BUILDING COMMISSIONING
The process of ensuring installed systems function as specified, performed by a third party Commissioning Authority.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Measures the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
CARBON NEUTRAL
Refers to neutral (meaning zero) total carbon release, brought about by balancing the amount of carbon released with the amount sequestered or offset.
CRADLE-TO-CRADLE
A term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new product at the end of its defined life.
ENERGY MODELING
Process to determine the energy use of a building based on software analysis. Also called building energy simulation.
CAP AND TRADE - EMISSIONS TRADING
An administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants.
GREEN BUILDING
To construct a building to the highest environmental standards by minimizing the use of energy, water and materials.
GREEN WASHING
Projects that are labeled as energy-efficient and sustainable when they're really not. Used to describe the distribution of misleading information by an organization to conceal its abuse of the environment.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings - developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
LIFE-CYCLE-ANALYSIS OR ASSESSMENT (OR LCA)
The study of the environmental impacts of a product or service over its entire life cycle.
RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES (RECS)
Tradable environmental commodities in the United States which represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour of electricity from an eligible renewable energy resource.
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
A combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work (30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS).
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
An approach to progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
VOC
Volatile organic compounds are carcinogens found in paint, finishes, synthetic foams, fabrics and stains. Most labels should indicate if something has low or zero VOCs.
WHITE TAGS
Documents certifying that a certain reduction of energy consumption has been attained.