LEED 7 - 10

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

chemicals found in many products that can evaporate, or “off gas”, at normal indoor temperatures and pressures

SUFFICIENCY

refers to a set of measures and practices that avoid demand for energy, materials, land, and water while delivering human well-being

MATERIAL CIRCULARITY

where resources are continuously reused and recycled, reducing dependence on virgin resources and minimizing waste

MATERIAL EFFICIENCY

using less material to perform the same function or produce the same results

LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)

evaluates the environmental impact of a building product or a whole building project over its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to construction and disposal,

• providing valuable information for decision-making related to design, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual reuse, recycling, or disposal.

OVERAGE

the extra material that was ordered just in case it’s needed

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (EQ)

encompasses the conditions in space that affect people’s health, safety, well-being, and quality of life

INCLUSIVE DESIGN / UNIVERSAL DESIGN

a creative approach focused on making the built environment accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and demographics

THERMAL COMFORT

subjective sense of satisfaction with their thermal conditions

Environmental + personal factors:

• air temperature, air movement

• activity level, clothing

  • humidity, radiant heat

DAYLIGHTING

intentionally allowing natrual light into a space through windows, skylights, or other transparent or translucent openings

• daylighting designs rely primarily on indirect and diffused light rather than direct sunlight

  • often include shading systems to prevent glare and unwanted heat gain

BIOPHILIC DESIGN

the practice of connecting people and nature in places of cultural and ecological significance within the built environment and communities

• aim to foster a connection between people and nature, improving well-being and environmental stewardship

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)

from someone else’s cigarette, cigar, pipe, or electronic smoking device

• breathing in ETS is known as passive smoking, second hand smoking, or involuntary smoking

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

air quality within and around buildings and structures especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants

PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)

a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in both indoor and outdoor air

• dust, dirt, soot or smoke

  • some so small you need a microscope

PM_2.5

aerosol particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less

GREEN CLEANING

encompasses cleaning processes and products that reduce environmental impact, limit people’s exposure to toxic chemicals, and support healthier IAQ for all building occupants

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

a method of pest management that protects human health and the surrounding environment, and improves economic returns through the most effective, least-risk option

DEMAND-CONTROLLED VENTILATION

automatically adjusts the airflow rate based on signals from air-pollutant sensors or occupancy sensors

• most use carbon dioxide levels

CONTINOUS INDOOR AIR MONITORING

a way to automatically measure levels of indoor air pollutants frequently (__ x per hour)

• measures carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)

  • can include particulates, total VOCs or specific VOC (like formaldehyde)

PASSIVE SURVIVABILITY

a building’s ability to maintain critical life-support conditions if services such as power, heating fuel, or water are lost

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE

the process of taking sustainability considerations into account when making investment decisions in the financial sector

LEED CERTIFIED

40 - 49 points

LEED SILVER

50 - 59 points

LEED GOLD

60 - 79 points

LEED PLATINUM

80+ points