SUSTAINABILITY

DEFINITIONS

Key Terms

Building Automation System

A network designed to connect and automate certain functions within the building. This term is often used interchangeably with Building Management System. 

CDPH Emissions Evaluation

The CDPH Emissions Evaluation indicates that a product’s air quality emissions have been tested according to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2-2017 and complies with the VOC limits in Table 4-1 of the method. The manufacturers should provide laboratory test results to demonstrate CDPH compliance.

Cradle to Cradle

A science-based evaluation certificate that assesses a product’s impact on human health and the environment. See Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels.

Decarbonization

Carbon is a term used to describe a range of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and simplify climate terminology. Decarbonization is the reduction of GHG emissions through the use of low GHG power sources, achieving a lower output of pollutants in the atmosphere.

Declare Label

The Declare Label is a material health of nutrition label for building products. ILFI issued Product label: Declare labels designated as Red List Free, LBC Red List Free, or Declared. Declare labels designated as LBC Red List Approved or LBC Compliant that demonstrate content inventory to 0.1% (1000 ppm).

Electrification

The process of replacing technologies that use fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) with technologies that use electricity as their source of energy.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A transparent, objective report that communicates what a product is made of and how it impacts the environment across its entire life cycle. EPDs help support carbon emissions reduction by allowing a comparison of the impacts of different materials and products in order to select the most sustainable option.

EV-Ready

To be LEED EV-Ready, include a dedicated electrical circuit with sufficient capacity for each required space. Each circuit shall have conduit and wire sufficient to provide Level 2 charging or greater and shall end at an electrical box or enclosure located near each required space.

Health Product Declaration (HPD)

Health Product Declarations (HPDs) provide a full disclosure of the potential chemicals of concern in products by comparing product ingredients to a set of priority “hazard” lists based on the GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals and additional lists from other government agencies. The end use product has a published and complete Health Product Declaration with full disclosure of known hazards in compliance with the Health Product Declaration Open Standard.

The Standard

The Standard refers to Nike’s GPS Sustainability Design Standard which is mandated for all Nike GPS projects to follow.

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) or Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC)

Organic compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints and refrigerants but can also be found in building materials and furniture. VOCs are released once these products are in our buildings, which negatively impacts air quality. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, many of which have adverse health effects.

Acronyms