LEED GA Key Terms

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

a cradle-to-grave method to quantify product or building impacts

phases of LCA

raw material extraction —> manufacturing —> transportation —> use —> end of life

Life Cycle Cost (LCC)

cost of green buildings & advantages of investing in more efficient building products or systems

What is considered in LCC?

initial costs, hard costs (physical things), soft costs (paperwork/fees), operating costs, maintenance costs

Triple Bottom Line

a business concept that pushes firms to measure their social and environmental impact, in addition to their financial performance (3 P’s: people, planet, profit)

LEED

A green building rating system by USGBC that evaluates sustainability and awards certification

USGBC

A membership-based non-profit organization that promotes sustainable design & construction

GBCI

An organization that performs third party reviews and administers LEED certifications and credentials

LEED Online

project teams use this to manage the LEED certification process

LEED Rating Systems

BD+C, ID+C, O+M, ND, Homes, Cities & Communities, LEED Recertification, LEED Zero

credits

are optional; earn points

prerequisites

are required; no points

CIR

A formal project-specific inquiry when guidance isn’t clear

Interpretation

published clarifications on LEED requirements for broad use

Waste Management

Use less waste (SOURCE REDUCTION), reuse existing buildings or portions, recycling, consider new technology, compost

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

a declaration given for green building products, which assesses the life cycle impact of a product

Multi-attribute

Evaluate products across several criteria areas, not one

Five criteria areas for MATERIALS & RESOURCES

1. Climate Health (EPD)

2. Human Health (HPD)

3. Ecosystem Health (FSC)

4. Social Equity (JUST Label)

5. Circular Economy (Recycled content)

Documentation (proof)

Third-party certifications, ecolabels, declarations

Circularity

Reuse, recycled content, take-back, durability, and design for material loops

Recycled content (pre/post):

1. pre-consumer: material with percentage content from factory scrap

2. post-consumer: material with percentage content from consumer waste

Responsible sourcing

credible certifications (ex: FSC) for ethical supply chains

Health-related ingredients

Assess hazards (ex: HPDs, restricted substances like asbestos)

Source separated

recovered construction materials, sorted and sent to a recycler (100%) counted

Salvaged

recovered for reuse instead of being thrown or recycled (200% counted)

Alternative daily cover/vegetated waste

Do not count in diversion calculations

Operational Carbon

Emissions from running a building (energy use and refrigerants)

Electrification

Replacing on-site fossil fuel systems with electric alternatives to cut operational carbon

PM (particulate matter)

a type of air pollutant (solid and liquid) suspended in the air

PM10: dust from roads, construction, pollen, mold

PM2.5: smoke from vehicles, industrial emissions, burning wood, wildfire smoke

Rating system

A framework of prerequisites and optional credits used to evaluate a project’s sustainabilty

Arc

A platform to register projects and track performance data used for LEED certification

LEED project boundary

The portion of the site submitted for LEED certification

Development footprint

The area of the site impacted by construction, including building, landscape, and parking

Greenfield

Previously undeveloped land, often sensitive; avoid or protect it in LEED

Previously developed site

Land that has been built on or has been disturbed by human activity

Embodied Carbon

Emissions associated with materials extraction, manufacturing, transport, and end-of-life

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A verified document reporting a product’s life-cycle impacts

Heat Island

Higher temperatures in developed areas due to heat-absorbing materials and low vegetation

Albedo/Solar Reflectance

A surface’s ability to reflect sunlight; 0 absorbs, 1 reflects

Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)

A measure of a surface’s ability to reject solar heat (reflectance + emissivity)

Xeriscaping

Landscape design that reduces irrigation through native/adaptive plants and efficient systems

Low-impact development

Site design that manages stormwater with features like bioswales and green roofs

Green Infrastructure

Natural Systems like tree canopy, wetlands, and vegetated buffers that manage water

Biophilic Design

Design that connects people with nature to support health and well-being

SMACNA practices

Construction IAQ guidelines that help control dust, moisture, and pollutants during work

ASHRAE 62.1

A standard for ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality

ASHRAE 55

A standard for thermal comfort conditions used in LEED credits

Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)

The goals and requirements the design must meet, used in commissioning

Basis of Design (BOD)

The technical approach and design that meets the OPR and project goals

green leases

Leasing terms that align owner and tenant actions for energy, water, and health outcomes

tenant guidelines

instructions for tenants to maintain building sustainability features and performance

Regional Priority

location-specific credits prioritized for extra points in LEED

LEED reference guides

official guidance for implementing prerequisites and credits

Scorecard

A checklist used by teams to plan targeted prerequisites and credits

Who develops LEED and who reviews projects?

USGBC; GBCI

Project registration

enroll a project, pay fees, and access submission on Arc

Why define the LEED project boundary carefully

to include all relevant scope and avoid excluding areas to gain advantage

Why use scorecard early?

to align goals, select strategies, and set expectations for certification

Who manages documentation on a LEED project?

typically the LEED administrator

When should a design charette occur?

pre-design/schematic

What are OPR and BOD used for?

to define goals and verify design/commissioning to meet them

addendum (LEED)

an official update or correction to the rating system or guidance

Why pursue third-party verification?

Increases credibility and ensures requirements are met

permanent location MPR

projects designed to move (boats/mobile) are ineligible for LEED

Why are reasonable LEED project boundaries required?

to not exclude difficult areas

why is project size an MPR?

ensures meaningful scope and performance tracking

What is development footprint used for?

to assess site impacts like grading, paving, and landscaping

property boundary

the legal perimeter of the site under control of the owner

What happens after registration is paid?

team gains access in Arc to manage documentation and reviews

preliminary review

the first GBCI round with comments and pending decisions

final review

a follow-up submission addressing comments that leads to a certification decision

appeal in LEED

a paid resubmission to contest a denied prerequisite or credit

Why keep record of project documents?

To verify claims like EPDs, HPDs, and certifications at review

Who typically leads the LEED strategy?

The owner and design team set goals; LEED APs guide compliance

How do integrative workshops help

They reveal cross-credit synergies and reduce rework

Commissioning (LEED)

a process to verify systems meet OPR and operate as intended

Why include contractors in LEED planning?

to align specs, submittals, and practices with credits and prerequisites

How are prerequisites verified?

By submitting forms, narratives, and documentation to GBCI

Decarbonization (LEED)

Reducing on-site combustion, improving efficiency, and managing refrigerants

Why track performance data?

to find saving, verify outcomes, and support recertification

innovation strategy

a novel sustainable practice not directly addressed by an existing credit

pilot credits

provisional strategies teams can try; feedback informs future updates

Regional Priority points

Achieving specified local credits yields extra points

Why use previously developed sites?

To limit habitat loss and protect sensitive lands

Why protect greenfield areas?

To conserve habitats and preserve ecosystem functions

Why plan for equity in projects?

To improve access, health, and benefits for local communities

Why limit light pollution?

to protect night skies and wildlife while maintaining safety

What does leak protection enable?

faster response to anomalies and reduced water waste

Why submeter end uses?

to pinpoint where energy or water is used and target savings

Why prioritize native plants?

to support biodiversity and reduce irrigation needs

tree canopy value

shade lowers heat islands, cools microclimates, and improves comfort

reflective roofing

to reduce heat gain and mitigate heat islands

infiltration testing

reduces air leakage and peak loads (energy savings)

energy modeling

to estimate site energy and evaluate efficiency strategies

What does energy modeling help project teams compare?

The performance of different design options to identify the most energy-efficient solutions

green lease

a lease that aligns owner and tenant to meet sustainability goals

embodied carbon data

to inform lower-carbon material choices

tenant guideline

a document guiding occupants to maintain sustainability features

pre-submittal QA review

to catch documentation gaps before GBCI review