, aquaculture and freshwater systems to monitor the amount of nutrients, salts or impurities in the water

connectivity: the number of publicly accessible street intersections per square mile, including intersections of streets with dedicated alleys and transit rights-of-way, and intersections of streets with nonmotorized rights-of-way (up to 20% of total intersections); if one must both enter and exit an area through the same intersection, such an intersection and any intersections beyond that point are not counted; intersections leading only to culs-de-sac are also not counted; the calculation of square mileage excludes water bodies, parks larger than 1/2 acre, public facility campuses, airports, rail yards, slopes over 15%, and areas nonbuildable under codified law or the rating system; street rights-of-way may not be excluded

conservation: the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources

constructed wetland: an artificial marsh or swamp, created for anthropogenic discharge such as wastewater, stormwater runoff or sewage treatment, and as habitat for wildlife, or for land reclamation after mining or other disturbance; designed to simulate the water treatment effects of wetlands and remove any pollutants

construction and demolition debris (C&D): waste and recyclable materials from construction, demolition, deconstruction or renovation of existing buildings; excludes land clearing debris

construction, demolition and land clearing debris (CDL): everything included in construction and demolition debris plus soil, vegetation and rock from land clearing

construction IAQ management plan: plan to minimize air contamination caused by building construction; includes procedures to remove contaminants before occupancy

construction impact zone: the project’s development footprint plus the areas around the improvement where construction crews, equipment, and/or materials are staged and moved during construction

construction waste management plan: a plan that diverts construction debris from landfills or incinerators through recycling, salvaging and reusing

contaminant: unwanted airborne element that may reduce indoor air quality

controllability of systems: providing occupants direct control over temperature, airflow and lighting in their spaces

controls: operating mechanisms that enable an occupant to turn devices on or off or adjust intensity levels

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conventional irrigation: commonly used types of irrigation where the project is located

conventional turf: a spreading or stoloniferous grass, as opposed to a tufted ornamental grass; turfgrass endures, and typically requires regular mowing, considerable watering and fertilizers

cool pavements: pavement materials with an SRI value of at least 29

cool roofs: roofing materials with an SRI value of at least 29 for steep sloped roofs (> 2:12) and with an SRI value of at least 78 for low sloped roofs (< or = 2:12)

cooling tower: equipment using water to absorb heat from other sources, such as air conditioning systems; typically used on large buildings or building complexes

core learning spaces: spaces for educational activities where the primary purpose is teaching or learning; includes classrooms, instructional pods or activity areas, conference rooms, libraries, offices, speech clinics, offices used for educational purposes and music rooms for instruction, practice and performance

covenants, conditions, and restrictions: limitations that may be placed on a property and its use and are made a condition of holding title or lease

critical visual tasks: visual tasks conducted by the building’s occupants

cul-de-sac: a street segment that terminates without intersecting another street segment

cultural landscape: an officially designated geographic area that includes both cultural and natural resources associated with a historic event, activity, or person or that exhibits other significant cultural or aesthetic values

curfew hours: locally imposed times when lighting restrictions go into effect; default time is 10 p.m.

daylight factor: % of daylight entering a room compared with that provided by an unobstructed, uniformly overcast sky; variables include floor area, window area, window design, visible transmittance and window height

daylight glazing: vertical windows located 7’-6” above the floor that are designed to provide interior illumination deeper into the space

daylighting: use of controlled sunlight for daytime lighting needs; daylighting strategies used to reduce or eliminate artificial lighting include solar orientation of windows as well as the use of skylights, clerestory windows, solar tubes, reflective surfaces, and interior glazing to allow light to move through a structure

daylighting zone: total floor area that meets the performance requirements for daylighting

daylight responsive lighting controls: photosensors used to control the amount of artificial light; used with other switching and dimming devices; adjusts according to quantity and quality of natural light

declarant: LEED AP team member qualified to verify the content of a LEED credit submittal template and is authorized by the project administrator to sign the template and upload to LEED Online; the declarant must have a significant degree of responsibility for the credit and may play a restricted or unrestricted role on the project team

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degree day: a measure of heating or cooling, computed as the integral of a function of time that generally varies with temperature; equal to the number of degrees that the mean temperature, for a 24 hour day, is below the base temperature, often 65 F; a unit used in estimating the fuel consumption for a building

demand controlled circulation: the automatic circulation of water through a closed looped system that ensures hot water is delivered immediately; keeps unused cold water in the system in order to save water and energy

demand controlled ventilation: ventilation provided in response to the actual number of occupants and to occupant activity

density: the amount of building structures constructed on the project site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses, and for non-residential buildings as the floor-area ratio of buildable land area available for nonresidential uses; in both cases, structured parking is excluded

densely occupied spaces: areas with 25 or more occupants per 1,000 square feet, or 40 square feet or less of floor space per occupant

density factor (kd): accounts for the number of plants and the total leaf area of a landscape; coefficient used in the calculation of the landscape coefficient; adjusts the evapotranspiration rate of plants to reflect the water used by a specific plant to calculate the landscape coefficient

design light output: considered to be 40% of the useful life output of a lamp

designed landscape: the design of softscape and hardscape features on a site, excluding areas under roof, driveways and preserved natural areas; softscapes (e.g., grasses, flowers, shrubs) and hardscapes (e.g., patios, decks, fountains)

developer: a public and/or private entity that controls a majority of the project’s buildable land and is committed to making a majority of the investments required for the project implementation described in the LEED-ND submission

development density: total area of all buildings within a particular area and expressed in square feet per acre or residential units per acre

development footprint: the total land area of a project site covered by buildings, streets, parking areas, and other typically impermeable surfaces constructed as part of the project

distribution uniformity (DU): metric for estimating how water is applied uniformly to an area; DU ranges from 0 and 1, where 1 indicates the irrigation system is providing equal coverage and 0 indicates over or under watering

district energy system: thermal energy supplied to a group of buildings that is provided by a central energy conversion plant and transmission and distribution system; central energy systems that provide only electricity are not included

disturbed lot area: all portions of the project site that are affected by construction activities

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dew point: the temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into water; the condensed water is called dew; the dew point is a saturation point

direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing: method used to determine the calculated area of regularly occupied areas with direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing

displacement ventilation: a method of space conditioning where conditioned air is supplied at or near the floor; since the air is supplied at very low velocities, a cool layer of air collects in the occupied zone resulting in comfortable conditions for the occupants

diversity of uses or housing types: number of spaces or housing types, offices, homes, schools, parks, stores, per acre

diverted waste: synonymous with waste diversion

downstream equipment: heating or cooling systems, equipment and controls associated with providing thermal energy into heated or cooled spaces for the project

drip irrigation: uses low pressure to deliver water through a series of tubes directly to plant root systems; uses less water than standard means and supplies water only to selected plants, not weeds or hardscape surfaces

dry ponds: elevated areas that detain stormwater and slow runoff but are dry between rain events

dry urinals: also known as nonwater urinals; a water flush is replaced with a trap full of buoyant liquid that blocks sewer gas and odors from escaping

dry wells: underground structures that dispose of unwanted water, most commonly stormwater runoff, by dissipating it into the ground where it merges with the local groundwater

drywall clips: typically metal or plastic devices that support or secure drywall at corner connections; reduces amount of metal or wood framing members required

dual flush toilet: a toilet that provides two flush levels; one for solid waste and a reduced volume flush for liquid and paper waste only

durability: indicates how well a product stands up after a sustained period of use

durable goods: goods which do not quickly wear out and yield services or utility over time rather than being completely used up when used once; 2 years or more useful life; (e.g., furniture, office equipment, appliances)

durable goods waste stream: fully depreciated durable goods that have reached the end of their useful life and have been removed from the project site

dwelling unit: living quarters intended for long-term occupancy that provide facilities for cooking, sleeping, and sanitation; this does not include hotel rooms

ecological restoration: altering, or rehabilitating, an area in such a way as to reestablish an ecosystem’s structure and function, usually bringing it back to its original (pre-disturbance) state or to a healthy state close to the original

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsecologically appropriate features: natural and inanimate elements of the landscape (e.g., rocks, water features)

ecologically appropriate site features: natural landscape elements that maintain, restore or enhance the ecological integrity of the site while providing value to the habitat (e.g., exposed rocks, native and adaptive vegetation, bodies of water or water features)

ecological restoration: the process of using ecological principles and experience to return a degraded ecological system to a more ecologically functional state; the goal of this process is to emulate the structure, function, diversity, and dynamics of the specified ecosystem

economizer: mechanical devices intended to reduce energy consumption, or to perform another useful function like preheating a fluid; devices such as HVAC enthalpy controls used to make building systems more energy efficient

ecosystem: a biological community and its physical environment; a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water, and sunlight; it is all the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving factors with which they interact

edge development: construction that extends an existing community beyond its borders but remains a part of, and connected to, the community; in LEED for Homes, at least 25% of an edge development’s perimeter must border land that has been previously developed

electrical conductivity meter (EC): measures the electrical conductivity in a solution; commonly used in hydroponics, aquaculture and freshwater systems to monitor the amount of nutrients, salts or impurities in the water

elemental mercury: pure mercury (aka quicksilver) that is a silver-white liquid at room temperature; mercury vapor is commonly used in fluorescent and other types of lamps

embodied energy: energy used during the entire life cycle of a product; amount of energy required to extract, process, transport, and install a given building element

emissions reduction reporting: calculation, tracking and documentation of the greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the energy usage of a building

emissivity: ratio of energy emitted from a material to the energy radiated from a black body at the same temperature

employment center: a nonresidential area of at least 5 acres with a job density of at least 50 employees per net acre

endangered species: species threatened with extinction

energy audit: a comprehensive assessment of a company’s energy use throughout its operations; will identify the most cost effective opportunities for energy savings

Energy Conservation Measures (ECM): an individual building component or product that directly impacts energy use in a building; methods or strategies that use less energy

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energy or greenhouse gas emissions per capita: total greenhouse gas emissions of a community divided by the total resident count

energy efficient products and systems: building components and appliances that use less energy

energy management system: HVAC control monitoring system that adjusts equipment to conserve energy

energy simulation model (or energy model): a computer representation that permits users to estimate the energy use of the building; allows various systems to be compared for performance to a baseline

ENERGY STAR home: Energy Star is a United States government program created in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission by power plants; certifies homes built to a standard of energy efficiency that is at least 15% more efficient than the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air package (IAP): a certification program that recognizes homes designed and built with integrated systems design and installations that ensure high standards of indoor air quality and rated as an ENERGY STAR qualified home

ENERGY STAR rating: one of the main goals of the ENERGY STAR program is to develop performance based specifications that determine the most efficient products in a particular category; products that meet these specifications earn the ENERGY STAR label; a building’s energy performance compared to those with similar characteristics; a 50 score represents average building performance

energy use intensity: energy consumption divided by the area in square feet in a building; energy consumption is usually expressed as British thermal units (Btus) per square foot or as kilowatt-hours of electricity per square foot per year (kWh/sf/yr)

enhanced commissioning: a set of best practices extending responsibility beyond fundamental commissioning such that the process requires the commissioning authority to be on the job earlier and stay later; includes designating a commissioning authority prior to the construction documents phase, conducting commissioning design reviews, reviewing contractor submittals, developing a systems manual, verifying operator training and performing a post occupancy operations review

entryway systems: mats, open floor grates or other devices designed to capture potential pollutants from people entering a building; considered a point source pollutant control strategy

environmental attributes of green power: emissions reduction through the use of renewable energy sources as opposed to the use of conventional methods of producing energy

environmental sustainability: meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

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Acronyms & Glossary of TermsEnvironmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): (aka secondhand smoke) includes all forms of tobacco smoke exhaled or released into the air

erosion: condition in which the earth’s surface is worn and carried away by the action of water, wind or other natural agents

eutrophication: excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (e.g., animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life; increase in chemical nutrients, such as nitrogen found in fertilizers

evapotranspiration: the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth’s land surface to atmosphere; evaporation accounts for the movement of water to the air from sources such as the soil, canopy interception, and water bodies

evapotranspiration rate (ET): amount of water lost from a vegetated surface in units of water depth per unit of time

exfiltration: air leakage from a building’s interior to the environment; air leakage through cracks in walls, floors and ceiling

exhaust air: the removal of air from a building through the design and use of mechanical or natural ventilation systems

existing: present on the date of submission of LEED-ND certification documents; similarly, an element or condition that exists is present on the date that LEED-ND certification documents are submitted

existing area: total existing area of a building at the time the project area was selected; excludes exterior doors and windows

extraction, recovery or harvest point: location of raw materials prior to manufacturing of the building material or product that is furnished and installed in the project building

facility alteration or addition: building work done on an existing building; facility alterations refers to changes made to the building that do not alter the original design character of the building; facility additions are structures added to the original building smaller than the original building in scale

facility manager: facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology; International Facility Management Association (IFMA)

Fairtrade: Fairtrade certification (Fairtrade, known as Fair Trade Certified in the United States and Canada) is a product certification system designed to allow people to identify products that meet agreed environmental, labour and developmental standards

flat coating: a coating that registers gloss less than 15 on an 85-degree meter or less than five on a 60-degree meter

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floodplain: a floodplain, or flood plain, is flat or nearly flat land generally adjacent to a stream or river that experiences occasional or periodic flooding; land that has a likelihood of being flooded within a given storm cycle, such as a 100 year storm

floor-area ratio (FAR): the density of nonresidential land use, exclusive of parking, measured as the total nonresidential building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available for nonresidential structures; for example, on a site with 10,000 square feet of buildable land area, an FAR of 1.0 would be 10,000 square feet of building floor area; on the same site, an FAR of 1.5 would be 15,000 square feet of built floor area; an FAR of 2.0 would be 20,000 built square feet and an FAR of 0.5 would be 5,000 built square feet

floor coatings: an opaque coating that is labeled and formulated for application to flooring, including, but not limited to, decks, porches, steps, and other horizontal surfaces which may be subjected to foot traffic

fly ash: fine particles of ash produced from the burning of fuels, particularly from power stations; can be used in concrete

flush out: operation of mechanical systems for two weeks, using 100% outside air, at the end of construction and prior to occupancy to ensure safe indoor air quality

Food Alliance: non-profit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways; certifies farms and ranches produce natural products, ensures quality control and food safety, responsibly manages water and energy resources, stresses recycling and waste management, provides a safe work environment and commits to a continuous improvement of sustainable practices

formaldehyde: a VOC compound found naturally occurring in the environment in animals and materials like wood; a chemical used in various binders and adhesives

fossil fuel: energy derived from ancient organic remains such as peat, coal, crude oil and natural gas

freight village: a cluster of freight-related businesses located inside a secure perimeter operated under single management structure; freight Villages usually offer intermodal transfer options, logistics services, integrated distribution, warehousing capabilities, showrooms, and support services; such support services might include: security, maintenance, mail, banking, customs and import management assistance, cafeterias, restaurants, office space, conference rooms, hotels, and public or activity-center transportation. (Houston-Galvenston Area Council)

fuel efficient vehicles: vehicles earning a score of 40 or more on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual rating guide

full cutoff luminaire: light source where the light distribution does not exceed 0% at 90 degrees above nadir and 10% above 80 degrees

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsfull disclosure: for products that are not formulated with listed suspect carcinogens has two components: (1) disclosure of all ingredients (both hazardous and nonhazardous) that make up 1% or more of the undiluted product and (2) use of concentration ranges for each of the disclosed ingredients; full disclosure for products that are formulated with listed suspect carcinogens has three components: (1) disclosure of listed suspect carcinogens that make up 0.1% or more of the undiluted product (2) disclosure of all ingredients (both hazardous and nonhazardous) that make up 1% or more of the undiluted product and (3) use of concentration ranges for each of the disclosed ingredients; suspect carcinogens are those that are listed on authoritative lists (IARC, NTP or California Proposition 65) for MSDS preparationfull time equivalent (FTE): a regular building occupant who spends 40 hours per week in the project building; FTE values for part time or overtime occupants are based on their hours per week divided by 40; multiple shifts are included or excluded depending on their intent and the specific requirements of the credit

full time equivalent building occupants: a measure of the total number of hours all building occupants spend in the building during the peak 8 hour occupancy period divided by 8 hours

fully shielded exterior light fixtures: attached to outside light sources and built so the lower edge of the shield is at or below the lowest edge of the lamp, such that light is distributed downward only

functional entry: a building opening designed to be used by pedestrians and open during regular business hours; this does not include any door exclusively designated as an emergency exit, or a garage door not designed as a pedestrian entrance

fundamental commissioning: set of essential best practices used to ensure that building performance requirements have been identified early in the project’s development and to verify that the designed systems have been installed in compliance with those requirements; included responsibilities are the process of designating a commissioning authority, documenting the owner’s project requirements and basis of design (BOD), incorporating commissioning requirements into the construction documents, establishing a commissioning plan, verifying installation and performance of specified building systems and completing a summary commissioning report

furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE): non-fixed items not part of the base building components (e.g., desks, chairs, electronics, portable lights, lamps, etc.)

gallons per minute: measurement of water used by flow fixtures (faucets, showerheads, aerators, sprinkler heads); Per EPAct 1992, baseline rates for faucets, showerheads and aerators is 2.5 gpm

gallons per flush: measurement of water used by flush fixtures (water closets and urinals); per EPAct 1992, baseline rates for water closets is 1.6 gpf and urinals is 1.0 gpf

geothermal energy: the heat of the earth; where this heat occurs close to the earth’s surface, and is able to maintain a temperature in the surrounding rock or water at or above 150 degrees C, it may be tapped to drive steam turbines

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geothermal heating systems: systems that use pipes for transferring heat from subsurface steam or hot water for heating, cooling and hot water; functions by extracting heat during winter months and returning heat during summer months

glare: harsh bright source of light that creates visual discomfort or loss of visibility

glazing factor: ratio of interior light at a specific point on a specific plane under known overcast skies; the variables used by LEED area the floor area, window areas, window geometry, visible transmittance and window height

global warming: increase in the temperature near the surface of the earth

graywater (or greywater): domestic wastewater composed of wash water from kitchen, bathroom and laundry sinks, tubs and washers; the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) defines graywater as untreated household wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet waste; the International Plumbing Code (IPC) defines graywater as wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry sinks; some states allow kitchen sinks to be included with graywater

green cleaning: the use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices

green power: electricity generated from renewable energy sources (e.g.; solar, wind, biomass, geothermal; hydroelectric)

green-e: program established by the Center for Resource Solutions to promote green electricity products made with certified renewable energy, including but not limited to wind energy, solar power, low impact hydropower and biomass

Green Rater: individual that performs field inspections and performance testing of LEED for Homes measures for the LEED for Homes Certification Provider; a HERS rater with additional training can become a Green Rater

greenfields: sites not previously developed, graded or polluted that could support open space, habitat or agriculture

greenwashing: term playing off “whitewash” that is used to describe projects that are labeled as energy efficient and sustainable when they’re really not; it’s also a term sometimes used to describe the distribution of misleading information by a business or an organization to conceal its abuse of the environment

greenhouse effect: warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere; caused by atmospheric gases (e.g.; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) that allow sunshine to pass through but absorb heat that is radiated back from the warmed surface of the earth

greenhouse gas (GHG): gasses such as carbon dioxide or methane that reflects infrared radiation emitted by the earth, thereby helping to retain heat in the atmosphere

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsgroup multi occupant spaces: group occupant use spaces such as classrooms, conference rooms and training rooms where common tasks are engaged; typically these spaces share temperature and lighting controls

groundskeeper: groundskeeping is the activity of tending an area of land for aesthetic or functional purposes; typically in an institutional setting; it includes establishment and maintenance responsibilities (e.g., mowing grass, trimming hedges, pulling weeds, pest control, planting flowers, etc.); a person or professional who engages in this work is called a groundskeeper

habitable building: a structure intended for living, working, or other types of occupancy; habitable structures do not include stand-alone garages and utility structures such as pump stations

halons: ozone damaging chemicals used in fire fighting systems and extinguishers

hard costs: project costs directly related to construction and development activities such as contractor costs, labor and material costs, and costs related to direct service and material costs for the project; not included are “soft costs” such as legal fees, closing fees, architectural and engineering fees, interest costs, etc.

hardscape: refers to non-vegetated elements of the project landscape plan; (e.g., roads, patios, decks, concrete, gravel, brick, tile and other hard surfaces outside the building shell)

hard surface flooring: includes ceramic or marble tile, decorative concrete, vinyl, linoleum, laminate, wood, rubber, wall base and associated sundries

harvested rainwater: precipitation captured and used for indoor and irrigation needs

heat island effect: the tendency of urban and suburban areas to be warmer than adjacent rural areas; such built environments are 2 to 10°F warmer; a function of less vegetation, reduced airflow, and large areas of roofs, asphalt, concrete, and paved surfaces that absorb the sun’s heat

Hertz (Hz): unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon; one of its most common uses is the description of sinusoidal waves, particularly those used in radio and audio applications; 1 Hz equals 1 cycle per second

high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA): filters for removing at least 99.97% of particulates such as dust, animal dander, smoke, mold and other allergens that are 0.3 microns or larger, from the air and thus improving air quality

high efficiency toilet: a toilet with an average water consumption of 1.28 gallons per flush, when tested in accordance with a standard or product specification, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program

high performance green building: structure designed to conserve water and energy; uses space, materials and resources efficiently; minimizes construction waste; creates a healthful indoor environment

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historic district: a group of buildings, structures, objects, and sites, of varying sizes, that have been designated as historically and architecturally significant and categorized as either contributing or noncontributing

Home Energy Rating System (HERS): The HERS Index is a scoring system in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0

horizontal footcandle: the amount of light on a horizontal surface

hospitality: the business of providing temporary residence to customers, such as a hotel

hospitality industry: companies within the food services, accommodations, recreation and entertainment sectors

HVAC systems: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems equipment, distribution systems and terminals that provide the processes of heating, ventilating and air conditioning inside a building

HVAC&R systems: heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems equipment, distribution systems and terminals that provide the processes of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration inside a building

hybrid vehicles: a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle; the term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors

hydro energy: a form of electricity produced from the downhill flow of water from rivers and lakes

hydronic system: includes baseboard heaters (convectors) and radiant flooring that uses recirculating warm water as the heat transfer source

hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs): cooling chemicals used in building equipment; they damage the ozone layer, but not to the extent of CFCs

hydroflourocarbons (HFCs): cooling chemicals that do not damage the ozone layer but may contribute to global warming potential

hydrology: the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water throughout Earth, and thus addresses both the hydrologic cycle and water resources

hydro energy or hydropower: power that is derived from the force or energy of moving water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes

impervious surfaces: primarily artificial surfaces (e.g.; roads, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots) that are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone and rooftops; soils compacted by urban development are also highly impervious; generally, having a perviousness of less than 50% will promote runoff of water instead of infiltration into the subsurface

imperviousness: resistance of a material to penetration by a liquid such as water

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsincinerator: a furnace used in a waste treatment technology that involves the combustion of organic materials and/or substances

individual occupant spaces: standard workspaces used to conduct individual tasks

indoor adhesive, sealant or primer: adhesive or sealant products that are applied on-site and within the building’s weatherproofing system

indoor air quality (IAQ): term referring to the air quality within buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants; IAQ is considered acceptable when there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations and when the majority (80%) of the occupants do not express dissatisfaction

indoor carpet systems: carpet, carpet adhesive or carpet cushion products installed on-site and within the building’s weatherproofing system

indoor paints or coating products: paints and coatings applied on-site and within a building’s weatherproofing system

indoor composite wood or agrifibre: composite wood and agrifibre products installed on-site and within the building’s weatherproofing system

infill site (LEED Building Design & Construction and Interior Design & Construction rating systems): a site where at least 75% of the land area, exclusive of rights-of-way, within a ½ mile distance from the project boundary is previously developed; a street or other right-of-way does not constitute previously developed land; it is the status of property on the other side or right-of-way of the street that matters

infill site (LEED for Neighborhood Development): a site that meets any of the following four conditions: a) at least 75% of its boundary borders parcels that individually are at least 50% previously developed, and that in aggregate are at least 75% previously developed; b) the site, in combination with bordering parcels, forms an aggregate parcel whose boundary is 75% bounded by parcels that individually are at least 50% previously developed, and that in aggregate are at least 75% previously developed; c) at least 75% of the land area, exclusive of rights-of-way, within a ½ mile distance from the project boundary is previously developed; d) the lands within a ½ mile distance from the project boundary have a preproject connectivity of at least 140 intersections per square mile; a street or other right-of-way does not constitute previously developed land; it is the status of property on the other side or right-of-way of the street that matters. For conditions (a) and (b) above, any fraction of the perimeter that borders waterfront other than a stream is excluded from the calculation

infiltration: infiltration is sometimes called air leakage; the unintentional or accidental introduction of outside air into a building, typically through cracks in the building envelope or through use of doors for passage; also applies to air leakage into conditioned spaces through cracks in floors, ceilings and walls from unconditioned spaces or the outdoors

infiltration degree days (IDD): quantifies the climatic conditions that influence infiltration; the summation of the heating degree days and the cooling degree days

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infiltration basins: water impoundment facilities constructed over highly permeable soils to achieve diverse stormwater management objectives

infiltration trenches: constructed to temporarily store runoff from small drainage areas where a large open basin would be impractical

infrared (or thermal) emittance: a parameter between 0 and 1 that indicates the ability of a material to shed infrared radiation

innovative design request: credit requests for strategies that meet the intent of the credit but are not defined in the rating system

insulated concrete form (ICF): formwork for concrete that stays in place as permanent building insulation for energy-efficient, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls, floors, and roofs

in situ remediation: the clean up or remediation of a polluted site performed by using and simulating the natural processes in the soil, in contrast to ex situ where contaminated soil is excavated and cleaned elsewhere off-site

installation inspection: the examination of the building system components to determine whether they are installed properly; usually a precursor to performance testing

integrated design team: includes all the stakeholders involved in a building project beginning from early in the design process

integrated pest management (IPM): a pest management strategy that focuses on methods that are least injurious to the environment; pesticides are applied in such a way that they pose the least possible hazard, and are used as a last resort when other controls are inadequate

interior lighting power allowance: the maximum lighting power allowed for the interior spaces within a building; expressed in watts

interior nonstructural components reuse: the area of a building’s retained nonstructural components divided by the larger area of the prior existing condition or the area of the completed design

intermodal facility: a venue that includes the movement of goods in one and the same loading unit or road vehicle, using successively two or more modes of transportation without handling the goods themselves in changing modes

invasive plants: non-native plants which tend to spread aggressively; non-indigenous plants that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically

irrigated land: refers to the land area that is artificially supplied with water

irrigation efficiency: percentage of water used by irrigation equipment that is effective for irrigation that does not evaporate, blow away or fall on hardscape surfaces

ladder blocking: framing where interior partition walls intersect and are reinforced by horizontal framing members in the walls that are perpendicular; saves materials and also allows for additional insulation if and where needed

laminate adhesive: adhesives used in wood or agrifibre products

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termslamp life: the useful life span of a lamp; an average rating, in hours, indicating when 50% of a large group of lamps have failed, when operated at nominal lamp voltage and current; manufacturers use 3 hours per start for fluorescent lamps and 10 hours per start for HID lamps

lamps: a replaceable component such as an incandescent light bulb, which is designed to produce light from electricity

landfills: disposal site where waste is buried

landscape area: total site area used for landscaping purposes excluding the building footprint, paved surfaces, water bodies, patios and areas that have been left in their natural state

landscape coefficient (KL): coefficient used to calculate the evapotranspiration rate considering the species factor, density factor and microclimate factor of the area

leakage rate: the measurement of the rate that an appliance loses refrigerant; measured between refrigerant changes or over 12 months, whichever is shorter

least toxic chemical pesticide: pesticide products that meet the least toxic Tier 3 hazard criteria under the City and County of San Francisco’s hazard screening protocol; also applies to any pesticide product, not including rodent bait, applied in an accessible, self-contained, enclosed bait station, or applied in a non-visible or non-accessible gel

LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP): a candidate who has passed a LEED professional examination

LEED credit: an optional LEED Green Building Rating System component where achievement results in the earning of points toward certification

LEED Credit Interpretation Request (CIR): formal USGBC process in which a project team experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit can seek and receive clarification

LEED intent: primary environmental goal of each LEED prerequisite or credit

LEED Green Building Rating System: voluntary, consensus based, market driven green building rating system based on existing proven technology

LEED prerequisite: required LEED Green Building Rating System component whose achievement is mandatory and does not earn any points

LEED project boundary: the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification and remains constant for all required credit calculations; for single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is limited to the site boundary which is usually the legal property description; for multiple building developments (e.g.; campus settings, industrial complexes), the LEED project boundary may be a reasonable portion of the development as determined by the project team

LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG): committee consisting of industry experts who assist in interpreting credits and developing improvements to the LEED Green Building Rating System

legionella pneumophilia: a waterborne bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s disease

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life cycle assessment (LCA): a process of evaluating the effects that a product has on the environment over the entire period of its life (cradle-to-grave) thereby increasing resource-use efficiency and decreasing liabilities

life cycle cost analysis (LCC): the comparison of different materials to examine anticipated useful life and the cost of using a specific material or building component; calculates expected future operating, maintenance and replacement costs of designs and features to assist owners in developing a realistic design and budget estimate

light pollution: light that produces glare or is wasted by being directed into the night sky or off-site

light trespass: troublesome light entering areas or premises outside the boundary of the premises to be illuminated (aka spill light)

lighting power density (LPD): a measure of the amount of installed lighting in a given area; often used to set a limit on the brightness of external lights

local zoning requirements: laws issued by local governments to regulate the size, type, structure, and use of land or building in designated areas to promote orderly development of private lands and prevent land use issues

lodging: facilities that provide overnight accommodations to customers or guests, including hotels, motels, inns and resorts

lot: in LEED for Homes an individual parcel of land on which a home is built

Low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicle: vehicles that are either classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or have achieved a minimum green score of 45 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide

lumen: a unit of luminous flux equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle of 1 steradian by a point source of 1 candela intensity radiating uniformly in all directions

luminaire: an electrical device used to create artificial light and/or illumination; a luminaire is a lighting fixture complete with the light source or lamp, the reflector for directing the light, an aperture (with or without a lens), the outer shell or housing for lamp alignment and protection, an electrical ballast and/or power supply (if required), and connection to a power source, and usually a light socket to hold the lamp and allow for its replacement

luminaire opening: part of the luminaire that allows light to be emitted

makeup water: water feed needed to replace that which is lost by evaporation or leakage in a closed-circuit, recycle operation (e.g., cooling tower system)

management staff: personnel involved in operating and maintaining a project building and site

manufacturing: final assembly of components into the building product that is furnished and installed by the trade workers

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Marine Stewardship Council Blue Eco-Label: applies to products meeting certain principles and criteria for sustainable fishing

market transformation: systemic improvements in the performance of a market or market segment

market value: connotes what a property is actually worth and for what market price it might sell; value presumed to be less than the replacement value

mass transit: public transport (aka public transportation, public transit, or mass transit) comprises passenger transportation services which are available for use by the general public, as opposed to modes for private use such as automobiles or vehicles for hire; designed to transport large groups of people in a single vehicle

master plan: with regards to LEED, the overall design or development concept for the school and associated buildings and site

Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS): a form with data regarding the properties of a particular substance; an important component of product stewardship and workplace safety, it is intended to provide workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or working with that substance in a safe manner, and includes information such as physical data (e.g., melting point, boiling point, flash point, etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage, disposal, protective equipment, and spill-handling procedures

measures of energy use: three primary measures of energy consumption associated with buildings expressed in kilowatt hours of electricity, therms of natural gas and gallons of liquid fuel

mechanical (active) ventilation: ventilation provided through mechanically powered equipment (e.g., motor operated fans and blowers)

metering controls: limits the amount of water flowing through plumbing fixtures (e.g.; bathroom faucets and showers); typically manual-on and automatic-off devices

methylmercury: toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH3HG-; often occurs in pollutants and bioaccumulates in living organisms; found in higher levels of a food chain

metropolitan (metro) and micropolitan (micro) statistical area: a geographic entity defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use by federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics; a metro area contains a core urban area with a population of 50,000 or more, and a micro area contains an urban core with a population between 10,000 and 50,000; each metro or micro area consists of one or more counties and includes the counties containing the core urban area, as well as any adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration (as measured by commuting to work) with the urban core; “core-based statistical area” (CBSA) encompasses both metro and micro areas

microclimate factor (kmc): coefficient used for calculating the landscape coefficient by adjusting the Evapotranspiration Rate to reflect the climate of the area

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsmicroirrigation: the frequent application of small quantities of water as drops, tiny streams, or miniature spray through emitters or applicators placed along a water delivery line; microirrigation encompasses a number of methods or concepts such as bubbler, drip, trickle, mist or spray

minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV): mechanical system air filter efficiency rating ranging from 1 to 16

mixed (active and passive) mode ventilation: a hybrid approach to space conditioning that uses a combination of natural ventilation from operable windows (either manually or automatically controlled), and mechanical systems that include air distribution equipment and refrigeration equipment for cooling

mixed use: the practice of allowing more than one type of use in a building or set of buildings In planning zone terms, this can mean some combination of residential, commercial, industrial, office, institutional, or other land uses

multiunit residential: consisting of four or more residential units sharing a common entry

mycotoxins: any substance, produced by a mold or fungus, that is injurious to vertebrates upon ingestion, inhalation or skin contact

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): permit program to control water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into the waterways

native (or indigenous) plants: plants native to the locale; indigenous plants are sometimes allowed to co-exist with lawn grass, exotic ground covers or garden plants, especially if they are not aggressive growers or noxious weeds

natural areas: softscape areas that are constructed with native or adaptive vegetation or other ecologically appropriate features

natural (passive) ventilation: air which enters a building controlled, through open windows or other openings, due to wind pressure or temperature differences between the outdoor and indoor air

negative pressure smoking rooms: rooms with mechanical airflow devices (exhaust fans) to lower the air pressure below that of surrounding spaces; the negative pressure causes the air to flow from surrounding areas into the space to provide ventilation

neighborhood: synonymous with residential area

net metering: an electricity policy for consumers who own renewable energy facilities (e.g.;wind, solar power, home fuel cells); metering allows excess electricity be sent to the regional power grid

net present value: the present value of a project or an investment decision determined by summing the discounted incoming and outgoing future cash flows resulting from the decision

net project material value: the value of the construction materials added to the value of the furniture and furnishings, the lesser of the material values for mechanical and electrical components and the salvage value identified in the MR credits

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no-disturbance zone: an area that is protected during construction, typically by erecting physical barriers and signs

noise reduction coefficient (NRC): scalar representation of the amount of sound energy absorbed upon striking a particular surface; an NRC of 0 indicates perfect reflection; an NRC of 1 indicates perfect absorption; the arithmetic average of absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz for a material

nonflat coating: a coating that registers a gloss of 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter and five or greater on a 60-degree meter

nonoccupied spaces: rooms not open for use by occupants (e.g.; closets, storage, janitorial, mechanical)

nonporous sealant: substance used as a sealant on nonporous materials

nonpotable water (aka gray water): water unfit for human consumption that has not come into contact with human waste, but is adequate for other uses such as irrigation

nonregularly occupied spaces: spaces where people do not work or spend extended periods of time (e.g., hallways, corridors, lobbies, break rooms)

nonrenewable resource: resource that can be depleted over time

nonwater (or composting) toilet systems: dry plumbing fixtures that use a microbiological process to treat human waste

nonwater (or dry) urinal: nonflushing urinal where the trap contains a layer of buoyant liquid that floats above the urine

occasional furniture: furniture located in nonregularly occupied spaces such as lobbies and conference rooms

occupants: workers in a commercial building who either have a permanent office or workstation in the building or typically spend a minimum of 10 hours per week in the building; in residential building, occupants include all people who live in the building; in schools, occupants include students, faculty, support staff, administration and maintenance employees

off gassing: the process by which volatile chemicals evaporate and release chemicals into the air; materials such as paints, stains, varnishes, carpet, insulation, flooring, kitchen cabinets and countertops, plywood, particleboard, and paint strippers can produce significant offgassing in buildings

off-site renewable energy: energy generated from renewable sources located off-site; purchased through agreements with the entity generating the renewable energy

off-site salvaged materials: reused materials that are salvaged from off-site sources

on-demand (tankless) heaters: tankless water heaters are also called on-demand water heaters; these devices provide hot water where needed, when needed, without a storage tank

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsongoing commissioning: this process incorporates monitoring and analysis of building performance data provided by permanently installed metering equipment to verify building performance, the satisfaction of the facilities management and staff, and the extent of actual savings; ongoing commissioning involves regularly scheduled sessions with the building occupants along with operation and maintenance personnel; ongoing commissioning is continual retro-commissioning focusing on the persistence of completed improvements

ongoing consumables: low unit cost products that are regularly used and replaced during the course of business (e.g., paper, batteries, ink cartridges)

on-site renewable energy: energy generated from renewable sources located on-site

on-site salvaged materials: materials that are salvaged and reused at the same project site

on-site wastewater treatment: uses localized treatment systems to transport, store, treat and dispose of wastewater volumes generated on the project site

open grid pavement: pavement that is pervious to water; is less than 50% impervious and generally accommodates vegetation between the open cells; it consists of an open-graded material (e.g., asphalt, brick, concrete) over a course ground stone aggregate where water is able to pass through the open-graded material and stored in the aggregate until it is able to percolate deeper into the soil

open space area: LEED defines open space as the property area minus the development footprint, if no local open space zoning requirements exist; otherwise, open space can be defined as either 1) any land area zoned for open space by a comprehensive land use plan adopted by a city or county legislative authority or 2) any land area in which the preservation in its present use would: a) conserve and enhance natural or scenic resources, protect streams or water supply, b) promote conservation of soils, wetlands, beaches or tidal marshes, c) enhance the value to the public of abutting or neighboring parks, forest, wildlife preserves, nature reservations or sanctuaries or other open space, d) enhance recreation opportunities

outdoor air: air that is taken from the external atmosphere and not previously circulated through the system; air that enters a building through a ventilation system or by infiltration

owner: person or organization holding title to the project and recognized by law as having rights, responsibilities and ultimate control over the project building

owners project requirements (OPR): written document that details function requirements of a project and how it will be used and operated

ozone: a chemically unstable and highly reactive gas (each molecule of which consists of three atoms of oxygen in contrast with the usual two) found mainly at ground level in cities and in the stratosphere; at ground level, ozone can be a lung irritant; in the stratospheric ozone layer, the gas plays an important role in protecting the Earth’s surface from high levels of biologically damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is known to be a significant risk factor for skin cancers, eye cataracts, and the suppression of mammalian immune systems

ozone layer: region of the stratosphere (lying approximately 15-40 km above the Earth’s surface) that contains the bulk of the world’s atmospheric ozone

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paint: a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface, especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid; dries to form a hard coating

park: a publicly accessible area that is permanently maintained in a seminatural condition for human recreation and relaxation; it has soil, grass, water, flora, and/or recreation improvements

parking footprint: site areas dedicated to parking areas or parking structures

partially shielded light fixtures: outside light fixtures designed and built with shields to minimize light distribution above the horizontal plane

particulates: alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM) or fine particles, are tiny subdivisions of solid or liquid matter suspended in a gas or liquid

paseo: a publicly accessible pedestrian path, at least 4 feet wide and no more than 12 feet wide, that provides shortcuts between buildings and through the block, connecting street frontages to rear parking areas, midblock courtyards, alleys, or other streets; a paseo may be roofed for up to 50% of its length and may be privately owned or publicly dedicated

passive ventilation: using the convective nature of warm air and the ability to control windows and vents as the environment changes to control air flow in a structure without the use of mechanical ventilation equipment

pedestrian access: permits people to walk to services without being hindered by walls, freeways or other barrier obstructions

pedestrian oriented design: features incorporated into urban development that encourage walking; (i.e., wide shaded sidewalks and street level building access); promoting walking reduces the environmental effects related to transportation

percentage improvement: establishes the energy savings (cost) for the proposed building performance compared to the baseline building performance

perviousness: percentage of a paved area that is open and allows water to soak into the ground

phenol formaldehyde: an adhesive (used in softwood plywood and oriented-strand board) that releases little, if any, formaldehyde; therefore, products with phenol formaldehyde are widely recommended as substitutes for board products using urea formaldehyde; oriented-strand board is widely used for flooring, sheathing and roof decking; off-gasses at high temperatures

photovoltaic cell: device incorporating a semiconductor that generates electricity when exposed to (sun) light; the technology may be further sub-divided into crystalline, multi-crystalline, thin-film and concentrator variants

photovoltaic energy (PV) or solar: energy from the sun converted by photovoltaic cells into electricity

picogram: one trillionth of a gram

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termspicograms per lumen hour: measure of the amount of mercury in a lamp per unit of light delivered over its useful life; the lower the weighted average pico grams of mercury per lumen hour of light output for the light bulbs in the building, the less mercury is being brought into the building in light bulbs

planned diverse: use a shop, service, or facility outside the project boundary that has received a building permit and is under construction at the time of the first certificate of occupancy is issued for any building in the LEED-ND project

planned occupancy: the highest estimate of building occupants based on planned use(s) and industry standards for square foot requirements per employee; the minimum planned occupancy for multiunit residential buildings is 1 person for a studio unit, 1.5 persons for a one-bedroom unit, and 1.25 persons per bedroom for a two- bedroom or larger unit

plaza: a publicly accessible gathering space that is integrated into the street network and allows vehicular, bicycle, and/or pedestrian travel; a plaza is generally paved, is spatially defined by building fronts paralleling at least two-thirds of its perimeter, and may be privately owned or publicly dedicated

plug load: synonymous with receptacle load

plumbing fixtures and fittings: devices which are part of a system to deliver and drain away water, but which are also configured to enable a particular use such as to receive liquid or liquid borne wastes and discharge wastewater, liquid borne waste materials, or sewage to the drainage system; (e.g., water closets, urinals, lavatories, sinks, showers, drinking fountains)

pollutant: pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem (i.e. physical systems or living organisms); pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light; common pollutants include carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), mercury (Hg), small particulates (PM25) and large particulates (PM10)

porous materials (aka permeable): materials containing pores (voids) which can absorb or discharge fluids

porous pavements and permeable surfaces: pavements or surfaces that allow air and water to permeate through the material, therefore filtering pollutants as they pass into the ground

postconsumer fiber: pulp fiber derived from postconsumer recovered paper

postconsumer material: a material or finished product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal or recovery having completed its life as a consumer item

postconsumer recycled content: a product composition that contains some percentage of material that has been reclaimed from the same or another end use of its former, useful life; includes construction and demolition debris, materials collected from recycling programs (e.g., decking, furniture, cabinets) and landscaping waste (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings)

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postconsumer waste: recovered material that has served its intended use as a consumer item and has been discarded for disposal or recovery; postconsumer waste is recycled material collected after people have tossed it in the blue bin; office recycling programs and household recycling programs are the main source of post-consumer waste

potable water: water of sufficiently high quality that it can be consumed or used without risk of immediate or long term harm; water is considered safe to drink if it meets or exceeds all of the federal, state, and provincial standards that are legally enforceable (i.e., EPA’s drinking water quality standards)

power vented exhaust: power vents are commonly found in water heaters and fireplaces and are an efficient and practical method to vent combustion gases from the space or building

PPM: parts per million; a measure of concentration in solution

preconsumer recycled content (also known as post-industrial content): materials generated in manufacturing, such as damaged or obsolete products, overruns and trimmings; excludes reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind, or scrap capable of being reclaimed within the same process

predevelopment: before any development occurred on the site; predevelopment conditions describe the natural conditions of the site prior to any human alteration, such as development of roads or buildings

predicted mean vote: average comfort vote predicted by a theoretical index for a group of subjects when subjected to a particular set of environmental conditions

predevelopment: the conditions that existed prior to the initiation of the project, but not necessarily before any development or disturbance took place; predevelopment conditions describe conditions on the date the owner acquired rights to a majority of the buildable land on the project site through purchase or an option to purchase

preferred parking: the parking spots that are closest to the main entrance of the project (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons). For employee parking, preferred parking refers to the spots that are closest to the entrance used by employees

preventive maintenance: the routine care and servicing by personnel for the purpose of maintaining equipment and facilities in satisfactory operating condition by providing for systematic inspection, detection, and correction of incipient failures either before they occur or before they develop into major defects

previously developed: altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past); previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint; land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land; the date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termspreviously developed site: a site that, preproject, consisted of at least 75% previously developed land

preproject: before the LEED-ND project was initiated, but not necessarily before any development or disturbance took place; preproject conditions describe the state of the project site on the date the developer acquired rights to a majority of its buildable land through purchase or option to purchase

prime farmland: a designation assigned by U.S. Department of Agriculture, is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is also available for these uses

prime soil: earth with chemical, hydrographic, and topological properties that make it especially suited to the production of crops, as defined by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

primer: a preparatory coating put on materials before painting; priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted

prior condition: state of the project site, building or space at the time it was selected

prior condition area: the condition of the area before the project was selected; includes the total area of the finished ceilings, floors and full height walls; excludes exterior doors and windows

private or private use: plumbing fixtures intended for private use in residences, apartments, and dormitories, (non-public) bathrooms in transient lodging facilities (hotels and motels), and private bathrooms in hospitals and nursing facilities

process water: water used for industrial processes and building systems such as boilers, cooling towers and chillers and commercial processes such as dishwashing, clothes washing and ice making

project: the land, water, and construction that constitutes the project application; a project applicant does not have to own or control all land or water within a project boundary, but all the area within the project boundary must comply with prerequisites and attempted credits

project boundary: the platted property line of the project defining land and water within it; projects located on publicly owned campuses that do not have internal property lines must delineate a sphere-of-influence line to be used instead; project site is equivalent to the land and water inside the project boundary.; the project must not contain noncontiguous parcels, but parcels can be separated by public rights-of-way; projects may also have enclaves of nonproject properties that are not subject to the rating system, but such enclaves cannot exceed 2% of the total project area and cannot be described as certified

project building: the real property, including buildings and the associated grounds, that is registered for LEED certification

property area: total area of constructed and non-constructed areas within the legal property boundaries of a site

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property manager: owner’s employee or contract service in charge of building operations and maintenance

proposed building performance: the calculated annual energy cost for a proposed design

Protected Harvest certification standards: crop and region specific standards that address production, toxicity and chain-of-custody

Provider: a third party organization that recruits, trains and coordinates LEED for Homes Green Raters to serve as third party verifiers of LEED Homes; LEED for Homes Certification Providers are under contract to USGBC

public transportation: bus, rail, light rail and other services designed to move large numbers of people on a regular basis and route

public or public use: all buildings, structures, or uses that are not defined as private or private use

radon: colorless, odorless, short-lived radioactive gas that vents from the ground and can seep into buildings and result in lung cancer risk; radon and its decay products emit cancer-causing alpha, beta, and gamma particles

Rainforest Alliance certification: the Rainforest Alliance is a non-governmental organization with the published aims of working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior; the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable forestry division works to reconcile the growing demand for trees and other forest flora with a shrinking supply by encouraging better on the ground practices

rain garden: a depressed area of the ground planted with vegetation, allowing runoff from impervious surfaces such as parking lots and roofs the opportunity to be collected and infiltrated into the groundwater supply or returned to the atmosphere through evaporation and evapotranspiration; considered a stormwater management strategy

rainwater harvesting: the on-site capture, storage and use of rainwater; harvested rainwater may be stored in cisterns, tanks or rain barrels for non-potable domestic use, irrigation, or water features where a high level of water purity is not required

rapidly renewable materials: resources that can be rapidly replenished (within a ten year cycle) as they are used; (e.g., certain woods, grasses and cork)

rated power: the nameplate rating on equipment, representing the maximum draw

receptacle (aka plug) load: plug loads consist of any electrical equipment that is plugged into a wall outlet or electrical plug; (e.g., appliances, TVs, VCRs, pop machines, drinking fountains, and office equipment such as fax machines, computers, printers, and copiers)

recirculated air: air that has been used, reconditioned and redistributed for further use

reclaimed material: building materials that have been recovered from a demolition site to be reused in their original state; also referred to as salvaged or reused materials, but not recycled

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsreclaimed water: sometimes called recycled water, is former wastewater (sewage) that has been treated to remove solids and certain impurities, and then allowed to recharge the aquifer rather than being discharged to surface water; wastewater that has been treated and purified for reuse

recommissioning: applies to previously commissioned buildings undergoing new construction or renovation; repetition of part of all of the commissioning test requirements for the purpose of reconfirming process reliability

recovered fiber: postconsumer and waste fiber from the manufacturing process; paper products that are collected for re-use in recycled products

recycled content: the portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight, and used to manufacture new materials; manufacturing waste stream (preconsumer) and/or the consumer waste stream (postconsumer)

recycling: involves processing used materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for “conventional” waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production; recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy

recycling collection area: a dedicated area located in an occupied space in the building for the collection of recyclable materials

refrigerants: a compound used in a heat cycle that reversibly undergoes a phase change from a gas to a liquid; traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons, were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion effects

refurbished materials: products that are repaired or refurbished for reuse instead of disposing into the waste stream

regenerative design: sometimes referred to as Cradle to Cradle, a process-oriented systems theory based approach to design; the term “regenerative” describes processes 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

regional materials: percentage (total material costs of the building) of a building’s materials that have been extracted, processed and manufactured within a 500 mile radius of the project site

regionally harvested or extracted materials: materials taken from within a 500 mile radius of the project site

regionally manufactured products: materials assembled as finished products within a 500 mile radius of the project site

regular building occupants: people who spend 10 hours or more per week in a building, including those who live in a residential building

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regularly occupied spaces: in non-residential applications, they include workspaces where people perform their duties; in residential applications, these spaces include all living and family rooms, excluding bathrooms, closets or other storage or utility areas; in schools, they are the areas where students, teachers or administrators work or study

relative humidity: the ratio of the amount of water in the air at a given temperature to the maximum amount it could hold at that temperature; expressed as a percentage

remanufactured materials: items made into other products, such as cotton remanufactured for use as insulation

remediation: removal of contamination at a site to levels that do not exceed pre-established goals, such as federal or state standards or alternate concentration limits that are protective of human health and the environment

renewable energy (aka green power): energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished)

renewable energy certificates (RECs): tradable commodities that verify electricity was generated by a renewable resource

renewable resource: any natural resource (e.g., wood, solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time; solar radiation, tides, winds and hydroelectricity are perpetual resources that are in no danger of a lack of long-term availability

replacement value: refers to the amount that an entity would have to pay to replace an asset at the present time

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): legislation that allows the EPA to control hazardous waste from cradle to grave

residential area: land zoned primarily for single or multi-family housing at a density of 10 units per acre, or greater

retail project: a space or building dedicated to the sale of goods or commodities directly to consumers who come onto the premise for the purpose of obtaining those goods or commodities; includes (but not limited to) banking, restaurants, stores of any kind, spas, shopping centers (open air and enclosed), etc.; includes both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support the customer service; circulation spaces shared with other building uses must be attributed to the separate spaces proportionally

retained components: the amount of finished ceilings, finished floors and full height walls, interior doors and built in case goods that preexisted and will be retained in the completed design

retention ponds: human-made ponds where stormwater is directed and retained until it can be absorbed into the water table or slowly released without flooding downstream property owners; the current trend is to prefer absorption into the natural water table, so many local governments impose retention pond requirements as a condition of development, even if storm sewer facilities are available

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsretrofit: changes to an existing building

return air: air that has circulated through a building as supply air and has been returned to the HVAC system for additional conditioning or release from the building

reuse: extends the life of materials by salvaging and reusing for the same or similar use

reused area: total area of the existing building structure, core and envelope that preexisted and will be retained in the completed design

reverberation: the persistence of sound in a particular space after the original sound is removed

reverberation time (RT): sound after it is ended at the source will continue to reflect off surfaces until the sound wave loses energy by absorption to eventually die out; the time required for the level of a steady sound to decay by 60dB after the sound has stopped

ridesharing: synonymous with carpooling

R value: measure of the thermal resistance of a material or assembly; R=1/U; the inverse of U value

safety and comfort light levels: lighting levels that meet local code requirements; must be adequate to provide a safe path of egress

salvaged materials or reused materials: construction materials or decorative items recovered from existing buildings or construction sites and reused

school: a kindergarten, elementary, or secondary institution for the academic instruction of children

sealant: sealing material that is used to form a hard coating on a porous surface (as a coat of paint or varnish used to size a surface)

sealant primer: material applied to a substrate to enhance the bonding surface prior to the application of a sealant

sealers: coatings labeled and formulated for application to a substrate for one or more of the following purposes: to prevent subsequent coatings from being absorbed by the substrate, or to prevent harm to subsequent coatings by materials in the substrate

seating: chairs or other seating types used with systems furniture

secure bicycle storage: secured locations for keeping bikes safe from theft; can be located interior or exterior

sedimentation: sediment is naturally occurring materials that are broken down by processes of weathering and erosion and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself; generally decreases the quality of the water and can age streams, rivers and lakes

sensors: devices that measure a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument

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sequence of operations: a documented system level detail of operation and maintenance procedures; determines (e.g., reset temperature and occupancy schedules, idle versus running systems, room air temperatures, etc.)

setpoints: the target value that an automatic control system will aim to reach; (ie., a boiler control system might have a temperature setpoint, that is a temperature the control system aims to attain)

shellac: a clear or opaque coating formulated solely with the resinous secretions of the lac beetle (Laciffer lacca), thinned with alcohol and formulated to dry by evaporation without a chemical reaction

shielding: devices or techniques used as part of a luminaire to limit glare, light trespass or sky glow

sick building syndrome (SBS): a combination of ailments (a syndrome) associated with an individual’s place of work (office building) or residence

siltation: the depositing and subsequent sedimentation of particles in streams, rivers and lakes; generally decreases the quality of the water in streams, rivers and lakes

simple payback: a simple indicator of how long it takes to get out the money you put in

single-family residential: any residential unit other than multiunit residential, including single, duplex, triplex, row house, townhouse and semiattached residential building types

site area: synonymous with property area; the total area within a project boundary that includes both the constructed and non-constructed areas

site assessment: the process of determining whether there is contamination present at a site, the source and extent of that contamination, and the potential pathways of exposure to the public and the environment; investigation of a site’s above ground and subsurface characteristics including its structures, geology and hydrology

site disturbance: the areas of the site that have been disturbed due to the project’s scope and requirements

site energy: the energy consumed at a building location or other end–use site

sky glow: wide scale illumination of the sky or parts of the sky at night; the most common cause of sky glow is man-made lights that give off light pollution that accumulates into a vast glow that can be seen from miles away and from high in the sky

smart growth: an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in the center of a city to avoid urban sprawl; and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, and mixed-use development with a range of housing choices

soft costs: cost items excluded from the direct construction cost; soft costs generally include architectural and engineering, legal, permits and fees, financing fees, construction Interest and operating expenses, leasing and real estate commissions, advertising and promotion. etc.

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termssoftscape: elements of a landscape that comprise live, horticultural elements; softscaping can include, flowers, plants, shrubs, trees, flower beds, etc

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): the fraction of radiation coming through the window compared to the amount hitting the outside of the window; common in the performance rating of manufacturers; a lower SHGC transmits less solar heat than higher SHGC values

solar reflectance (albedo): is a measure of the ability of a surface material to reflect sunlight—including the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet wavelengths; solar reflectance is also called “albedo.”; black has a solar reflectance of 0; white has a solar reflectance of 1

solar reflectance index (SRI): is a measure of material’s ability to reject solar heat; black is 0 and white is 100; with the index ranging from 0, black and less reflective, to 100, white and highly reflective; materials with highest SRI are cooler choices

solar thermal systems: systems that collect or absorb sunlight via solar collectors to heat water; typically circulated to the building’s hot water tank

solar window screen: a material or device, such as an architectural screen mesh, with the design intent of blocking heat and light from the sun

sound absorption: a process in which sound energy is reduced when sound waves pass through a medium or strike a surface; also known as acoustic absorption

sound absorption coefficient: the fraction of energy striking a material or object that is not reflected (i.e., if a material reflects 70% of the sound energy incident upon its surface, then its Sound Absorption Coefficient would be 0.30)

sound absorption class (STC): is an integer rating of how well a building partition attenuates airborne sound; in the U.S., it is widely used to rate interior partitions, ceilings/floors, doors, windows and exterior wall configurations

source energy: all the energy used in delivering energy to a site, including power generation and transmission and distribution losses, to perform specific functions, such as space conditioning, lighting or water heating

source reduction: refers to any change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste; reduces the amount of materials brought on-site

species factor (ks): coefficient used to adjust the Evapotranspiration Rate to reflect features of a specific plant species

spores: a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions; spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoans

square (also green): a publicly accessible open area for gatherings that is wholly or partially bounded by segments of the street network; a square can be landscaped or landscaped and paved, is spatially defined by building fronts paralleling at least 45% of its perimeter, and may be privately owned or publicly dedicated

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termssquare footage: total area of a building including all regularly and non-regularly occupied spaces and common areas (e.g., corridors, elevators, stairwells, restrooms)

stain: a clear semi-transparent or opaque coating labeled and formulated to change the color of a surface but not conceal the grain pattern or texture

standard operating procedures (SOP): a set of instructions having the force of a directive, covering those features of operations that lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure

stewardship: refers to our responsibility to care for our natural resources - land, air, wildlife and water - sustainably, so future generations can enjoy them

stormwater: water that originates during precipitation events rain and snow); is not absorbed into soil and rapidly flows downstream, increasing the level of waterways

stormwater pollution prevention plan: a plan for stormwater discharge that includes erosion prevention measures and sediment controls that, when implemented, will decrease soil erosion on a parcel of land decrease off-site nonpoint pollution; required for major construction projects under the US Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for construction activities

stormwater runoff: precipitation (rain and snow) that does not infiltrate into the ground or evaporate due to impervious land surfaces but instead flows into storm sewer systems, waterways or onto adjacent land

stratified random sampling: a sampling procedure for which the population is first divided into strata or subgroups based on designated criteria and then the sample is drawn, either proportionately or disproportionately, from each subgroup

stratosphere: the region of the uppermost atmosphere where temperature increases along with the altitude due to the absorption of solar UV radiation by ozone; extends from 10 km to about 50 km above the earth

street: a dedicated right-of-way that can accommodate one or more modes of travel, excluding alleys and paseos; a street is suitable for primary entrances and provides access to the front and/or sides of buildings and lots; a street may be privately owned as long as it is deeded in perpetuity for general public use; a street must be an addressable thoroughfare (for mail purposes) under the standards of the applicable regulating authority

street grid density: a measurement of circulation permeability and multi-modal travel feasibility; it is expressed in centerlines miles per square mile, often within a 1-mile radius around a project boundary

subdivision: the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat; the former single piece as a whole is then known as a subdivision

submetering: utility submetering is the implementation of a system that allows a landlord, property management firm, condominium association, homeowners association, or other multi-tenant property to bill tenants for individual measured utility usage

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substantial completion: the point when construction is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents, that the owner can occupy or utilize the building or space

supply air: air delivered in a conditioned space through ducts or plenums from the heat exchanger of a heating, cooling or ventilation system

sustainable development: development which seeks to produce sustainable economic growth while ensuring future generations’ ability to do the same by not exceeding the regenerative capacity of the nature; in other words, it’s trying to protect the environment

sustainable forestry: sustainable forest management (SFM) is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development

sustainable purchasing policies: the purchase of environmentally preferable products

sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

sustained yield forestry: management of a forest to produce in perpetuity a high level annual or regular periodic output through a balance between increment and cutting

systemic sampling: surveys every xth person in a population using a constant skip interval

systems furniture: panel based workstations

systems narrative: a generalized description of each major building system (e.g., heating, cooling, ventilation, humidification/dehumidification, lighting)

systems performance testing: the process of determining the ability of commissioned systems to perform in accordance with OPR, BOD, and CDs

technical advisory subcommittee: a committee based group of professionals who rule on credit interpretation requests (CIR) and innovative design requests (ID)

telecommuting: telecommuting, e-commuting, e-work, telework, working from home (WFH), or working at home (WAH) is a work arrangement in which employees enjoy flexibility in working location and hours; in other words, the daily commute to a central place of work is replaced by telecommunication links

termite: whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood

tertiary treatment: treatment of wastewater to a level beyond secondary treatment but below potable

thermal bridge: the part of a building envelope where heat is transferred at a much higher rate than the surrounding area; exterior doors and windows are two common examples of thermal bridging areas; adding insulating spacers is one way to remedy the problem and minimize rapid heat loss or heat gain

thermal comfort: 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

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termsthermal envelope: in contrast to the building envelope; it sets the boundaries for the insulation and airtightness line between the inside and outside of a building; components of a building that ensure maximum retention and minimal loss of heat

tipping fees: price charged to deliver municipal solid waste to a landfill, waste-to-energy facility, or recycling facility

topsoil: the upper layer of soil that has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and where most of the Earth’s biological soil activity occurs

total phosphorus (TP): the total concentration of phosphorus found in the water; phosphorus is a plant nutrient found in many fertilizers, increasing the growth of plant life such as algae

total suspended solids (TSS): measure of the amount of non-dissolved solid material present in water or waste water; it is listed as a conventional pollutant in the U.S. Clean Water Act

traffic analysis: zone a statistical entity delineated by state and/or local transportation officials for tabulating traffic-related data (especially journey-to-work and place-of-work statistics) from a decennial census; a TAZ usually consists of one or more census blocks, block groups, or census tracts

transient users: occupants who do not use a facility on a consistent, regular, daily basis

transportation demand management: transportation demand management or travel demand management (both TDM) is the application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand (specifically that of single-occupancy private vehicles), or to redistribute this demand in space or in time

tree and plant preservation plan: formal assessment of the site and the subsequent development of a landscape plan whose intent is to preserve existing trees and plants

two year, 24-hour design storm: the largest amount of rainfall expected over a 24 hour period during a 2 year interval

undercover parking: parking that is placed underground, under a deck, roof or building; also applies to on-grade parking where the hardscape surfaces are shaded

underground parking: parking beneath a stacked structure such as a building

unique soil: earth with chemical, hydrographic, and topological properties that make it especially suited to specific crops, as defined by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

universal notification: providing occupants not less than 72 hours notice before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions and within 24 hours after application in emergency conditions

upstream equipment: heating or cooling systems, equipment and controls that are associated with a district energy system but are not part of the project building’s thermal connection or do not interfere with the district energy system; includes the central energy plant and all transmission and distribution equipment associated with transporting thermal energy to the project building and site

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urea formaldehyde: combination of urea and formaldehyde that is used in glues and may emit formaldehyde at room temperature

USDA organic: a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products for products that contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients

U value: a measure of air-to-air heat transmission (loss or gain) of a material or assembly due to thermal conductance and the difference in indoor and outdoor temperatures; U=1/R; the inverse of R value

vapor barrier: used to refer to any material, typically a plastic or foil sheet, that resists diffusion of moisture through wall, ceiling and floor assemblies of buildings and of packaging

vegetation containing artifices: planters, gardens or other constructions that hosts flora

vegetated roofs (green roofs): the roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane; it may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems

vehicle miles traveled (vmt): the number of miles driven by vehicles within a given time period and geographic area; it is influenced by several factors, typically increasing with a higher numbers of car trips and distance traveled as well as poorly-planned development

ventilation: the intentional movement of air by removing air from a space for the purpose of controlling air contaminant levels, humidity or temperature within the space

ventilation rate: the rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building; expressed as the number of changes of outdoor air per unit of time (air changes per hour (ACH)), or the rate at which a volume of outdoor air enters in cubic feet per minute (CFM)

verification: the act of verifying by conducting a range of checks and tests carried out to determine whether components, subsystems, systems and interfaces between systems operate in accordance with the contract documents

vertical footcandles: light on a vertical surface

visible light transmittance (Tvis): the percentage of light that is transmitted through glass in the visible light spectrum; the higher the number the higher the percentage of visible light transmitted through the window

vision glazing: windows that provide a connection to the outdoors; typically vertical windows between 2.5 ft and 7.5 ft above the floor

volatile organic compounds (VOC): compounds that evaporate easily at room tempurature and often have a sharp smell; they can come from many products, such as office equipment, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, paints, solvents, and cleaning products

walk off mats: mats placed inside the building entrances to address pollution point source control by capturing dirt, water and other materials tracked inside by people and equipment

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Acronyms & Glossary of Termswalk distance: the distance that a pedestrian must travel between origins and destinations without obstruction, in a safe and comfortable environment on a continuous network of sidewalks, all-weather-surface footpaths, crosswalks, woonerfs, or equivalent pedestrian facilities

waste: any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted that flow from the building to final disposal

waste disposal: proper handling and removal of any material no longer appropriate for further use by means of burial in a landfill, combustion through incineration or any other way that is not reuse or recycling

waste diversion: the process of diverting waste from landfill; a waste reduction strategy focused on the recycling or composting of materials, thereby recovering what would otherwise have been waste for use in new products

waste reduction program: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; a program developed to address source reduction and increase material reuse and recycling; includes tracking and review procedures to monitor waste production and improve performance

waste stream: the flow or movement of waste from the point of generation to final disposal

wastewater: any water that has been used by some human domestic or industrial activity and, because of that, now contains waste products; the spent or used water from residential, business or industrial sources

water body: the surface water of a stream (first-order and higher, including intermittent streams), arroyo, river, canal, lake, estuary, bay, or ocean, excluding irrigation ditches

water meters: devices that measure water volume usage

water and wastewater infrastructure: publicly owned water and wastewater infrastructure; this excludes septic and mound wastewater treatment systems

waterproofing sealer: a coating labeled and formulated for application to a porous substrate for the primary purpose of preventing the penetration of water

wave and tidal energy systems: energy captured by wave and tidal action that is turned into electricity and primarily used for desalination, water pumping and electricity generation; wave energy technology uses the movement of ocean surface waves to generate electricity, tidal power; is based on extracting energy from tidal movements and the water currents that accompany the rise and fall of the tide

weighted decibel (dBA): a single-number measurement based on the decibel but weighted to approximate the response of the human ear with respect to frequencies

wet ponds: a stormwater facility constructed through filling and/or excavation that provides both permanent and temporary storage of stormwater runoff

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wetland: an area that is inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of 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

wetland vegetation: vegetation that is adapted to hydric soils and hydrologic conditions normally found in wetlands; plants that require saturated soils to survive or can tolerate prolonged wet soil conditions

wind energy: the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships

window-to-floor ratio (WFR): the ratio of total, unobstructed window glass area to total floor area served by the windows, expressed as a percentage; measured vertically from 30 inches above the finished floor to the top of the glass, multiplied by the width of the glass divided by the floor area

woonerf: a street, also known as a home zone, shared zone, or living street, where pedestrians have priority over vehicles and the posted speed limit is no greater than 10 miles per hour; physical elements within the roadway, such as shared surfaces, plantings, street furniture, parking, and play areas, slow traffic and invite pedestrians to use the entire right-of-way

wood preservative: a coating labeled and formulated to protect exposed wood from decay or insect attack

xeriscaping: landscaping technique which employs native and drought-tolerant plants in order to reduce water needs and help preserve native species

yard jockey: a vehicle used primarily on the site to facilitate the movement of truck trailers and other types of large shipping containers from one area of the site to another; fFork lift trucks are not considered a type of yard jockey

acronyms and glossary of terms - studio4...

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