is a nationally accepted rate that represents the largest amount of rainfall expected over a 24-hour period during a 2-year interval. The rate is the basis for planning and designing stormwater management facilities and features.

property left behind intentionally and permanently when it appears that the former owner does not intend to come back, pick it up, or use it. One may have abandoned the property of contract rights by not doing what is required by the contract. However, an easement and other land rights are not abandoned property just because of nonuse. Abandoned land is defined as land not being used at the present time but that may have utilities and infrastructure in place.

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.

is synonymous with mechanical ventilation.

2009 SS
reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization, or irrigation once their root systems are established. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance and not invasive.
2009 ND
a species that reliably grows well in a given habitat with minimal attention from humans in the form of winter protection, pest protection, water irrigation, or fertilization once its root systems are established in the soil. Adapted plants are low maintenance but not invasive.
2008 Homes
a groundcover, perennial, shrub, or tree that, once established, reliably grows well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest protection, irrigation, or fertilization. Adapted plants are considered to be low maintenance but not invasive.

a groundcover, perennial, shrub, or tree that, once established, reliably grows well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest protection, irrigation, or fertilization. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance but not invasive.

is the renovation of a space for a purpose different from the original.

a substance added to a product (such as paint or flooring) that kills or inhibits growth of microorganisms. Some products, such as linoleum, exhibit natural antimicrobial properties. However, adding antimicrobial agents to building finishes has not been scientifically proven to reduce infection transfer more effectively than standard cleaning procedures. See U.S. EPA factsheet, Consumer Products Treated with Pesticides (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/treatart.htm).

2009 IEQ
is any substance that is used to bond 1 surface to another by attachment. Adhesives include bonding primers, adhesive primers, and adhesive primers for plastics. (SCAQMD Rule 1168).
2008 Homes
any substance used to bond one surface to another by attachment. Adhesives include adhesive bonding primers, adhesive primers, adhesive primers for plastics, and any other primer.

areas that share a property line or other common boundary feature

a site having at least 25% of its boundary bordering parcels that are each at least 75% previously developed. The circulation network itself does not constitute previously developed land; instead, it is the status of the property on the other side of the segment of circulation network that matters. Any fraction of the boundary that borders a water body 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 (122 meters) in width and no more than 500 feet (155 meters) in any one place. The undeveloped land must be protected from residential and nonresidential construction by easement, deed restriction, or other enforceable legal instrument.

is an aerosol product in which the spray mechanism is permanently housed in a nonrefillable can. Designed for hand-held application, these products do not need ancillary hoses or spray equipment. Aerosol adhesives include special-purpose spray adhesives, mist spray adhesives, and web spray adhesives. (SCAQMD Rule 1168)

is a composite panel product derived from recovered agricultural waste fiber from sources cereal straw, sugarcane bagasse, sunflower husk, walnut shells, coconut husks, and agricultural prunings. The raw fibers are processed and mixed with resins to produce panel products with characteristics similar to those derived from wood fiber. The following conditions describe which products must comply with the requirements:
1. The product is inside the building's waterproofing system.
2. Composite components used in assemblies are to be included (e.g., door cores, panel substrates).
3. The product is part of the base building systems.

are made from agricultural fiber. Examples include particleboard, mediumdensity fiberboard (MDF), plywood, oriented-strand board (OSB), wheatboard, and strawboard.

is the process of treating air to meet the requirements of a conditioned space by controlling its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

are mechanically indirect heating, ventilating, or air conditioning systems in which air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the space served, and conveyed to and from the space by means of a fan and duct system. (NEEB 1997 edition)

surface reflectivity. High-albedo materials are very reflective.

a path with a road surface over which emergency and typical passenger vehicles can pass at all times.

a publicly accessible right-of-way, generally located midblock, that can accommodate slowspeed 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.

includes improvement work in addition to the rearrangement of any interior space by the construction of non-bearing walls, partitions, ceilings, and floors, the addition or elimination of any interior door or window, the extension or rearrangement of any mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) or service system (peripheral or core), and the installation of any additional equipment or fixtures. Typically work does not extend to the primary structural components, exterior shell, or roof of the building.

cover material other than earthen material placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each operating day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavengingÊ(CalRecycle).

nonpotable water from other than public utilities, on-site surface sources, and subsurface natural freshwater sources. Examples include graywater, on-site reclaimed water, collected rainwater, captured condensate, and rejected water from reverse osmosis systems. (IgCC)

use low-polluting, nongasoline fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, propane, compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, methanol, and ethanol. In LEED, efficient gaselectric hybrid vehicles are included in this group.

is an underground water-bearing rock formation that supplies groundwater, wells, and springs.

ancillary learning spaces are spaces where good communication is important to a student's educational progress but for which the primary educational functions are informal learning, social interaction or similar activity other than formal instruction. These areas include, but are not limited to, corridors, cafeterias, gymnasia, and indoor swimming pools.

are coatings formulated and recommended for use in preventing the corrosion of ferrous metal substrates.

A formal written request to review the content of a specific exam question for accuracy, validity, or errors in content and grammar. Appeals must be submitted in accordance with the guidelines in the LEED Professional Disciplinary and Exam Appeals Policy. Exam scores are not modified under any conditions.

GBCI makes every effort to ensure that all application reviews are of the highest quality. In the event that a project team wishes to appeal a final decision of a LEED review team, GBCI will conduct an appeal review subject to the following conditions:

• All appeals of final review decisions must be filed within 25 business days of GBCI's posting of the final review decision.
• The project team is responsible for paying the appeal review fee for each credit or prerequisite appealed.
• All appeals shall be conducted in accordance with the GBCI Appeal Review Policy which can be found in the LEED Certification Policy Manual.

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.

The process of applying for an exam with GBCI; it is the first step to taking a LEED Professional Exam. Applications are specific to a credential or certificate. All applications are subject to audit. Applications are valid for one year and provide three chances to take the exam. Candidates will be notified within seven days if their application is approved or if more information is required. If the application is denied or expires, they must wait three months before reapplying.

A review of a LEED Professional Exam application for eligibility. The auditor reviews the eligibility documentation submitted according to the guidelines in the applicable candidate handbook. Five to seven percent of applications are audited and candidates are notified of the results within seven days.

A fee which must be paid before a credential or certificate application can be submitted. The application fee pays for the cost of auditing and maintaining the LEED Professional Exams. The application fee is $50 for LEED Green Associates and LEED for Homes Green Raters and $100 for LEED APs with specialty.

is any built-in, nonstructural portion of a roof system, such as skylights, ventilators, mechanical equipment, partitions, and solar energy panels.

are ecologically designed treatment systems in which a diverse community of biological organisms (e.g., bacteria, plants, fish) treat wastewater.

is a substance used as a sealant primer on nonporous materials.

primer is a substance used as a sealant on porous materials.

midpoint in the family-income range for a metropolitan statistical area, the non-metro parts of a region, or local equivalent to either. The figure often is used as a basis to stratify incomes into low, moderate and upper ranges.

is a weighted average calculation that may be performed for buildings with multiple roof surfaces to demonstrate that the total roof area has an average solar reflectance index equal to or greater than that of a theoretical roof 75% of whose surfaces have an SRI of 78 and 25% have an SRI of 30.

a measure of the extent to which speech exceeds ambient sound levels. AI varies from 0 (absolute privacy) to 1.0 (perfect intelligibility, no privacy). (ANSI Standard S3.5)

can be either a product formulated from multiple materials (e.g., concrete) or a product made up of subcomponents (e.g., a workstation).

is the percentage of material in a product that is either postconsumer or preconsumer recycled content. It is determined by dividing the weight of the recycled content by the overall weight of the assembly.

the limits used by school districts to determine what school students attend based on where they live.

are slides, film, video, sound recordings, and other such devices used to present information.

autocontrol faucets have automatic fixture sensors or metering controls.

are motion detectors that automatically turn on and turn off lavatories, sinks, water closets, and urinals. Sensors can be hard wired or battery operated.

water that flows backward through a system. Backwash can be used to unplug filtration media.

an adjustable plate that regulates air flow within ducts.

the calculation of material cost that does not include furniture or medical furniture and furnishings.

materials and products permanently and semi-permanently installed in the project (flooring, case work, wall coverings etc). This does not include movable furniture or medical furniture and furnishings

the annual energy cost for a building design, used as a baseline for comparison with above-standard design.

(see preproject) before the LEED 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

use is the amount of water used by conventional irrigation in the region.

a calculated projection of building water use assuming codecompliant fixtures and fittings with no additional savings compared with the design case or actual water meter data.

the information necessary to accomplish the owner's project requirements, including system descriptions, indoor environmental quality criteria, design assumptions, and references to applicable codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines.

is a component of a standard, rectilinear building design. It is the open area defined by a building element such as columns or a window. Typically, there are multiple identical bays in succession.

LEED v4
bedroom a room or space at least 70 square feet (6.5 square meters), with a ceiling height of at least 6 feet, 8 inches (2.03 meters), an egress window, permanently installed closet, and that has a means to separate the space from the rest of the house (often with doors) that is used or intended to be used for sleeping. A den, library, or home office that meets those requirements may count as a bedroom, but living rooms and foyers do not.
2008 Homes
in LEED for Homes, any room or space that could be used or is intended to be used for sleeping purposes and meets local fire and building code requirements.

are intended for employees who ride bicycles to work and may include coupons for yearly bicycle tune-ups or having supplies on site for basic self-repairs (e.g., tire pump, patch kit).

a continuous network consisting of any combination of the following:

• physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide;
• off-street bicycle paths or trails at least 8 feet wide for a two-way path and at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide for a one-way path
• streets designed for a target speed of 25 mph (40 kmh)

Homes v4:
a continuous network consisting of any combination of the following:

• physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide;
• off-street bicycle paths or trails constructed before 2010 that are at least 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide for a two-way path and at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide for a one-way path;
• off-street bicycle paths or trails constructed in or after 2010 that are at least 10 feet (3 meters) wide for a two-way path and at least 5 (1.5 meters) feet wide for a one-way path;
• residential streets designed for a target speed of 25 mph (40 kmh) or slower; and
• commercial or mixed-use streets designed for a target speed of 30 mph (45 kmh) or slower.

in LEED, include outdoor bicycle racks, bicycle lockers, and indoor bicycle storage rooms.

is intended for employees and customers and may include a map identifying bicycle routes to the project site, posted in a location on the property that is easily accessible to employees and customers; it can also be posted online.

the distance that a bicyclist must travel between origins and destinations, the entirety of which must be on a bicycle network.

is a measure of how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water. It is used in water quality management and assessment, ecology, and environmental science.

is the variety of life in all forms, levels, and combinations, including ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.

are electrical power systems that run on renewable fuels derived from organic materials, such as wood by-products and agricultural waste. In LEED, biofuels include untreated wood waste (e.g., mill residues), agricultural crops or waste, animal waste and other organic waste, and landfill gas.

are power systems that run on renewable fuels derived from organic materials, such as wood by-products and agricultural waste. Examples of biofuels include untreated wood waste, agricultural crops and residues, animal waste, other organic waste, and landfill gas.

is the use of chemical or physical water treatments to inhibit bacterial growth in cooling towers.

is plant material from trees, grasses, or crops that can be converted to heat energy to produce electricity.

the hypothesis that humans have an innate need to connect with nature.

wastewater containing urine or fecal matter that should be discharged to the sanitary drainage system of the building or premises in accordance with the International Plumbing Code. Wastewater from kitchen sinks (sometimes differentiated by the use of a garbage disposal), showers, or bathtubs is considered blackwater under some state or local codes.

is the release of a portion of the recirculating water from a cooling tower; this water carries dissolved solids that can cause mineral buildup.

a neglected, rundown or deteriorated condition sufficient to constitute a threat to human health, safety, and public welfare.

land bounded by the project boundary, waterfront, publicly dedicated or permanently deeded transportation or utility right-of-way, and/or comparable land division features.

the distance along a block face; specifically, the distance from an intersecting Right-of-Way(ROW) edge along a block face, when that face is adjacent to a qualifying circulation network segment, to the next ROW edge intersecting that block face, except for intersecting alley ROWs.

a wood preservative that is nontoxic to humans but highly toxic to wood-boring insects, such as termites.

is the region within an occupied space between 3 and 6 feet above the floor. Note that this definition varies from that of ASHRAE 62.1-2007, which states that the breathing zone is between 3 inches and 6 feet from the floor, and 2 feet from the walls as well as fixed air conditioning equipment.

real property or the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or possible presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminate.

a luminaire classification system that classifies luminaires in terms of backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G) (taken from IES/IDA Model Lighting Ordinance). BUG ratings supersede the former cutoff ratings.

the time at which all habitable buildings on the project are complete and ready for occupancy.

LEED v4 LT
the portion of the site where construction can occur, including land voluntarily set aside and not constructed on. When used in density calculations, buildable land excludes public rights-of-way and land excluded from development by codified law.
LEED v4 ND
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 that the land is protected from residential and nonresidential construction by easement, deed restriction, or other enforceable legal instrument.
LEED v4 Homes
the portion of the site where construction can occur, including land voluntarily set aside and not constructed on. When used in density calculations, buildable land excludes public rights-of-way and land excluded from development by codified law.
2008 Homes
the portion of a site where construction can occur. Buildable land excludes public streets and other public rights-of-way, land occupied by nonresidential structures, public parks and land excluded from residential development by law.

uses computer-based monitoring to coordinate, organize, and optimize building control subsystems, including lighting, equipment scheduling, and alarm reporting.

is the floor area of the building divided by the total area of the site (square feet per acre).

or shell, is the exterior surface of a building's construction - the walls, windows, roof, and floor.

a structure's primary and secondary weatherproofing system, including waterproofing membranes and air- and water-resistive barrier materials, and all building elements outside that system.

is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.

everything inside a structure's weatherproofing membrane.

the manmade alterations to a specific area, including its natural resources. On a home site, this includes everything that has been disturbed during construction.

A publically available transit service that operates on streets and roadways and uses roadway vehicles. The service is regular, year-round and on a fixed route.

A publicly available transit service that operates on streets and roadways and uses roadway vehicles. The service is regular, year-round and on a fixed route.

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

are the regularly scheduled hours of occupancy. These include all hours when the building is open to the public, as well as any regularly scheduled activities (such as standard daily preopening or postclosing activities).

is a bus or shuttle service that is privately operated and not available to the general public. In LEED, a campus or private bus line that falls within 1/4 mile of the project site and provides transportation service to the public can contribute to earning credits.

The process that removes an existing exam appointment. Candidates can cancel appointment on Prometric's website at www.prometric.com/gbci or by phone at 1-888-215-4154 within the US; please refer to the candidate handbooks for international numbers. The confirmation number is required to cancel online. Prometric charges $50 for appointments canceled or rescheduled within 30 days of the exam appointment.

Prometric’s department that handles complaints, appeals, and refunds based on Prometric faults (e.g., the air conditioning was broken at the test center) and makes accommodations for candidates who miss an appointment due to a documented emergency. Contact Prometric’s candidate care at 1-800-853-6769; please refer to the candidate handbooks for international numbers. (See also Prometric.)

Candidates’ resource for GBCI and Prometric policies and procedures throughout the exam process. Each exam has its own handbook, which includes exam specifications; study materials; sample questions; GBCI and Prometric contact information; and application, registration, and scheduling information. Candidates should read and understand their exam's handbook, including all policies, procedures, and consequences.

are an indicator of ventilation effectiveness inside buildings. CO2 concentrations greater than 530 ppm above outdoor CO2 conditions generally indicate inadequate ventilation. Absolute concentrations of CO2 greater than 800 to 1,000 ppm generally indicate poor air quality for breathing.

a unit of carbon dioxide equivalent that is reduced, avoided, or sequestered to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere (WRI).

is an arrangement by which 2 or more people share a vehicle for transportation.

the surface area of a roof that intercepts rainwater for a rainwater harvesting system.

a network of tubing with inlets throughout the house designed to remove dust and debris to a remote receptacle. A central vacuum system is more efficient than a traditional vacuum cleaner.

Formal notification from GBCI of passing a LEED Professional Exam and earning a LEED Professional Certificate or Credential. Certificates arrive two to three months after a candidate passes the exam.

a written statement provided by a vendor (such as a licensed abatement contractor) to an owner acknowledging receipt of specified material, outlining how it will be protected prior to destruction, and verifying that it will be appropriately destroyed or abated

the path taken by raw materials, processed materials, and products from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of processing, transformation, manufacturing and distribution. A chain-of-custody certificate number on invoices for nonlabeled products indicates that the certifier's guidelines for product accounting have been followed. A chain-of-custody certification is not required by distributors of a product that is individually labeled with the Forest Stewardship Council logo and manufacturer's chain-of-custody number. Chain of Custody (CoC) certification requirements are determined by Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Standard 40-004 v2-1.

is awarded to companies that produce, sell, promote, or trade forest products after audits verify proper accounting of material flows and proper use of the Forest Stewardship Council name and logo. The COC certificate number is listed on invoices for nonlabeled products to document that an entity has followed FSC guidelines for product accounting.

An individual that is a member of a local USGBC Chapter. There are currently no discounts on LEED Professional Exams for Chapter Members.

LEED v4
an intensive, multiparty workshop that brings people from different disciplines and backgrounds together to explore, generate, and collaboratively produce design options
2008 Homes
an intensive, collaborative session in which a project team discusses design options related to all aspects of a building construction.
2009 Healthcare
a collaborative brainstorming session that draws on the expertise of participants to integrate sustainability strategies across all aspects of building design. Charrettes may occur repeatedly in an integrated design process.

includes the use of biocidal, conditioning, dispersant, and scale-inhibiting chemicals to control biological growth, scale, and corrosion in cooling towers. Alternatives to conventional chemical treatment include ozonation, ionization, and exposure to ultraviolet light.

a compound of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine, once commonly used in refrigeration, that depletes the stratospheric ozone layer.

a fluid, containing hydrocarbons, that absorbs heat from a reservoir at low temperatures and rejects heat at higher temperatures. When emitted into the atmosphere, CFCs cause depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

is the movement of workstations and people within a space.

a system that returns cold water to the water heater (instead of down the drain) until hot water reaches the faucet. A circulation loop is one component of a structured plumbing system.

all motorized, nonmotorized, and mixed-mode travel ways permanently accessible to the public, not including driveways, parking lots, highway access ramps, and rights-of-way exclusively dedicated to rail. It is measured in linear feet.

refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008)

the climate of a project's location can have a significant effect on environmental design and construction (particularly in terms of heating and cooling); thus the LEED for Homes rating system awards credit to projects that include sustainable goals appropriate for the local climate.

a design for furnaces and water heaters in which the supply air is ducted from the outside and exhaust gases are ducted to the outdoors. All elements of the system are sealed to prevent combustion exhaust from leaking into the home.

a system that acts as a heat sink for heat-rejecting building and medical equipment by recirculating water. Because the water is sealed within the system, some closedloop cooling systems use nonpotable water (such as recycled process water harvested from an air handler's cooling coil condensate).

measures undertaken by a producer to accept its own and sometimes other manufacturers' products at the end of their useful life and recover and recycle the materials. To count toward credit compliance, a program must be widely available.

measures undertaken by a producer to accept its own and sometimes other manufacturers' products at the end of their useful life and recover and recycle the materials. To count toward credit compliance, a program must be widely available.

The 2-year period in which LEED Professionals must complete their credential maintenance requirements. It begins on the enrollment date and ends 2 years minus 1 day from the start date.

material used to seal parking lots and driveways, typically containing a 5% concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known carcinogens that may contaminate water bodies.

2009 IEQ
is applied to beautify, protect, or provide a barrier to a surface. (SCAQMD Rule 1113)
2009 EBOM
A coating is applied to beautify, protect, or provide a barrier to a surface. Flat coatings register a gloss of less than 15 on an 85-degree meter or less than 5 on a 60-degree meter. Nonflat coatings register a gloss of 5 or greater on a 60-degree meter and a gloss of 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter. (SCAQMD Rule 1113)

generates both electrical power and thermal energy from a single fuel source.

the most common gases resulting from fossil fuel combustion, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases pose health hazards at high concentrations.

are the specific original design conditions that at minimum include temperature, humidity, and air speed as well as outdoor temperature design conditions, outdoor humidity design conditions, clothing, and expected activity. (ASHRAE 55Ð2004)

is used in operational processes related to a product or service, such as dishwashing, clothes washing, and ice making.

construction and demolition waste that is combined of the project site and hauled away for sorting

is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements.

is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements.

is the schedule of activities related to existing building commissioning, including the investigation and analysis, implementation, and ongoing commissioning.

is a document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources, and documentation requirements of the commissioning process.

is a systematic quality-focused effort to ensure that building systems are designed, specified, procured, installed, and functioning in accordance with the owner's intent. The process uses planning, documentation, and verification of testing to review and oversee the activities of both designer and constructor.

documents the commissioning process, including a commissioning program overview, identification of the commissioning team, and description of the commissioning process activities.

is the contract language used in the construction documents to detail the objective, scope, and implementation of the construction and acceptance phases of the commissioning process as developed in the design phase of the commissioning plan. This allows the construction contractor to ensure that these activities are considered in proposals for the construction work.

includes those people responsible for working together to carry out the commissioning process.

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.

At a minimum, all the gross floor area within the exterior walls of a building that is within a single occupant's control and contains all building components altered as part of the LEED certifying construction scope. For more information, see the MPR Supplemental Guidance, found on all LEED 2009 rating system pages at usgbc.org.

is the total area of finished ceilings, floors, full-height walls and demountable partitions, interior doors, and built-in case goods in the completed project. It does not include exterior windows and doors.

Effective September 16, 2011, GBCI increased the appeal fee for specific credits to $800. The fee increase impacts the following credits exclusively. The fee increase will help cover costs to review these complex credits. Appeal fees for all other credits and CIRs will not change.

an item that, when assembled with other elements, makes up modular furniture. Modular furniture components include panels (walls, partitions, dividers), work surfaces, storage elements, electrical and data cables, connectors, and supports.

the STC rating of any assembly comprising two or more subassemblies.

2009 IEQ
consists of wood or plant particles or fibers bonded together by a synthetic resin or binder. Examples include plywood, particle-board, oriented-strand board (OSB), mediumdensity fiberboard (MDF), and composite door cores. The following conditions describe which products must comply with the credit requirements:
1. The product is inside the building's waterproofing system.
2. Composite wood components used in assemblies are included (e.g., door cores, panel substrates, plywood sections of I-beams).
3. The product is part of the base building systems.
2008 Homes, 2009 IDC
a product consisting of wood or plant particles or fibers bonded together by a synthetic resin or binder. Examples include plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board (OSB), medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and composite door cores.

CERCLA, is more commonly known as Superfund. Enacted in 1980, CERCLA addresses abandoned or historical waste sites and contamination by taxing the chemical and petroleum industries and providing federal authority to respond to releases of hazardous substances.

rearranges the standard workweek (5 consecutive 8-hour days in a week), increasing the daily hours and decreasing the number of days in the work cycle. For example, instead of working 8-hour days Monday through Friday, employees work 10-hour days for 4 days per week, or 9-hour days for 9 of 10 consecutive days.

is the ratio of the level of dissolved solids in the recirculating water to the level found in the entering makeup water. A higher concentration ratio results from a lower bleed-off rate; increasing the ratio above a certain point, however, leads to scaling, and water savings diminish after a certain level. This ratio is also called the cycles of concentration. Cycles refers to the number of times dissolved minerals in the water are concentrated compared with makeup water, not to water flow over the tower or to on-off cycles.

interior area with a ceiling height of at least 6 feet, 8 inches (2.03 meters) that includes rooms that are or could be heated and/or cooled, measured in square feet (or square meters). It generally includes the main living space, and any basement area, finished or unfinished. It does not include garages, attics, or crawlspaces.

2009 IEQ
is the part of a building that is heated or cooled, or both, for the comfort of occupants. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)
2008 Homes
interior area that utilizes any method of air-conditioning or heating to control temperature and/or humidity levels, usually measured in cubic feet.

The process that displays the date, time, location, exam, and other useful information related to an existing exam appointment. Candidates can confirm appointments on Prometric's website at www.prometric.com/gbci or by phone at 1-888-215-4154 within the US; please refer to the candidate handbooks for international numbers. The confirmation number is required to confirm online.

The 16-digit number issued by Prometric for a candidate’s exam appointment. A confirmation number is used for confirming, rescheduling, and canceling exam appointments at Prometric. The eligibility ID cannot be used for confirming, rescheduling, or canceling exam appointments.

LEED v4
the number of publicly accessible intersections of the circulation network per square mile. 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 (0.2 hectare), public facility campuses, airports, rail yards, slopes over 15%, and areas nonbuildable under codified law or the rating system.
2009 ND
the number of publicly accessible intersections per square mile, including any combination of streets, dedicated alleys, transit rights-of-way, and nonmotorized rights-of-way. 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.

is an engineered system designed to simulate natural wetland functions for water purification. In LEED, constructed wetlands are essentially treatment systems that remove contaminants from wastewater.

includes waste and recyclables generated from construction and from the renovation, demolition, or deconstruction of preexisting structures. It does not include land-clearing debris, such as soil, vegetation, and rocks.

outlines measures to minimize contamination in a specific project building during construction and describes procedures to flush the building of contaminants prior to occupancy.

the project's development footprint plus the areas around the improvement where construction crews, equipment, and/or materials are staged and moved during construction.

includes all of the above plus soil, vegetation, and rock from land clearing.

are unwanted airborne elements that may reduce air quality. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

The units in which LEED Professionals earn credential maintenance. LEED Green Associates must earn 15 CE hours (3 of which must be LEED-specific) biennially. LEED APs with specialty must complete 30 CE hours (6 of which must be LEED-specific) biennially.

are operating mechanisms that enable a person to turn on or off devices (e.g., lights, heaters) or adjust systems within a range (e.g., lighting, temperature).

refers to the most common irrigation system used in the region where the building is located. A conventional irrigation system commonly uses pressure to deliver water and distributes it through sprinkler heads above the ground.

grass, typically a monoculture, that requires considerable watering, mowing, and/or fertilizers. What is considered conventional turf may vary by region.

a road, driveway, parking lot, sidewalk or other hard surface that has reduced absorption, retention and emittance of solar heat. Techniques to achieve cool pavement include coloration, porosity and other factors that promote solar reflectivity and cooling through augmented air filtration and evaporation.

uses water to absorb heat from air-conditioning systems and regulate air temperature in a facility.

2009 IEQ
spaces for educational activities where the primary functions are teaching and learning and where good speech communication is critical to a student's academic achievement. These spaces include, but are not limited to, classrooms, enclosed or open plan), instructional pods or activity areas, group instruction rooms, conference rooms, libraries, offices, speech clinics, offices used for educational purposes and music rooms for instruction, practice and performance.
RSS
Formal learning spaces, including 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.

any fluted sheet between one or more inner and outer linings, for example OCC(old corrugated containers).

limitations that may be placed on a property and its use and are made a condition of holding title or lease

Continuing education completed by LEED Professionals to maintain current knowledge of green building and LEED. Credential maintenance requirements ensure the LEED Professional Credentials maintain their relevance in a constantly advancing industry.

A review of the CE hours entered into My Credentials for credential maintenance. CMP staff will review for relevance and adherence to the guidelines outlined in the CMP Guide. Five to seven percent of hours will be audited.

The guidelines for completing the various activities, including authorship, LEED project participation, and volunteer work, that LEED Professional can pursue to maintain their credential. These policies, outlined in the CMP Guide, make completing credential maintenance requirements easy and hassle-free.

in LEED for Homes, a project team's request for clarification on the Rating System. A request is submitted to the Provider, which then forwards it to the appropriate technical advisory sub-committee for action.

a segment of the circulation network that terminates without intersecting another segment of the circulation network

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

are locally determined times when lighting restrictions are imposed. When no local or regional restrictions are in place, 10:00 p.m. is regarded as a default curfew time.

the implementation of the owner's project requirements, developed to confirm the owner's current operational needs and requirements

the amount of solids in cooling tower recirculation compared with the amount of solids in make-up water. Cycle refers to the number of times dissolved minerals in the water are concentrated compared with makeup water, not to water flow over the tower or to on-off cycles.

are photosensors used in conjunction with other switching and dimming devices to control the amount of artificial lighting in relationship to the amount and quality of natural daylight.

is the controlled admission of natural light into a space, used to reduce or eliminate electric lighting.

is the total floor area that meets the performance requirements for daylighting.

the difference between the mean outdoor temperature on a given day and a reference temperature, used to estimate heating and cooling requirements.

is the automatic reduction of outside air to a level below design rates when occupancy is less than design determined by occupancy indicators; such as, time-of-day schedules, a direct count of occupants, or an estimate of occupancy or ventilation rate per person using occupancy sensors.

the automatic circulation of water, triggered by a switch or motion sensor, through a looped system to ensure that hot water is immediately available while keeping unused cold water in the system, saving both water and energy.

a temporary interior wall that can be easily reconfigured. In a healthcare facility, acoustical concerns and embedded equipment, as in a surgery suite, may prevent demountable partitions from being used.

is an area with a design occupant density of 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet (40 square feet or less per person).

LEED v4 LT
the amount of buildings constructed on a given area. Residential buildings are measured as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses. Nonresidential buildings are measured as the floor-area ratio of buildable land area available for nonresidential uses. A combination of both residential and nonresidential buildings is measured as square feet per acre of buildable land. None of the measurements include structured parking.
LEED v4, 2009 ND
the amount of buildings constructed on the project site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre/hectare of buildable land available for residential uses, and for nonresidential buildings as the floor-area ratio of buildable land area available for nonresidential uses. It does not include structured parking.
2008 Homes
the quantity of structures on a site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per acre of buildable land available for residential uses, and for nonresidential buildings as floor area ratio per net acre of buildable land available for nonresidential uses.

is a coefficient used in calculating the landscape coefficient. It modifies the evapotranspiration rate to reflect the water use of a plant or group of plants, particularly with reference to the density of the plant material.

the floor area (in square feet or square meters) of a diagnostic and treatment of clinical department, calculated from the centerline of the walls separating the department from adjacent spaces. Walls and circulations space within the department are included in the calculation. This calculation excludes Inpatient Units.

is the light output of lamps at 40% of their useful life.

the arrangement of features on a site, including softscapes (e.g.,grass, shrubs) and hardscapes (e.g., patios, fountains) but not driveways or areas under roof. Preserved natural areas are not considered part of the designed landscape.

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.

the homes and building lots that surround the new LEED home project that is to be built. A development may be new or preexisting. Also known as community.

LEED v4 LT
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
LEED v4 ND
the total land area of a project site covered by buildings, the circulation network, parking areas, and other typically impermeable surfaces constructed as part of the project
2009-SS
is the total area of the building footprint and area affected by development or by project site activity. Hardscape, access roads, parking lots, nonbuilding facilities, and the building itself are all included in the development footprint.

is the temperature to which air must be cooled for the water vapor it contains to revert to a liquid state.

A printed document provided by Prometric at the conclusion of an exam appointment showing pass or fail exam results. Candidates receive information on their performance in each domain. This information can be used as a learning/study tool should the candidate choose to retest.

means of entering a space without having to leave the floor or pass through another patient's room, dedicated staff space, service or utility space, or major public space. Patients' and public circulation corridors, common sitting areas, and waiting and day space may be part of a direct access route.

is the approach used to determine the calculated area of regularly occupied areas with direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing. The area determination includes full height partitions and other fixed construction prior to installation of furniture.

Code of ethics that articulate standards of conduct for individuals seeking accreditation, holding a credential and certificate, and maintaining that credential or certificate through the LEED Professional Credential and Certificate programs. Additionally, it establishes a fair process for addressing noncompliance.

provides buoyancy-driven air flow rather than conventional forced methods. Air is introduced at a low level and at a temperature slightly below the room ambient, in order to provide a local cooled environment around occupants and heat sources, thus eliminating the need to temper the entire space. (CIBSE Guide FÐ2008)

the consistency with which irrigation water is applied to an area. Distribution uniformity (DU) ranges between 0 and 1, where 1 indicates that the irrigation system is providing perfectly equal coverage. A higher DU means less likelihood of overwatering or underwatering.

a central energy conversion plant and transmission and distribution system that provides thermal energy to a group of buildings (e.g., a central cooling plant on a university campus). It does not include central energy systems that provide only electricity.

the part of a site that is directly affected by construction activity, including any activity that would compact the soil or damage vegetation.

debris from construction or demolition that is not sent to a landfill or incinerator. Strategies for diverting waste include reclamation, recycling and, for certain materials, mulching.

consists of all heating or cooling systems, equipment, and controls located within the project building and site associated with transporting thermal energy into heated or cooled spaces. This includes the thermal connection or interface with the district energy system, secondary distribution systems in the building, and terminal units.

2009 WE
delivers water at low pressure through buried mains and submains. From the submains, water is distributed to the soil from a network of perforated tubes or emitters. Drip irrigation is a high-efficiency type of microirrigation.
2008 Homes
a network of pipes and valves that rest on the soil or underground and slowly deliver water to the root systems of plants. Drip irrigation saves water by minimizing evapotranspiration and topsoil runoff.

an underground structure that collects runoff and distributes it over a large area, increasing absorption and preventing erosion.

a device that supports drywall at a corner with minimal contact with the studs. Drywall clips eliminate the need for additional framing members.

a toilet with two flush volumes, one for solid waste and a reduced volume for liquid waste.

the ability of a building component to perform its function over a long period without extra maintenance or unanticipated repair.

have a useful life of 2 years or more and are replaced infrequently or may require capital program outlays. Examples include furniture, office equipment, appliances, external power adapters, televisions, and audiovisual equipment.

LEED v4
the flow of long-lasting products from the project building after they are fully depreciated and have reached the end of their useful life for normal business operations. It includes leased durable goods returned to their owner, but does not include durable goods that remain functional and are moved to another floor or building.
2009 Retail IDC
consists of durable goods leaving the project site that are fully depreciated and have reached the end of their useful lives for normal business operations.

living quarters intended for long-term occupancy that provide facilities for cooking, sleeping, and sanitation. It does not include hotel rooms.

is the process of assisting in the recovery and management of ecological integrity and includes biodiversity, ecological processes and structures, regional and historical context, and sustainable cultural practices.

are natural site elements that maintain or restore the ecological integrity of the site. Examples include native or adapted vegetation, water bodies, exposed rock, unvegetated ground, and other features that provide habitat value and are part of the historic natural landscape.

is a device used to make building systems more energy efficient. Examples include HVAC enthalpy controls, which are based on humidity and temperature.

is a basic unit of nature that includes a community of organisms and their nonliving environment linked by biological, chemical, and physical processes.

generally, a group of homes that extend an existing community beyond its borders but remain connected to it. In LEED for Homes, at least 25% of an edge development's perimeter borders land that has been previously developed.

is the economy of a luminaire, expressed in lumens per watt (lm/W).

The conductors, including the ungrounded, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, the electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets or apparatuses installed specifically for the purpose of delivering energy from the premises wiring to the electric vehicle. Source: National Electric Codes and California Article 625. http://www.energy.ca.gov/papers/98-09-23_KATELEY.PDF

measures the amount of nutrients and salt in water.

includes at a minimum, office equipment (computers, monitors, copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines), appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, water coolers), external power adapters, and televisions and other audiovisual equipment

is pure mercury (rather than a mercury-containing compound), the vapor of which is commonly used in fluorescent and other lamp types.

is the energy used during the entire life cycle of a product, including its manufacture, transportation, and disposal, as well as the inherent energy captured within the product itself.

as defined by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America is lighting designed to supply illumination essential to the safety of life and property in the event of failure of the normal supply.

is a service provided by the employer to ensure that employees who use alternative transportation can go home in an emergency. It also applies to carpool participants whose driver must leave work unexpectedly.

reporting is the calculating, tracking, and documenting of the greenhouse gas emissions that result directly from energy use and other operations of a building.

is the ratio of the radiation emitted by a surface to the radiation emitted by a black body at the same temperature.

a nonresidential area of at least 5 acres (2 hectares) with a job density of at least 50 employees per net acre (at least 125 employees per hectare net)

the exterior plus semi exterior portions of the building

• exterior: the elements (i.e. entire wall assembly) of a building that separate conditioned spaces from exterior
• semi-exterior: the elements (i.e. entire wall assembly) of a building that separate conditioned space from the unconditioned space or that encloses semi-heated space through which thermal energy may be transferred to or from exterior, to or from unconditioned spaces, or to or from conditioned spaces e.g. attic, crawl spaces, basements

is threatened with extinction because of harmful human activities or environmental factors.

identifies how much energy a building uses and the purposes for which it is used, and identifies efficiency and cost-reduction opportunities. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers uses 3 levels of energy audits: walk-through analysis, energy survey and analysis, and detailed analysis of capital-intensive modifications.

are installations or modifications of equipment or systems intended to reduce energy use and costs.

is a computer-generated representation of the anticipated energy consumption of a building. It permits a comparison of energy performance, given proposed energy efficiency measures, with the baseline.

rating is a measure of a building's energy performance compared with that of similar buildings, as determined by the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A score of 50 represents average building performance.

a U.S Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency program that certifies energy-efficient dwellings (at least 15% more efficient than the International Energy Conservation Code).

a substance designed at the molecular (nanometer) level to take advantage of its small size and novel properties that are generally not seen in its conventional bulk counterpart. See http://www.nicnas.gov.au/publications/information_sheets/general_ information_sheets/nis_nanomaterials_pdf.pdf.

is a set of best practices that go beyond fundamental commissioning to ensure that building systems perform as intended by the owner. These practices include 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 postoccupancy operations review.

The sum of the constructed components that make up a building which is physically distinct from another building. For more information, see the MPR Supplemental Guidance, found on all 2009 rating system pages at usgbc.org.

can be open floor grates or grilles with a recessed area designed to capture dirt and other debris from people entering the building.

a set of essential best practices used to ensure that the building envelope as installed separates indoors and outdoors as specified in the design documents. Practices include designating an envelope commissioning authority, performing a design review, performing field tests and inspections, and completing a summary commissioning report.

a set of measures to minimize contamination and protect human health, often applied to construction activities.

or secondhand smoke, consists of airborne particles emitted from the burning end of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, and is exhaled by smokers. These particles contain about 4,000 different compounds, up to 50 of which are known to cause cancer.

a certification program that recognizes homes with systems to ensure high standards of indoor air quality that is also an ENERGY STAR Qualified Home.

is a combination of processes or events by which materials of the earth's surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported by natural agents (e.g., water, wind, or gravity).

is the increase in chemical nutrients, such as the nitrogen and phosphorus often found in fertilizers, in an ecosystem. The added nutrients stimulate excessive plant growth, promoting algal blooms or weeds. The enhanced plant growth reduces oxygen in the land and water, reducing water quality and fish and other animal populations.

is the loss of water by evaporation from the soil and by transpiration from plants. It is expressed in millimeters per unit of time.

is the amount of water lost from a vegetated surface in units of water depth. It is expressed in millimeters per unit of time.

a strategy developed by the design team in collaboration with the client, contractor, and specialists to use the best information available from research, project evaluations, and client operations to inform design decisions.

is air leakage through cracks and interstices and through the ceilings, floors, and walls.

is removed from a space and discharged outside the building by means of mechanical or natural ventilation systems.

LEED v4 LT
present on the date of submission of LEED certification documents; similarly, an element or condition that exists is present on the date that LEED certification documents are submitted
LEED v4 ND
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. It does not describe elements or conditions created as part of the LEED-ND project.

is the total area of the building structure, core, and envelope that existed when the project area was selected. Exterior windows and doors are not included.

involves developing a building operation plan that identifies current operating requirements and needs, conducting tests to determine whether building systems are performing optimally in accordance with the plan, and making any necessary repairs or changes.

The expedited surcharge for reviews and appeals is in addition to regular review fee. Availability of expedited review timelines is limited based on GBCI capacity. Contact GBCI at least 10 business days prior to submitting an application to request an expedited review.

any part of a building structure that acts as a barrier between the interior and exterior.

the total area of vegetation on the project site, including vegetated roofs and turf grass

refers to the location of raw materials prior to manufacturing of the building material or product that is furnished and installed in the project building.

is a product certification system overseen by FLO International, which identifies products that meet certain environmental, labor, and development standards.

a paint or varnish that registers a gloss of less than 15 on an 85-degree meter or less than 5 on a 60-degree meter.

The density of non-residential land use, exclusive of structured parking, measured as the total non-residential building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available for non-residential buildings. For example, on a site with 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) of buildable non-residential land area, a building of 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) of floor area would have a FAR of 1.0. On the same site, a building of 5,000 sq ft (465 sq m) would have a FAR of 0.5; a building of 15,000 square feet (1395 square meters) would have a FAR of 1.5; and a building of 20,000 square feet (1860 square meters) would have a FAR of 2.0.

is the solid residue derived from incineration processes. Fly ash can be used as a substitute for Portland cement in concrete.

certifies foods from sustainable farms and ranches that produce natural products, ensure quality control and food safety, responsibly manage water and energy resources, emphasize recycling and responsible waste management, provide a safe work environment, and commit to continuous improvement of sustainable practices.

is a measure of light falling on a given surface. One footcandle is defined as the quantity of light falling on a 1-square-foot area from a 1 candela light source at a distance of 1 foot (which equals 1 lumen per square foot). Footcandles can be measured both horizontally and vertically by a footcandle meter or light meter.

Project teams may encounter challenges in applying the rating system requirements
and MPRs to their projects. The Formal Inquiry process is designed to mitigate these challenges. Through this process, project teams can obtain information regarding how rating system requirements and MPRs are interpreted by GBCI as it pertains to their specific project or portfolio of projects. Project teams may elect that their formal inquiry be considered as project-specific (Project CIR), or as a precedent-setting ruling (LEED Interpretation.) All Formal Inquiries are first subject to the Project CIR process, regardless of any election by the project team for consideration as a LEED Interpretation.

2009 IEQ
is a naturally occurring VOC found in small amounts in animals and plants, but is carcinogenic and an irritant to most people when present in high concentrations, causing headaches, dizziness, mental impairment, and other symptoms. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm parts of air, it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat; nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and asthmatic and allergic reactions.
2009 Homes
a naturally occurring volatile organic compound used as a preservative. When present in high concentrations, formaldehyde is an irritant to most people causing headaches, dizziness, mental impairment, and other symptoms, and may be a carcinogen.

movable furnishings. Freestanding furniture may be anchored to a wall for seismic or stability requirements.

a cluster of freight-related businesses inside a secure perimeter operated under single management structure. A freight village usually offers intermodal transfer options, logistics services, integrative distribution, warehousing capabilities, showrooms, and support services, such as security, maintenance, mail, banking, customs and import management assistance, cafeterias, restaurants, office space, conference rooms, hotels, and public or activity center transportation.

has zero candela intensity at an angle of 90 degrees above the vertical axis (nadir or straight down) and at all angles greater than 90 degrees from straight down. Additionally, the candela per 1,000 lamp lumens does not numerically exceed 100 (10%) at an angle of 80 degrees above nadir. This applies to all lateral angles around the luminaire.

represents a regular building occupant who spends 40 hours per week in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per week divided by 40. Multiple shifts are included or excluded depending on the intent and requirements of the credit.

is a measure equal to the total number of hours all building occupants spend in the building during the peak 8-hour occupancy period divided by 8 hours.

exterior light fixture, the lower edge of the shield is at or below the lowest edge of the lamp, such that all light shines down.

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

is a 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. These practices include designating a commissioning authority, documenting the owner's project requirements and basis of design, 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.

includes any retail display fixtures, such as shelving, tables, storage units, chairs, desks, or cabinets, required for use in the retail project and purchased as freestanding or modular units, regardless of where the assembly takes place. It excludes casework and built-in millwork items, which must be part of the base building calculations.

the stand-alone furniture items purchased for the project, including individual and group seating; open-plan and private-office workstations; desks and tables; storage units, credenzas, bookshelves, filing cabinets, and other case goods; wall-mounted visual-display products (e.g., marker boards and tack boards, excluding electronic displays); and miscellaneous items, such as easels, mobile carts, freestanding screens, installed fabrics, and movable partitions. Movable partitions include office furniture system cubicle panels that are typically integrated with work surfaces, desks, and storage furniture. Hospitality furniture is included as applicable to the project. Office accessories, such as desktop blotters, trays, tape dispensers, waste baskets, and all electrical items, such as lighting and small appliances, are excluded.

are all items that are not base-building elements. Examples include lamps, electronics, desks, chairs, and tables.

is electricity generated by converting hot water or steam from within the earth into electrical power.

use pipes to transfer heat from underground steam or hot water for heating, cooling, and hot water. The system retrieves heat during cool months and returns heat in summer months.

is any excessively bright source of light within the visual field that creates discomfort or loss in visibility.

untreated household waste water which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater typically includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs, thought definitions may vary. Some states and local authorities also allow kitchen sink wastewater to be included in graywater. Project teams should comply with the graywater definition established by the authority having jurisdiction in the project area.

The organization that administers project certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating Systems, and develops and administers LEED Professional Credentials and Certificates as well as the Credential Maintenance Program.

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

a soil- and vegetation-based approach to wet weather management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green infrastructure management approaches and technologies infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrologies. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

energy sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems. Ways to capture energy from the sun include photovoltaic, solar thermal, and bioenergy systems based on wood waste, agricultural crops or residue, animal and other organic waste, or landfill gas.

vehicles achieving a minimum green score of 45 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide. Non-U.S. project teams may count vehicles with an average fuel efficiency (45% highway, 55% city) of 6.5 L or less per 100 km.

is a program established by the Center for Resource Solutions to both promote green electricity products and provide consumers with a rigorous and nationally recognized method to
identify those products.

LEED v4
area that is not previously developed, graded or disturbed, and could support open space, habitat, or natural hydrology
2009 SS
are sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture.

2009 SS
are relatively transparent to the higher-energy sunlight but trap lower-energy infrared radiation (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, and CFCs).
2009 EA
absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of thermal infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface, clouds, and the atmosphere itself. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases are a root cause of global climate change.

(based on ASHRAE definition) Sum of the floor areas of the spaces within the building, including basements, mezzanine and intermediate-floored tiers, and penthouses with headroom height of 7.5 ft (2.2 meters) or greater. Measurements must be taken from the exterior faces of exterior walls OR from the centerline of walls separating buildings, OR (for LEED-CI certifying spaces) from the centerline of walls separating spaces. Excludes non-enclosed (or non-enclosable) roofed-over areas such as exterior covered walkways, porches, terraces or steps, roof overhangs, and similar features. Excludes air shafts, pipe trenches, and chimneys. Excludes floor area dedicated to the parking and circulation of motor vehicles. Note: while excluded features may not be part of the gross floor area, and therefore technically not part of the LEED project building, they may still be required to be part of the overall LEED project and subject to MPRs, prerequisites, and credits.

measure of the total amount of land within the LEED Project Boundary, including land under the footprint of the building. Also called Ôsite area'.

include conference rooms, classrooms, and other indoor spaces used as places of congregation.

a building that a) is stripped to the studs on at least one side of the entire insulated envelope (exterior walls and insulated ceiling or roof) for insulation installation and inspection, and b) is receiving replacements for most systems and components (HVAC, windows, etc).

a structure intended for living, working, or other types of occupancy. It does not include stand-alone garages and utility structures, such as pump stations.

are substances, used in fire-suppression systems and fire extinguishers, that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

includes vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, rubber flooring, wall base, and associated sundries.

LEED v4, 2009 SS
the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. It includes pavement, roadways, stonewalls, wood and synthetic decking, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios.
2008 Homes
elements added to a natural landscape, such as paving stones, gravel, walkways, irrigation systems, roads, retaining walls, sculpture, street amenities, fountains, and other mechanical features (American Society of Landscape Architects). Hardscapes are often impermeable, but they are not impermeable by definition.

a set of procedures for assessing, managing, and disposing of dangerous substances.

a broad definition of a healthcare organization's mission.

thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas.

the absorption of heat by hardscape, such as dark, nonreflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas. Other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment. Reduced airflow because of tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbate the effect.

is the unit used to describe the frequency of vibrations (cycles) per second. One Hz equals 1 cycle per second.

a measure of exposure, equivalent to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radon Zone 1or local equivalent for projects outside the US.

filter an air filter that removes nearly all particulates.

a transportation thoroughfare intended for motor vehicles with limited access points, prohibitions on human-powered vehicles, and higher speeds than local roads. A highway generally connects cities and towns.

a building or structure with historic, architectural, engineering, archeological, or cultural significance that is listed or determined to be eligible as a historic structure or building, or as a contributing building or structure in a designated historic district. The historic designation must be made by a local historic preservation review board or similar body, and the structure must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or have been determined eligible for listing in the National Register (or local equivalent for projects outside of the U.S.).

a group of buildings, structures, objects, and sites that have been designated or determined to be eligible as historically, culturally or architecturally significant, and categorized as either contributing or noncontributing to the historic nature of the district.

2009 ND
a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code) scores 100, and a net zero energy home scores 0. The lower a home's HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is.
2008 Homes
a system for evaluating the energy efficiency of a home using an energy simulation model. A HERS index of 100 represents the energy efficiency of a reference home that meets basic IECC code requirements; each index point below 100 represents a 1% decrease in energy use, down to 0, which is a net zero energy home.

a material that consists of only one material throughout or a combination of multiple materials that cannot be mechanically disjointed into different materials, excluding surface coatings; or a surface coating.

occur on a horizontal surface. They can be added together arithmetically when more than 1 source provides light to the same surface.

consists of companies within the food services, accommodations, recreation, and entertainment sectors.

a multilayer roof consisting of asphalt, applied with a mop, between roofing membranes. Installation of this type of roofing can expose workers to asphalt fumes.

are equipment, distribution systems, and terminals that provide the processes of heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning. (ASHRAE 90.1-2007)

use a gasoline engine to drive an electric generator and use the electric generator and/or storage batteries to power electric motors that drive the vehicle's wheels.

a organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, chlorine and hydrogen, used as a refrigerant. HCFCs deplete the stratospheric ozone layer but to a lesser extent than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

are refrigerants that do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer but may have high global warming potential. HFCs are not considered environmentally benign.

is the study of water occurrence, distribution, movement, and balances in an ecosystem.

a heating or cooling system that uses circulating water as the heattransfer medium, such as a boiler with hot water circulated through radiators or radiant floor heat.

is electricity produced from the downhill flow of water from rivers or lakes.

have a perviousness of less than 50% and promote runoff of water instead of infiltration into the subsurface. Examples include parking lots, roads, sidewalks, and plazas.

The restoration or application of interior finishes and fixtures, MEP and service system equipment repair/replacement/upgrades, minor space-use changes, and preventative or corrective maintenance.

involves treating contaminants in place using injection wells, reactive trenches, or other technologies that take advantage of the natural hydraulic gradient of groundwater; they usually minimize disturbance of the site.

living quarters intended for long-term occupancy that provide facilities for cooking, sleeping, and sanitation. It does not include hotel rooms.

is a furnace or container for burning waste materials.

an area where an occupant performs distinct tasks. Individual occupant spaces may be within multioccupant spaces and should be treated separately where possible. Individual occupant spaces may be regularly or nonregularly occupied.

product is defined as an adhesive or sealant product applied on-site, inside the building's weatherproofing system.

is the nature of air inside a building that affects the health and well-being of building occupants. It is considered acceptable when there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations as determined by cognizant authorities and with which a substantial majority (80% or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

are carpet, carpet adhesive, or carpet cushion products installed inside the building's weatherproofing system.

is product installed inside the building's weatherproofing system.

are applied inside a building's weatherproofing system.

policies and procedures to minimize the risk of spreading infections through cross-contamination.

an evaluation that anticipates the potential risks of infection transmission associated with construction and renovation projects..

LEED v4 LT
a site where at least 75% of the land area, exclusive of rights-of-way, within _ mile (800 meters) of 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 of the right-of-way or the street that matters.
LEED v4 ND
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 _ mile (800 meters) of the project boundary is previously developed
d. The lands within _ mile (800 meters) of the project boundary have a preproject connectivity of at least 140 intersections per square mile (54 intersections per square
kilometer)
The circulation network itself does not constitute previously developed land; it is the status of property on the other side of the segment of circulation network that matters. For
conditions (a) and (b) above, any fraction of the perimeter that borders a water body is excluded from the calculation.
2008 Homes
a lot in an existing community. In LEED for Homes, an infill site is defined as having at least 75% of its perimeter bordering land that has been previously developed.

LEED v4 SS
(hydrology) the process by which water on the ground surface absorbs downward into the soil
LEED v4 EQ
(HVAC) air leakage into conditioned spaces through cracks and interstices in ceilings, floors, and walls (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)
2009 Healthcare
an evaluation that anticipates the potential risks of infection transmission associated with construction and renovation projects.

are devices used to encourage subsurface infiltration of runoff volumes through temporary surface storage. Basins are ponds that can store large volumes of stormwater. They need to drain within 72 hours to maintain aerobic conditions and be available for future storm events. Trenches are similar to infiltration basins but are shallower and function as a subsurface reservoir for stormwater volumes. Pretreatment to remove sediment and oil may be necessary to avoid clogging infiltration devices. Infiltration trenches are more common in areas where infiltration basins are not possible.

the sum of the heating degree-days and the cooling degree-days.

LEED v4
the ratio of the radiant heat flux emitted by a specimen to that emitted by a blackbody radiator at the same temperature (Cool Roof Rating Council)
LEED 2009
is a parameter between 0 and 1 (or 0% and 100%) that indicates the ability of a material to shed infrared radiation (heat). The wavelength range for this radiant energy is roughly 5 to 40 micrometers. Most building materials (including glass) are opaque in this part of the spectrum and have an emittance of roughly 0.9. Materials such as clean, bare metals are the most important exceptions to the 0.9 rule. Thus clean, untarnished galvanized steel has low emittance, and aluminum roof coatings have intermediate emittance levels.

examines components of the building systems to determine whether they are installed properly and ready for systems performance testing.

foam forms that are filled with reinforced concrete to create insulated structural walls.

inhibits the transfer of heat. It is typically installed on the walls, roof, and floor to decrease the need for heating and cooling.

an iterative, collaborative approach that involves a project's stakeholders in the design process from visioning through completion of construction, as opposed to a conventional linear design approach.

LEED v4
a method of pest management that protects human health and the surrounding environment, and improves economic returns through the most effective, least risk option
2009 WE
is the coordinated use of knowledge about pests, the environment, and pest prevention and control methods to minimize pest infestation and damage by the most economical means while minimizing hazards to people, property, and the environment.

the final surface of an interior wall, ceiling, or floor

The installation or application of interior finishes, floor and ceiling systems, nonbearing partitions, furniture, interior doors and windows, and other components that make a space fully usable for the purpose it is intended. A complete interior fit-out is such that no further construction work is needed or intended for occupancy.

all the layers applied over a finished subfloor or stairs, including stair treads and risers, ramps, and other walking surfaces. Interior finish excludes building structural members, such as beams, trusses, studs, or subfloors, or similar items. Interior finish also excludes nonfull spread wet coatings or adhesives.

is the maximum lighting power (in watts) allowed for the interior of a building.

is determined by dividing the area of retained components by the larger of (1) the area of the prior condition or (2) the area of the completed design.

all the layers comprising the exposed interior surfaces of buildings, including fixed walls, fixed partitions, columns, exposed ceilings, and interior wainscoting, paneling, interior trim or other finish applied mechanically or for decoration, acoustical correction, surface fire resistance, or similar purposes

a venue for the movement of goods in a single loading unit or road vehicle that uses successively two or more modes of transportation without the need to handle the goods themselves

is outdoor advertising or directional signage whose luminous elements (lamps, etc.) are inside the sign; light is emitted through the sign's translucent portions. For LEED, such signage is exempt from credit requirements but must then be equipped with a control device independent of any nonexempt lighting.

LEED v4
an intermediate space located between floors with a walk-on deck, often used to run the majority of the utility distribution and terminal equipment, thus permitting convenient installation, maintenance, and future modifications.
2009 Healthcare
the area between occupied floors, often used to run mechanical equipment, wiring, and other support services to the adjacent occupied floors.

either an indigenous or nonindigenous species or strain that is characteristically adaptable, aggressive, has a high reproductive capacity, and tends to overrun the ecosystems it inhabits.

LEED v4
introduced (non-native) species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range, and are characteristically adaptable, aggressive, and have a high reproductive capacity
2009 SS
are nonnative to the ecosystem and likely to cause harm once introduced. These species are characteristically adaptable and aggressive, have a high reproductive capacity, and tend to overrun the ecosystems they enter. Collectively, they are among the greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
2008 Homes
an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health' (Executive Order 13112). Not all nonnative species are considered invasive, and invasive species differ by region. Regional agencies that list invasive species are available at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml.

a method of framing in which an interior partition wall butts up against a perpendicular exterior wall and is connected by horizontal pieces of lumber- rather than vertical studs - which allows additional insulation to be installed behind the horizontal lumber on the exterior wall.

is used in wood or agrifiber products (veneered panels, composite wood products contained in engineered lumber, door assemblies, etc.).

the useful operating life of the sources of artificial light, such as bulbs.

use electricity to produce light in any of several ways: by heating a wire for incandescence; by exciting a gas that produces ultraviolet light from a luminescent material; by generating an arc that emits visible light and some ultraviolet light; or by inducing excitation of mercury through radio frequencies. Light-emitting diodes packaged as traditional lamps also meet this definition.

Any part of the earth's surface not covered by a body of water.

LEED v4
a nonprofit conservation organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in conservation easement or land acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements (Land Trust Alliance)
2009 Retail BDC
is a nonprofit organization that works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or easement acquisitions, or by engaging in the stewardship of such land or easements.

are waste disposal sites for solid waste from human activities.

of the site is the total site area less the building footprint, paved surfaces, water bodies, and patios.

is a constant used to calculate the evapotranspiration rate. It takes into account the species factor, density factor, and microclimate factor of the area.

the amount of water that the site landscape area(s) requires for the site's peak watering month

as defined by EPA regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, a label that allows small amounts of lead in solders, flux, pipes, pipe fittings, and well pumps, as opposed to 100% lead free.(ANSIÐNSF Standard 61)

An internationally recognized green building certification system that provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

is the speed at which an appliance loses refrigerant, measured between refrigerant charges or over 12 months, whichever is shorter. The leakage rate is expressed in terms of the percentage of the appliance's full charge that would be lost over a 12-month period if the rate stabilized. (EPA Clean Air Act, Title VI, Rule 608)

is any pesticide product for which all active ingredients and known inert ingredients meet the least toxic Tier 3 hazard criteria under the City and County of San Francisco's hazard screening protocol. Least toxic also applies to any pesticide product, other than rodent bait, that is applied in a self-contained, enclosed bait station placed in an inaccessible location or applied in a gel that is neither visible nor accessible.

a registered pesticide in the Tier III (lowest toxicity) category, using the San Francisco Hazard Ranking system, or a pesticide that meets the requirements in the San Francisco Pesticide Hazard Screening Protocol and is sold as a self-contained bait or as a crack-and-crevice treatment used in areas inaccessible to building occupants. Rodenticides are never considered least-risk pesticides.

are individuals who have successfully completed the LEED professional accreditation exam.

The LEED Professional Credential that signifies an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a particular LEED Rating System: Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Interior Design + Construction, Homes, or Neighborhood Development.

The boundary that encompasses all of the individual buildings and individual project boundaries certifying as a multiple building project under the 2010 Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Building Projects.

The LEED Fellow honors and recognizes distinguished LEED APs who have made a significant contribution to the field of green building and sustainability at a regional, national, or international level.

The LEED Professional Certificate that denotes demonstrated understanding of the LEED for Homes verification process. To be eligible for the LEED for Homes Green Rater exam, candidates must first meet eligibility requirements and finish USGBC's training program.

The LEED Professional Credential that attests to basic knowledge and skill in understanding and supporting green design, construction, and operations. There are no specialties within the LEED Green Associate credential.

Appeal reviews are available for SLL Prerequisite Reviews and Full Stage reviews.

All LEED-ND projects over 320 acres must contact GBCI in order to obtain pricing. In addition, it is strongly recommended that projects greater than 320 acres take advantage of the LEED ND Introductory Call prior to submission. Due to the potential hardships larger projects may have in meeting certain requirements of LEED ND, such as the distance and proximity requirements, GBCI encourages the separation of projects larger than 320 acres into separate LEED ND applications each less than 320 acres. Note that each LEED ND application must pay a separate registration fee.

Designations administered by GBCI that certify the skills and knowledge of LEED implementation required to provide verification services on LEED projects. They denote an individual who provides the quality assurance on projects necessary to ensure the continued value of LEED.

Designations administered by GBCI that demonstrate current knowledge of green building technologies, best practices, and the rapidly evolving LEED Rating Systems.

All real property within the LEED project boundary, including the building(s) or space(s), all structures, land, etc. which collectively are attempting or have earned certification.

2009 Retail IDC
is the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification. For single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is generally limited to the site boundary. For multiple building developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of the development as determined by the project team.
MPR
The line that indicates the limits of the real property for which the project team is attempting or has earned certification.

The structure which is attempting or has earned certification.

The process through which the project team establishes a LEED project in LEED Online v3. This process is considered complete once payment is received by USGBC and/or GBCI.

The gross floor area which is attempting or has earned certification.

The LEED Professional Certificate that attests to the understanding of LEED required to provide technical reviews of projects applying for LEED certification.

CE hours that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- be process-related to LEED
- be credit and/or category related, such as dealing with requirements, intents, or version comparisons
- be a LEED update (in-depth, technical)
- be an in-depth LEED project case study targeted toward one specific LEED credit
- show a best practice lesson which entails successful or unsuccessful implementation of LEED, such as:
> examples of LEED implementation that have resulted in failure and should be avoided
> implementing LEED while maintaining compliance with local codes and regulations
> successfully implementing LEED using innovation as a tool to guide the project
- show benefits of using LEED (ROI, grants, taxes, incentives)

Except for those earned through authorship or LEED project participation, all LEED-specific CE hours must be approved and designated as LEED-specific by an ERB. For the LEED AP credential, the six LEED-specific hours must directly relate to the LEED AP’s specialty designation.

is a waterborne bacterium that causes Legionnaire's disease. It grows in slow-moving or still warm water and can be found in plumbing, showerheads, and water storage tanks. Outbreaks of Legionella pneumonia have been attributed to evaporative condensers and cooling towers.

the amount of time a person remains in a healthcare facility as an admitted patient.

is an analysis of the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service.

calculates expected future operating, maintenance, and replacement costs of designs and features used to assist owners in developing a realistic design and budget estimate.

is an accounting methodology used to evaluate the economic performance of a product or system over its useful life. It considers operating costs, maintenance expenses, and other economic factors.

illumination that is permanently fixed to the home. A fluorescent light fixture has an integrated ballast. A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is not a light fixture.

is waste light from building sites that produces glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is directed off the site. Waste light does not increase nighttime safety, utility, or security and needlessly consumes energy.

transit service using two- or three-car trains in a right-of-way that is often separated from other traffic modes. Spacing between stations tends to be _ mile (800 meters) or more, and maximum operating speeds are typically 40Ð55 mph (65Ð90 kmh). Light-rail corridors typically extend 10 or more miles (16 kilometers).

obtrusive illumination that is unwanted because of quantitative, directional, or spectral attributes. Light trespass can cause annoyance, discomfort, distraction, or loss of visibility.

is the installed lighting power, per unit area.

a device that uses centrifugal acceleration to propel water into a rotating ring of liquid that can be cooled via a heat exchanger or cooling tower.

a requirement specific to the project’s locality that meets a credit’s intent and does not reduce the credit’s weight. A local equivalent is an alternative to a referenced standard allowing for flexibility at the local level, but is equal to or more stringent than the referenced standard.

the incidence of higher air and surface temperatures caused by the absorption of solar energy and its reemission from roads, buildings and other structures.

are local government regulations imposed to promote orderly development of private lands and prevent land-use conflicts.

are intended for employees. Lockable restrooms or bathroom stalls may be used for changing areas as long as they are spacious enough to allow changing comfortably. Lockable changing areas and showers must be located within 200 yards of a building entrance.

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

bicycling parking that is easily accessible to building employees, residents, and other full-time equivalent occupants.

the individual building lot where the qualifying LEED Home is to be built.

minor. Low-cost operational improvements may include repairs or upgrades and staff training or retraining. In LEED, the project team determines the reasonable upper limit for lowcost improvements based on facility resources and operating budgets.

LEED v4
a vehicle that is classified as a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or has achieved a minimum green score of 45 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide
2009 SS
are classified as zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by the California Air Resources Board.

an approach to managing stormwater runoff that emphasizes on-site natural features to protect water quality, by replicating the natural land cover hydrologic regime of watersheds, and addressing runoff close to its source. Examples include better site design principles such as minimizing land disturbance, preserving vegetation, minimizing impervious cover, and design practices like rain gardens, vegetated swales and buffers, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, and soil amendments. These are engineered practices that may require specialized design assistance.

is a unit of luminous flux equal to the light emitted in a unit solid angle by a uniform point source of 1 candle intensity.

is a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp (or lamps) with the housing designed to distribute the light, position, and protect the lamp and connect it to the power supply.

refers to the part of the outer surface of a luminaire (lighting fixture) through which light is emitted (i.e., the opening where the lamps are).

a permanently installed energy user that uses at least 500 kWh per year, which is not covered under RESNET energy modeling input and outputs. Examples include pools, spas, heated driveways, and heated garages.

includes extensive alteration work in addition to work on the exterior shell of the building and/or primary structural components and/or the core and peripheral MEP and service systems and/or site work. Typically, the extent and nature of the work is such that the primary function space cannot be used for its intended purpose while the work is in progress and where a new certificate of occupancy is required before the work area can be reoccupied.

water that is fed into a cooling tower system or evaporative condenser to replace water lost through evaporation, drift, bleed-off, or other causes.

refers to capturing and retaining the specified volume of rainfall to mimic natural hydrologic function. This includes, but is not limited to, strategies that manage volume through evapotranspiration, infiltration, or capture and reuse.

includes employees or contractors involved in operating and maintaining a project building and site. bleed-off, or other causes.

refers to the final assembly of components into the building product that is furnished and installed by the tradesworkers.

applies to products that meet certain principles and criteria for sustainable fishing, including sustainable harvest of the target stock, acceptable impact of the fishery on the ecosystem, effectiveness of the fishery management system (including all relevant biological, technological, economic, social, environmental, and commercial aspects), and compliance with relevant laws and standards.

the amount that either was paid or would have been paid for a product; it is presumed to be less than replacement value.

is designed to transport large groups of persons in a single vehicle, such as a bus or train.

is an overall design or development concept for the school and associated buildings and site. This concept considers future use, growth, and contraction and includes ways for managing the facility and sustainable features. The master plan is typically illustrated with narrative descriptions, building plans, and site drawings of phases and planned development.

the limits of a site master plan. The master plan boundary includes the project and may include all associated buildings and sites outside of the project boundary. The master plan boundary considers future sustainable use, expansion, and contraction.

are detailed, written instructions documenting a method to achieve uniformity of performance.

or active ventilation, is provided by mechanically powered equipment such as motor-driven fans and blowers, but not by devices such as wind-driven turbine ventilators and mechanically operated windows. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

A discounted price on the LEED Professional Exams available for full-time employees of USGBC and CaGBC national member companies. Eligible candidates should refer to their exam’s candidate handbook for instructions on linking membership to their My Credentials account prior to registering for an exam.

items that include mercury, such as lamps (e.g., linear and circular fluorescents, integrally ballasted and nonintegrally ballasted compact fluorescents, HIDs) and dental wastes (e.g., scrap amalgam, chair side traps, separator wastes).

a regulator that limits the flow time of water, generally a manual-on and automatic-off device, most commonly installed on lavatory faucets and showers.

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 of 10,000Ð50,000. 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. A core based statistical area (CBSA) encompasses both metro and micro areas.

is a constant used in calculating the landscape coefficient. It adjusts the evapotranspiration rate to reflect the climate of the immediate area.

involves irrigation systems with small sprinklers and microjets or drippers designed to apply small volumes of water. The sprinklers and microjets are installed within a few centimeters of the ground; drippers are laid on or below grade.

2009 IEQ
is a filter rating established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE 52.2Ð1999, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size). MERV categories range from 1 (very low efficiency) to 16 (very high).
2008 Homes
the effectiveness of a mechanical air filter based on the number and size of the particles that pass through it under normal conditions. The higher the rating, the more effective the filter.

white and colored paper, envelopes, forms, file folders, tablets, flyers, cereal boxes, wrapping paper, catalogs, magazines, phone books, and photos

combines mechanical and natural ventilation methods.

project involves a combination of residential and commercial or retail components.

shelving and cabinetry designed to be easily installed and moved or reconfigured.

items that can be moved to provide views without the need of tools or assistance from special trades and facilities management

a structure designed to house more than one family

multi occupant spaces are places of egress, congregation, or where occupants pursue overlapping or collaborative tasks. Multi occupant spaces may be regularly or non-regularly occupied spaces.

a site that that was master-planned for the development of stores, restaurants and other businesses. Retailers may share some services and common areas.

consisting of four or more residential units sharing a common entry.

a control system that enables occupants to adjust the lighting to meet group needs and preferences in shared spaces, with at least three lighting levels or scenes (on, off, midlevel). Midlevel is 30% to 70% of the maximum connected lighting load.

GBCI's credential management system. Candidates use My Credentials to create or update their profile, change passwords or usernames, apply or register for an exam, view their exam records, or self-report credential maintenance activities.

The profile page that contains a candidate’s information, including first and last name, contact information, demographics, organization information, primary and secondary address, LEED Professional Directory information, and contact preferences. The primary address is the one to which certificates are mailed. This information can be changed at any time by logging in to My Credentials and selecting Update Profile.

are toxic substances produced by fungus such as mushrooms, molds, and yeasts.

is a permit program that controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.

2009 SS
are adapted to a given area during a defined time period and are not invasive. In North America, the term often refers to plants growing in a region prior to the time of settlement by people of European descent.
2009 ND
a plant species that did or would have occurred on the site or within the subject county prior to the widespread land alterations that accompanied European settlement. Cultivars of native plants may be considered native plants.
2008 Homes
a plant that has evolved within a particular habitat and is not invasive within its natural range. Native plants provide food and shelter to indigenous wildlife and grow in balance with surrounding plant and animal species.

an indigenous species that occurs in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human actions. They have evolved to the geography, hydrology, and climate of that region. They also occur in communities, that is, they have evolved together with other species. As a result, these communities provide habitat for a variety of other native wildlife species. Species native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the continent prior to European settlement.

feature native or adapted vegetation or other ecologically appropriate features.

a soil survey that shows the boundaries of different soil types and special soil features on the site. . A local equivalent to the NRCS survey is acceptable for projects outside the U.S .

the natural land cover function of water occurrence, distribution, movement, and balance.

or passive ventilation, is provided by thermal, wind, or diffusion effects through doors, windows, or other intentional openings in the building. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

2009 EA
is a metering and billing arrangement that allows on-site generators to send excess electricity flows to the regional power grid; these flows offset a portion of the energy drawn from the grid.
2008 Homes
an arrangement that allows on-site generators to send excess electricity flows to the regional power grid and offset a portion of the electricity flows drawn from the grid.

includes the construction material value and the CSI Division 12 (Furniture and Furnishings) material value, the lesser of material values for mechanical and electric components, and the salvage value identified in the MR credits.

LEED v4
the sum of all interior areas in the project available to house the project's program. It does not include areas for building equipment, vertical circulation, or structural components.
2009 Healthcare
the sum of all interior areas available to house a building's functions; areas for building equipment, vertical circulation, and structure are excluded. See ANSI/BOMA Z65.1Ð2010, Office Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (http://www.boma.org).

an area that is preserved during construction.

is the arithmetic average of absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz for a material. The NRC is often published by manufacturers in product specifications, particularly for acoustical ceiling tiles and acoustical wall panels.

non-densely occupied spaces are areas with a design occupant density of less than 25 people per 1,000 square feet (40 square feet or more per person).

non-regularly occupied spaces are spaces that occupants pass through, or spaces used in pursuit of focused activities for less than one hour per person per day (on average).

a paint or varnish that registers a gloss of 5 or greater on a 60-degree meter and a gloss of 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter.

nonoccupied spaces are defined as spaces designed for equipment and machinery or storage with no human occupancy except for maintenance, repairs, and equipment retrieval.

is a substance used as a sealant on nonporous materials. Nonporous materials, such as plastic and metal, do not have openings in which fluids may be absorbed or discharged.

any area in a building that is not primarily serving residential building occupants, maintenance, and property management staff. Examples include retail or office spaces in mixed-use buildings.

any residential-associated or non-residential space

dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that contain and treat human waste via microbiological processes.

LEED v4
a plumbing fixture having a water flush with a trap that contains a layer of buoyant liquid that floats above the urine, blocking sewer gas and odors
2009-WE
replaces a water flush with a trap containing a layer of buoyant liquid that floats above the urine, blocking sewer gas and odors.

The complete activities and functions intended to take place within the building and on associated property.

is located in lobbies and in conference rooms.

in a commercial building are workers 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 a residential building, occupants also include all persons who live in the building. In schools, occupants also include students, faculty, support staff, administration, and maintenance employees.

enclosed spaces that can accommodate human activities. Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or non-regularly occupied spaces based on the duration of the occupancy, individual or multi-occupant based on the quantity of occupants, and densely or non-densely occupied spaces based upon the concentration of occupants in the space.

is the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from synthetic and natural products.

are recovered from a source different from the project site.

heat water only when it is needed and then apply only the amount of heat required to satisfy the immediate need.

is energy derived from renewable sources located within the project site perimeter.

are recovered from and reused at the same building site.

the transport, storage, treatment, and disposal of wastewater generated on the project site.

a system in which water from any source is used to transfer heat from equipment or processes and then discharged.

is a continuous process that methodically identifies and corrects system problems to maintain optimal building performance; it includes regular measurement and comparative analysis of building energy data over time.

have a low cost per unit and are regularly used and replaced in the course of business. Examples include paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories.

the continual solicitation of results, opinions, evaluations, verifications, etc to understand the effectiveness of design choices and enable the team to ensure that the project is performing as intended by design. Examples include: a simple follow-through, gathering performance data, post-occupancy evaluations, and measurement and verification studies.

LEED v4
an accessible area that is permanently maintained in a seminatural condition for human recreation and relaxation; it may have grass, water, flora, and/or recreation improvements.
2009 SS
is usually defined by local zoning requirements. If local zoning requirements do not clearly define open space, it is defined for the purposes of LEED calculations as the property area minus the development footprint; it must be vegetated and pervious, with exceptions only as noted in the credit requirements section. Only ground areas are calculated as open space. For projects located in urban areas that earn a Development Density and Community Connectivity credit, open space also includes nonvehicular, pedestrian-oriented hardscape spaces.

is usually defined by local zoning requirements. If local zoning requirements do not clearly define open space, it is defined for the purposes of LEED calculations as the property area minus the development footprint; it must be vegetated and pervious, with exceptions only as noted in the credit requirements section. Only ground areas are calculated as open space. For projects located in urban areas that earn a Development Density and Community Connectivity credit, open space also includes nonvehicular, pedestrian-oriented hardscape spaces.

is less than 50% impervious and accommodates vegetation in the open cells.

LEED v4
pavements that are comprised of loose substrates supported by a grid of a more structurally sound grid or webbing. Pervious concrete and porous asphalt are not considered open grid as they are considered bounded materials. Unbounded, loose substrates do not transfer and store heat like bound and compacted materials do.
2009 SS
is less than 50% impervious and accommodates vegetation in the open cells.

a plan that specifies major system operating parameters and limits, maintenance procedures and schedules, and documentation methods necessary to demonstrate proper operation and maintenance of an approved emissions control device or system (maricopa.gov)

luminaires intended for illuminating portions of the circulation network that also serve an ornamental function, in addition to providing optics that effectively deliver street lighting, and have a decorative or historical period appearance.

is the ambient air that enters a building through a ventilation system, either through natural ventilation or by infiltration (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007).

an outdoor water user whose function is not to provide water to landscaping, but rather serves an ornamental or recreational purpose, such as pools, hot tubs, and fountains.

a patient who is not hospitalized for 24 hours or more but who visits a hospital, clinic, or associated healthcare facility for diagnosis or treatment

includes trees and shrubs.

is the person directly employed by the organization holding title to the project building and recognized by law as having rights, responsibilities, and ultimate control over the building.

is a written document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project.

is a gas composed of 3 oxygen atoms. It is not usualy emitted directly into the air, but at ground-level is created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone has the same chemical structure whether it occurs miles above the earth or at ground-level and can have positive or negative effects, depending on its location in the atmosphere. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

is a liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition that is converted to a solid protective, decorative, or functional adherent film after application as a thin layer. These coatings are intended for application to interior or exterior surfaces of residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings.

a publicly accessible area that is permanently maintained in a seminatural condition for human recreation and relaxation; it may have grass, water, flora, and/or recreation improvements.

square footage dedicated to the storage and movement of motor vehicles.

refers to the area of the project site occupied by the parking areas and structures.

are the costs of providing occupant parking that are not recovered in parking fees.

exterior light fixture, the lower edge of the shield is at or below the centerline of the lamp, to minimize light emitted above the horizontal plane.

A wall without openings erected as a common support to structures on both sides.

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.

uses the building layout, fabric, and form to provide natural ventilation to a conditioned space using nonmechanical forms of heat transfer and air movement.

the single point in an average day in which the most visitors are in a building.

the largest amount of power supplied for cooling, calculated based on design conditions (ASHRAE).

the month with the greatest deficit between evapotranspiration and rainfall. This is the month when the plants in the site's region potentially require the most supplemental water typically a mid-summer month. (Sustainable Sites Initiative)

allows people to walk to services without being blocked by walls, freeways, or other barriers.

an arrangement of features in the urban landscape that promote walking. Examples include wide sidewalks that are shaded and buffered from the street, short pedestrian crossings, and street-level pedestrian access to buildings (as opposed to access from parking lots).

measures the energy cost savings for the proposed building performance compared with the baseline building performance.

The continuous, unbroken time during which sustainable operations performance for a building and/or site is being measured.

a paved surface that allows water runoff to infiltrate into the ground.

a substance that poses a long-term risk to both humans and the environment because it persists in the environment for long periods, bioaccumulates up the food chain, and can travel far from the source of contamination. See EPA's website on PBTs (http://www.epa.gov/pbt/).

is the percentage of the surface area of a paving system that is open and allows moisture to soak into the ground below.

which off-gasses only at high temperature, is used for exterior products, although many of those products are suitable for interior applications.

is electricity from photovoltaic cells that convert the energy in sunlight into electricity.

The condition in which a building has both of the following: LEED project boundary lines that 'slice' through party walls must not pass through any MEP service infrastructure. Exceptions include buildings served by a common or shared chiller plant or heating water, or steam supply pipes (i.e., not air ducts), and only if the thermal energy serving the structure to be separated is sub-metered.
a) Exterior walls that are party walls or are separate from adjoining buildings by air space.
b) Lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and other mechanical systems that are separate from the systems of adjoining buildings.

is a measure of the amount of mercury in a lamp per unit of light delivered over its useful life.

an area that connects 'healthcare patients, visitors, and staff to health benefits of the natural environment' (Jerry Smith, Green Guide for Health Care Places of Respite Technical Brief, http://www.gghc.org/tools.technical.php). Pollution prevention reducing or eliminating the source and proliferation of waste through modified production and purchasing practices; also called source reduction. See Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (http://www.epa.gov/p2/pubs/p2policy/act1990.htm).

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.

the highest estimate of building occupants based on planned use(s) and industry standards for square foot requirements per employee.(see USDOE EIA CBECS survey for suggested default nonresidential occupancies)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.

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.

the electrical current drawn by all equipment that is connected to the electrical system.

include emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), mercury (Hg), small particulates (PM2.5), and large particulates (PM10).

have tiny openings, often microscopic, which can absorb or discharge fluids. Examples include wood, fabric, paper, corrugated paperboard, and plastic foam. (SCAQMD Rule 1168)

allow runoff to infiltrate into the ground.

generated by households or commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities in their role as end-users of a product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose.

consists of paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes that are collected from municipal solid waste streams.

material in a product that was consumer waste. The recycled material was generated by household, commercial, industrial, or institutional end-users and can no longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns of materials from the distribution chain (ISO 14021).

material used and then recycled by consumers, as distinguished from the recycled by-products of manufacturing, called preconsumer (postindustrial) recycled content.

material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. Examples include construction and demolition debris, materials collected through recycling programs, broken pallets (from a pallet refurbishing company, not a pallet-making company), discarded cabinetry and decking, and home maintenance waste (leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings).

a systematic assessment, from the occupants' perspective, of a project's performance after completion of construction.

suitable for drinking. Potable water is generally supplied by municipal water systems.

water that meets or exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking water quality standards (or local equivalent outside the U.S.) and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems.

a measure of how efficiently a data center uses its power; specifically, how much power is used by computing equipment rather than for cooling and other overhead.

a system that uses active exhaust to pull combustion gases out of the home. Combustion equipment with power venting can use indoor air as the combustion supply air.

electric and battery-powered floor buffers and burnishers. It does not include equipment used in wet applications.

Precertification is available only for projects using the LEED-CS rating system. For projects seeking to use the 2010 AGMBC with LEED-CS Precertification process, please contact GBCI for a promo code prior to submitting for certification review.

diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. It does not include the reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.

matter diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. It does not include material generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it (i.e., rework, regrind, or scrap).

material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Formerly known as postindustrial content. Examples include planer shavings, plytrim, sawdust, chips, bagasse, culls, trimmed materials and obsolete inventory. Excluded is reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it (Source ISO 14021).

formerly known as postindustrial content, is the percentage of material in a product that is recycled from manufacturing waste. Examples include planer shavings, sawdust, bagasse, walnut shells, culls, trimmed materials, overissue publications, and obsolete inventories. Excluded are rework, regrind, or scrap materials capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated them (ISO 14021).

LEED v4
before any human alteration, such as construction of roads or buildings, occurred on the site; the natural conditions of the site
2009-SS
refers to before the LEED project was initiated, but not necessarily before any development or disturbance took place. Predevelopment conditions describe conditions on the date the developer acquired rights to a majority of the buildable land on the project site through purchase or option to purchase.
2009 ND
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.

is an empirical equation for predicting the mean vote on a rating scale of thermal comfort of a large population of people exposed to a certain environment.

LEED v4
the parking spaces closest to the main entrance of a building (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons). For employee parking, it refers to the spaces that are closest to the entrance used by employees.
2009 SS
available to particular users, includes designated spaces closest to the building (aside from designated handicapped spots), designated covered spaces, discounted parking passes, and guaranteed passes in a lottery system.

components or materials have a longer service life than the design life, so that for example a material with a life of 30 years is used in design intended to last only 15 years - it is made prematurely obsolete and its remaining 15 years of service is potentially wasted. Preferable is to match design life with components that have service life same as expected use, so they are utilized to their maximum potential.

before the LEED 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.

is routinely scheduled equipment inspection, cleaning, and repair conducted to detect and prevent equipment failure and keep materials and systems in working order.

LEED v4 LT
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 (0.4 hectares); previous development on lots larger than 1 acre (0.4 hectares) is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and landscapes altered by 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.
LEED v4 ND
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). Land that is not previously developed and landscapes altered by 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.
2008 Homes
a site with preexisting paving, construction or other types of altered landscapes. This does not apply to altered landscapes resulting from current agricultural use, forestry use, or use as preserved natural area.

LEED v4
a site that, preproject, consisted of at least 75% previously developed land.
2009 SS
once had buildings, roadways, parking lots, or were graded or otherwise altered by direct human activities.
2008 Homes
a site that, preproject, consisted of at least 75% previously developed land

a building entrance designed to be used by occupants to both enter and exit the building, and leads into a hallway. It does not include any door exclusively designated as an emergency exit, or a garage door not designed as a pedestrian entrance.

the floor area that serves the main purpose of the building or space.

any component of the load-bearing structure of a building including footings, piles, foundations, columns, girders, beams, joists, wind, or seismic bracing.

land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and that is available for these uses, as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (a U.S.-based methodology that sets criteria for highly productive soil). For a complete description of what qualifies as prime farmland, see U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Volume 6, Parts 400 to 699, Section 657.5. A local equivalent to the NRCS survey is acceptable for projects outside the U.S .

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.

is a material applied to a substrate to improve adhesion of subsequently applied coats.

is the state of the project space at the time it was selected.

is the total area of finished ceilings, floors, and full-height walls that existed when the project area was selected. It does not include exterior windows and doors.

applies to plumbing fixtures in residences, apartments, and dormitories, to private (non-public) bathrooms in transient lodging facilities (hotels and motels), and to private bathrooms in hospitals and nursing facilities.

LEED v4
power resources consumed in support of a manufacturing, industrial, or commercial process other than conditioning spaces and maintaining comfort and amenities for building occupants of a building. It may include refrigeration equipment, cooking and food preparation, clothes washing, and other major support appliances. (ASHRAE)
2009 Retail BDC
is used by office and general miscellaneous equipment, computers, elevators and escalators, kitchen cooking and refrigeration, laundry washing and drying, lighting exempt from the lighting power allowance (e.g., lighting integral to medical equipment), and other (e.g., waterfall pumps).

the load on a building resulting from the consumption or release of process energy (ASHRAE)

is used for industrial processes and building systems such as cooling towers, boilers, and chillers. The term can also refer to water used in operational processes, such as dishwashing, clothes washing, and ice making.

exhaust gas or flue gas that is emitted as a result of the combustion of natural gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, or coal.

manufacturer specific for a product family. For example, one line of flooring has a Life Cycle Analysis/ Environmental Product Declaration (LCA/EPD) and all colors and styles fall under that LCA/EPD.

LEED v4
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.
2008 Homes
the design and construction of a LEED home. A project may include multiple homes in a development.

LEED v4 LT
the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification. For single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is generally limited to the platted property line of the project with all land and water within it. For multiple building developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of the development as determined by the project team. Projects on publicly owned campuses that do not have internal property lines must delineate a sphere-of-influence line to be used instead.
LEED v4 ND, 2009 ND
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.
2009 SS
is the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification. For single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is generally limited to the site boundary. For multiple building developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of the development as determined by the project team.

The Project Credit Interpretation Ruling (Project CIR) process is designed to allow Project Teams to obtain technical guidance on how LEED requirements including Minimum Program Requirements (MPR), Prerequisites, and Credits pertain to their projects. Project teams may also elect to have Project CIRs elevated to LEED Interpretations and reviewed by USGBC.

For the LEED Green Associate credential, a person who provides support on a project registered for LEED certification could be a person who aids or assists on a project by providing administrative or research tasks, managing templates, coordinating meetings, tracking consultants and/or contractors, or helping in compiling documentation for review. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but is meant to provide guidance for candidates with their application.

For the LEED AP credentials, to be personally involved with a project registered for LEED certification means that the candidate can show how they have contributed to the registered project through active participation in it and have on-going responsibility through their participation. The candidate must show how they have been exposed to the LEED process and have knowledge of the project.

the land and water inside the project boundary. The project must contain contiguous parcels which can be separated by public rights-of-way.

GBCI’s testing company. Prometric administers LEED Professional Exams at their testing centers internationally. Prometric handles all aspects of scheduling exam appointments (including confirming, rescheduling, and canceling) and billing. Prometric is available through their website, www.prometric.com/gbci, or at 1-888-215-4154 within the US; please refer to the candidate handbooks for international numbers. Candidates use their eligibility ID to first schedule an exam appointment with Prometric. Candidates must use their confirmation number to confirm, reschedule, or cancel an exam appointment on Prometric’s website. (See confirmation number, scheduling, confirmation, rescheduling, and cancelation.)

is the total area within the legal property boundaries of a site; it encompasses all areas of the site, including constructed and nonconstructed areas.

is the annual energy cost calculated for a proposed design, as defined in ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Appendix G.

standards reflect the growing requirements and environmental considerations of different crops and bioregions. Each crop- and region-specific standard addresses production, toxicity, and chain-of-custody.

local organizations selected by USGBC based on demonstrated experience and expertise in supporting builders in the construction of high-performance, sustainable homes in their market. A LEED for Homes Provider has three primary roles: marketing LEED to builders; providing green home rating support services to builders; and training, coordinating and overseeing Green Raters.

applies to all buildings, structures, or uses that are not defined as private or private use.

bus, rail, or other transportation services for the general public that operate on a regular, continual basis.

a measure of thermal resistance, most often used for rating insulation products and installations. The greater the R-value, the greater the resistance to heat transfer. R-value is the inverse of U- value (i.e., R = 1/U).

a radioactive gas that naturally vents from the ground. High levels of radon are known to be carcinogenic.

a swale, or low tract of land into which water flows, planted with vegetation that requires or tolerates high moisture levels. A rain garden can reduce the volume of water entering storm drains and replenish groundwater.

is awarded to farms that protect wildlife by planting trees, control erosion, limit agrochemicals, protect native vegetation, hire local workers, and pay fair wages.

are agricultural products, both fiber and animal, that take 10 years or less to grow or raise and can be harvested in a sustainable fashion.

the nameplate power on a piece of equipment, representing the capacity of the unit and the maximum wattage it will draw.

the basic substance from which products are made, such as concrete, glass, gypsum, masonry, metals, plastics, stone, agrifiber, bamboo, and wood

Land and land alterations that are a direct result of human activities that subsequently support an active land use, including structures of any kind.

the total demand on an electrical system from all power equipment.

Available for projects that have been previously certified under LEED for Existing Buildings or LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. For more information on the difference between initial certification and recertification, please consult the Introduction of the LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Operations & Maintenance.

is removed from a space and reused as supply air, delivered by mechanical or natural ventilation.

building components that have been recovered from a demolition site and are reused in their original state (i.e., not recycled). Also known as salvage.

is wastewater that has been treated and purified for reuse.

applies to buildings that were previously commissioned as part of new construction or buildings covered by existing building commissioning.

includes both postconsumer fiber and waste fiber from the manufacturing process.

LEED v4
defined in accordance with the International Organization of Standards document ISO 14021 Ð Environmental labels and declarations Ð Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling)
2009 MR
is the proportion, by mass, of preconsumer or postconsumer recycled material in a product (ISO 14021).

construction waste management materials that are donated or sold for direct reuse or are going directly to feedstock for a new material.

is the collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.

area is located in regularly occupied space in the building for the collection of occupants' recyclables. A building may have numerous collection areas from which recyclable materials are typically removed to a central collection and storage area.

a soil native to the project site, as described in Natural Resources Conservation Service soil surveys (or a local equivalent survey outside the United States), or undisturbed native soils within the project's region that have native vegetation, topography, and soil textures similar to the project site. For project sites with no existing soil, reference soils are defined as undisturbed native soils within the project's region that support appropriate native plant species similar to those intended for the new project.

is the percentage of light energy that is not absorbed when light falls on the surface. A white surface has a higher reflectance than an otherwise identical black surface.

2009 EA
are the working fluids of refrigeration cycles that absorb heat from a reservoir at low temperatures and reject heat at higher temperatures.

2009 MR
are products that could have been disposed of as solid waste. These products have completed their life cycle as consumer items and are then refurbished for reuse without substantial alteration of their form. Refurbishing includes renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product.

are raw materials taken from within a 500-mile radius of the project site.

are assembled as finished products within a 500-mile radius of the project site. Assembly does not include on-site assembly, erection, or installation of finished components.

LEED v4
regularly occupied spaces are areas where one or more individuals normally spend time (more than one hour per person per day on average) seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities inside a building. For more examples of spaces that are typically regularly occupied, please refer to the IEQ Space Matrix. (http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=10539)
MPR
areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other storage rooms. In schools, they are areas where students, teachers, or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study inside a building.

is the ratio of partial density of airborne water vapor to the saturation density of water vapor at the same temperature and total pressure.

are items that are made into other products. One example is concrete that is crushed and used as subbase.

is the process of cleaning up a contaminated site by physical, chemical, or biological means. Remediation processes are typically applied to contaminated soil and groundwater.

power sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems. Ways to capture energy from the sun include photovoltaic, solar thermal, and bioenergy systems based on wood waste, agricultural crops or residue, animal and other organic waste, or landfill gas.

are tradable commodities representing proof that a unit of electricity was generated from a renewable energy resource. RECs are sold separately from electricity itself and thus allow the purchase of green power by a user of conventionally generated electricity.

The process of completing a cycle of credential maintenance. Once LEED Professionals have completed the CMP requirements for their credential, they renew their credential and pay the $50 CMP renewal fee in My Credentials. They may do so at any time during their reporting period without altering its start and end dates. However, LEED Professionals must renew their credential within the 30 days following the end of their reporting period. If the credential is not renewed within 30 days of the end date, the credential will expire.

is the estimated cost of replacing a used product. This value may be equal to the cost of a similar new product or based on a new product with comparable features.

The process of changing the date, time, or location of an existing exam appointment with Prometric. Candidates can reschedule exam appointments on Prometric's website at www.prometric.com/gbc or by phone at 1-888-215-4154 within the US; please refer to the candidate handbooks for international numbers. The confirmation number is required to reschedule online. Prometric charges $50 for appointments canceled or rescheduled within 30 days of the exam appointment.

LEED v4
a building type consisting of living quarters intended for long-term occupancy that provide facilities for cooking, sleeping, and sanitation. It does not include hotel rooms.
RSS
a unit or series of units that each includes a cooking area (comprised of sink(s), cooking appliance(s), preparation space(s)) a bathroom, and a sleeping area. Communal, circulation, storage, and other support areas such as living rooms, hallways, and closets that primarily serve residential occupants also fall under this definition. For buildings such as dormitories and assisted living facilities that have common areas (central kitchens and lounges) it is at the project team's discretion to define the common areas and the living units as residential.

is land zoned primarily for housing at a density of 10 units per acre or greater. These areas may have single-family and multifamily housing and include building types such as townhomes, apartments, duplexes, condominiums, or mobile homes.

conditioned areas that are exclusively or primarily serving residential building occupants, maintenance, and property management staff, but not including in-unit or dwelling unit areas.

addresses active and future facilities and was enacted in 1976 to give EPA authority to control hazardous wastes from cradle to grave, including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. Some nonhazardous wastes are also covered under RCRA.

are portions of the finished ceilings, finished floors, full-height walls and demountable partitions, interior doors, and built-in case goods that existed in the prior condition area and remain in the completed design.

capture stormwater runoff and clear it of pollutants before its release. Some retention pond designs use gravity only; others use mechanical equipment, such as pipes and pumps, to facilitate transport. Some ponds are dry except during storm events; others permanently store water.

is any change to an existing facility, such as the addition or removal of equipment or an adjustment, connection, or disconnection of equipment.

is removed from a space and then recirculated or exhausted. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

returns materials to active use in the same or a related capacity as their original use, thus extending the lifetime of materials that would otherwise be discarded. Examples of construction materials that can be reused include extra insulation, drywall, and paints. Examples of durable goods that can be reused include older-model computers and furniture. Examples of ongoing consumables that can be reused include binders, staplers, and other desk accessories. The material can be reused on-site or sold or donated to other facilities.

is the total area of the building structure, core, and envelope that existed in the prior condition and remains in the completed design.

is an acoustical phenomenon that occurs when sound persists in an enclosed space because of its repeated reflection or scattering upon the enclosing surfaces or objects within the space. (ANSI S12.60Ð2002)

is a measure of the amount of reverberation in a space and equal to the time required for the level of a steady sound to decay by 60 dB after the sound has stopped. The decay rate depends on the amount of sound absorption in a room, the room geometry and the frequency of the sound. RT is expressed in seconds. (ANSI S12.60Ð2002).

a transit service in which individuals travel together in a passenger car or small van that seats at least four people. It can include human-powered conveyances, which must accommodate at least two people. It must include an enclosed passenger seating area, fixed route service, fixed fare structure, regular operation, and the ability to pick up multiple riders.

2009 ND
Roof area is the area of the uppermost surface of the building which covers enclosed Gross Floor Area, as measured when projected onto a flat, horizontal surface (i.e. as seen in Roof Plan view). ÔRoofs', or portions of roofs, covering unenclosed areas (e.g. roofs over porches and open covered parking structures) are not included in the areas used to evaluate compliance with roof measures in Options 2 and 3, though they may be applicable to nonroof measures in Options 1 and 3.
2009 SS
roof area is the area of the uppermost surface of the building which covers enclosed Gross Floor Area, as measured when projected onto a flat, horizontal surface (i.e. as seen in Roof Plan view). 'Roofs', or portions of roofs, covering unenclosed areas (e.g. roofs over porches and open covered parking structures) are not included in the areas used to evaluate compliance with SSc7.2, though they may be applicable to SSc7.1.

the sum of the room surface areas times their sound absorption coefficients divided by the room surface area. It is a dimensionless quantity that characterizes the reverberant character of the room and is related to the surface treatments and areas of those treatments in a room.

(1) a settlement with fewer than 2,500 persons, (2) an area outside incorporated and census designated places, or (3) the rural portion of an extended city. See U.S. Census Bureau (http:// www.census.gov/population/censusdata/urdef.txt).

meet local code requirements and must be adequate to provide a safe path for egress without overlighting the area.

are construction materials recovered from existing buildings or construction sites and reused. Common salvaged materials include structural beams and posts, flooring, doors, cabinetry, brick, and decorative items.

the initial phase of architectural work that establishes the scope and physical outline of the project.

a primary or secondary institution for the academic instruction of children.

a device used to trap and remove pollutants from gaseous emissions.

has adhesive properties and is formulated primarily to fill, seal, or waterproof gaps or joints between 2 surfaces. Sealants include sealant primers and caulks. (SCAQMD Rule 1168). Sealants are used on wood, fabric, paper, corrugated paperboard, plastic foam and other materials with tiny openings, often microscopic, that may absorb or discharge gas or fluid.

is applied to a substrate, prior to the application of a sealant, to enhance the bonding surface. (SCAQMD Rule 1168)

are coatings applied to either block materials from penetrating into or leaching out of a substrate, to prevent subsequent coatings from being absorbed by the substrate, or to prevent harm to subsequent coatings by materials in the substrate.

consists of task and guest chairs used with systems furniture.

is an internal or external space that keeps bicycles safe from theft. It may include lockers and storage rooms.

is the addition of soil particles to water bodies by natural and human-related activities. Sedimentation often decreases water quality and can accelerate the aging process of lakes, rivers, and streams.

a pollutant that vaporizes only at high temperatures and is found mainly in dust and on indoor surfaces (such as furniture and finishes) rather than in the air. Examples include plasticizers (such as phthalates), halogenated flame retardants, and pesticides.

are devices that undergo a measurable change in response to environmental changes and communicate this to the appropriate equipment or control system.

are normal operating ranges for building systems and indoor environmental quality. When the building systems are outside of their normal operating range, action is taken by the building operator or automation system.

an area designed to be fitted out for future expansion. Shell spaces are enclosed by the exterior building shell but otherwise left unfinished.

is a nontechnical term that describes devices or techniques that are used as part of a luminaire or lamp to limit glare, light trespass, or sky glow.

non-enclosed bicycle parking intended for visitors and customers, typically used for two hours or less.

stall for bathing with an area that is less than 2,160 square inches (1.4 square meters).

the deposition and accumulation of very fine particles in waterbodies. Siltation is often harmful to lake, river and stream ecosystems.

(also known as 'building-massing model energy analysis') a simple base-case energy analysis that informs the team about the building's likely distribution of energy consumption and is used to evaluate potential project energy strategies. A simple box analysis uses a basic, schematic building form.

a building that contains a single residential unit. An attached single-family building, such as a townhouse, has its own entry and shares walls but not ceilings or floors with adjacent units.

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

the individual building lot where a home is to be built. A site may include all of the lots that a builder is responsible for.

is an evaluation of a site's aboveground and subsurface characteristics, including its structures, geology, and hydrology. Site assessments are typically used to determine whether contamination has occurred, as well as the extent and concentration of any release of pollutants. Information generated during a site assessment is used to make remedial action decisions.

is the amount of heat and electricity consumed by a building, as reflected in utility bills.

an overall design or development concept for the project and associated (or potentially associated) buildings and sites. The plan considers future sustainable use, expansion, and contraction. The site master plan is typically illustrated, with building plans (if applicable), site drawings of planned phased development, and narrative descriptions.

is caused by stray light from unshielded light sources and light reflecting off surfaces that then enter the atmosphere and illuminate and reflect off dust, debris, and water vapor. Sky glow can substantially limit observation of the night sky, compromise astronomical research, and adversely affect nocturnal environments.

various urban planning policies and land-use strategies that seek to provide the greatest benefit to the community and preserve the natural environment. Smart growth often includes high-density development, mixed-use buildings and a strong consideration of transportation issues.

a control system that regulates irrigation based on site factors such as weather and soil moisture.

are expense items that are not considered direct construction costs. Examples include architectural, engineering, financing, and legal fees.

in healthcare facilities, a lightly programmed area that can be easily displaced to allow an adjacent department to expand.

the natural elements of a landscape, such as plant materials and soil. Softscapes can include hard elements, such as rocks.

the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently released inward. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits.(Efficient Windows Collaborative)

the fraction of solar energy that is reflected by a surface on a scale of 0 to 1. Black paint has a solar reflectance of 0; white paint (titanium dioxide) has a solar reflectance of 1. The standard technique for its determination uses spectrophotometric measurements, with an integrating sphere to determine the reflectance at each wavelength. The average reflectance is then determined by an averaging process, using a standard solar spectrum, as documented by ASTM Standards E903 and E892.

LEED v4
a measure of the constructed surface's ability to stay cool in the sun by reflecting solar radiation and emitting thermal radiation. It is defined such that a standard black surface (initial solar reflectance 0.05, initial thermal emittance 0.90) has an initial SRI of 0, and a standard white surface (initial solar reflectance 0.80, initial thermal emittance 0.90) has an initial SRI of 100. To calculate the SRI for a given material, obtain its solar reflectance and thermal emittance via the Cool Roof Rating Council Standard (CRRC-1). SRI is calculated according to ASTM E 1980. Calculation of the aged SRI is based on the aged tested values of solar reflectance and thermal emittance.
2009 SS
is a measure of a material's ability to reject solar heat, as shown by a small temperature rise. Standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. For example, a standard black surface has a temperature rise of 90 degrees F (50 degrees C) in full sun, and a standard white surface has a temperature rise of 14.6 degrees F (8.1 degrees C). Once the maximum temperature rise of a given material has been computed, the SRI can be calculated by interpolating between the values for white and black. Materials with the highest SRI values are the coolest choices for paving. Because of the way SRI is defined, particularly hot materials can even take slightly negative values, and particularly cool materials can even exceed 100. (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Cool Roofing Materials Database)

collect or absorb sunlight via solar collectors to heat water that is then circulated to the building's hot water tank. Solar thermal systems can be used to warm swimming pools or heat water for residential and commercial use.

mesh used to block light and heat from the sun, as well as insects. Structural insulated panel (SIP) panels made from a thick layer of foam that is sandwiched between two layers of sheathing, often Oriented Strand Board (OSB), plywood or fiber-cement.

is the portion of sound energy striking a surface that is not returned as sound energy. (ANSI S12.60Ð2002)

describes the ability of a material to absorb sound, expressed as a fraction of incident sound. The sound absorption coefficient is frequency-specific and ranges from 0.00 to 1.00. For example, a material may have an absorption coefficient of 0.50 at 250 Hz, and 0.80 at 1,000 Hz. This indicates that the material absorbs 50% of incident sound at 250 Hz, and 80% of incident sound at 1,000 Hz. The arithmetic average of absorption coefficients at midfrequencies is the NRC.

are considered the composite sound isolation performance values associated with the demising constructions, whether they are the floor/ceiling or wall partitions. Details such as the ceiling plenum conditions, windows, doors, penetrations through the constructions, etc. shall be addressed to provide this composite sound isolation rating

2009 IEQ
is a single-number rating for the acoustic attenuation of airborne sound passing through a partition or other building element, such as a wall, roof, or door, as measured in an acoustical testing laboratory following accepted industry practice. A higher STC rating provides more sound attenuation through a partition. (ANSI S12.60Ð2002)
2009 Healthcare
the ability of a material to prevent the transmission of sound between two spaces, expressed as a single number and determined by sound transmission loss measured in a laboratory (ASTM E90) using a method defined by standards (ASTM E413). The higher the STC rating the greater the ability of a material or system of materials in an assembly to reduce the transmission of sound between two spaces.

is the total amount of raw fuel required to operate a building; it incorporates all transmission, delivery, and production losses for a complete assessment of a building's energy use.

reduces the amount of unnecessary material brought into a building. Examples include purchasing products with less packaging.

construction or demolition waste materials that are sorted into separate bin on the project site (aka on-site). This waste strategy often isolates waste materials targeted for reuse, donation, or recycling programs. Typically sorted materials on-site include metals, wood, ceiling tiles, furniture, or concrete.

the percentage of applicable building floor area that achieves a any direct sun predicted to enter the space and that would fall on more than 2% of the calculation grid minimum hourly illuminance value of 300 lux at task level for at least 50% of the hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., local clock time, after accounting for typical weather conditions, all exterior obstructions, attached furniture systems, and after blinds have been operated hourly to block any direct sun predicted to enter the space and that would fall on more than 2% of the calculation grid

Changes to the test delivery procedure to accommodate candidates that have a documented disability which would prevent them from taking a LEED Professional Exam under normal testing conditions. Special testing accommodations are granted to ensure that every candidate has the opportunity to test on a level field with other candidates, but not to provide any candidate with an unfair advantage over other candidates. To request special testing accommodations, the Candidate form (completed by the candidate) and the Provider form (completed by a health care provider) documenting the disability and the need for accommodation must be submitted with the application.

Within the LEED AP with specialty credential, the LEED Rating System content in which a candidate chooses to test.

is a constant used to adjust the evapotranspiration rate to reflect the biological features of a specific plant species.

a measure of the extent to which speech is intelligible in the presence of ambient sound and other acoustic effects, such as reverberation. STI varies from 0 (totally unintelligible) to 1.0 (perfectly intelligible). STI is most often used to evaluate the performance of electronic sound reinforcement and paging systems. (IEC 60268-16)

are microscopic cells used by molds to reproduce, which continually travel through the air and land on various surfaces where they may produce mold if moisture is present.

of a building is the total area in square feet (sf ) of all rooms, including corridors, elevators, stairwells, and shaft spaces.

a publicly accessible open area that is wholly or partially bounded by segments of the street network. It is landscaped or partially paved, is spatially defined by building fronts paralleling at least 45% of its perimeter, and may be privately owned or publicly dedicated.

are detailed, written instructions documenting a method to achieve uniformity of performance.

describes all measures to prevent stormwater contamination, control sedimentation and erosion during construction, and comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

consists of water from precipitation that flows over surfaces into sewer systems or receiving water bodies. All precipitation that leaves project site boundaries on the surface is considered stormwater runoff.

categorizes members of a population into discrete subgroups, based on characteristics that may affect their responses to a survey. For example, a survey of building occupants' commuting behavior might separate people by income level and commuting distance. To yield representative results, the survey should sample subgroups according to their proportions in the total population.

a dedicated right-of-way that can accommodate one or more modes of travel, excluding alleys. A street is suitable for main 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.

a transit service with small, individual rail cars. Spacing between stations is uniformly short and ranges from every block to _ mile (400 meters), and operating speeds are primarily 10Ð30 mph (15Ð50 kmh). Streetcar routes typically extend 2Ð5 miles (3-8 kilometers).

elements carrying either vertical or horizontal loads e.g. walls, roofs, and floors that are considered structurally sound and non-hazardous.

A discounted price for the LEED Green Associate exam for full-time students. Candidates may request student by providing GBCI with a copy of their current student transcript demonstrating a full-time schedule of courses and a copy of a current student ID. Student pricing requests must be approved before a candidate is able to register for or schedule an appointment.

the homes and building lots that immediately surround the new LEED home project that is to be built. A subdivision may be new or preexisting, and belongs to a larger development.

a device that measures amount or volume (as of water or fuel) for a specific usage rather than the facility's overall usage.

is used to determine the proportion of energy use within a building attributable to specific end uses or subsystems (e.g., the heating subsystem of an HVAC system).

The point at which work on the building project is sufficiently complete in accordance with all construction contract documents, and any strategies that the project is receiving recognition for under LEED are fully implemented, except for operations-related strategies (such as a thermal comfort survey).

is air delivered by mechanical or natural ventilation to a space, composed of any combination of outdoor air, recirculated air, or transfer air. (ASHRAE 62.1Ð2007)

is the practice of managing forest resources to meet the long-term forest product needs of humans while maintaining the biodiversity of forested landscapes. The primary goal is to restore, enhance, and sustain a full range of forest values, including economic, social, and ecological considerations.

gives preference to products that have little to no negative impact on the environment and society throughout their life cycle, and to the companies that supply them.

is the development, adoption, and implementation of a procurement strategy that supports an organization's sustainable purchasing policy.

surveys every xth person in a population, using a constant skip interval. It relies on random sampling order or an order with no direct relationship to the variable under analysis (e.g., alphabetical order when sampling for commuting behavior).

includes panel-based workstations comprising modular interconnecting panels, hang-on components, and drawer and filing components or a free-standing grouping of furniture items designed to work in concert.

is the process of determining the ability of commissioned systems to perform in accordance with the owner's project requirements, the basis of design, and construction documents.

in LEED for Homes, a group of specialists who rule on credit interpretation requests and innovative design requests.

an approach to hydrology in which watersheds are modeled to calculate storm runoff volume, peak rate of discharge, hydrographs, and storage volumes, developed by the former USDA Soil Conservation Service.

is working by using telecommunications and computer technology from a location other than the usual or traditional place of businessÑfor example, from home, a satellite office, or a telework center.

is a person or entity that pays to occupy land or space that is owned by someone else.

is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space.

a wood-eating social insect (order Isoptera) that can cause serious structural damage to buildings in many regions of the United States. Also known as white ant.

is the highest form of wastewater treatment and includes removal of organics, solids, and nutrients as well as biological or chemical polishing, generally to effluent limits of 10 mg/L biological oxygen demand (BOD) 5 and 10 mg/L total suspended solids (TSS).

is a permit program that controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters.

a part of a building envelope that has high thermal conductivity, lowering the average R-value of the assembly. Studs are common thermal bridges.

exists when occupants express satisfaction with the thermal environment.

the border on a building where conditioned air meets unconditioned space. The thermal envelope must be both continuous and contiguous with the pressure envelope: there must be an air barrier that continuously touches the insulation.

a solar reflectance or solar reflectance index rating that is measured after three years of weather exposure.

are charged by a landfill for disposal of waste, typically quoted per ton.

the uppermost layer of soil, containing high levels of nutrients and organic matter. Healthy topsoil promotes plant growth.

consists of organically bound phosphates, polyphosphates, and orthophosphates in stormwater, the majority of which originates from fertilizer application. Chemical precipitation is the typical removal mechanism for phosphorus.

are particles that are too small or light to be removed from stormwater via gravity settling. Suspended solid concentrations are typically removed via filtration.

are occupants who do not use a facility on a consistent, regular, daily basis. Examples include students in higher education settings, customers in retail settings, and visitors in institutional settings.

include reimbursement for employees' alternative transportation rides or passes purchased by the employer. In LEED, the subsidy must be at least 20% of the full fare.

is a comprehensive strategy to reduce transportation impacts associated with automobile use to and from the LEED project.

a scheme that seeks to preserve existing plants on a project site.

an approach to decision making that takes into account an activity's social, environmental, and economic effects ('people, planet, profit').

a groundcover, typically a monoculture, that requires watering and mowing, and often fertilizers.

The state in which normal building operations are underway and the building is being used by the average number of full time equivalent occupants for which it was designed.

a measure of thermal conductivity that is the inverse of R-value, often used to measure the performance of windows. A lower U-value means a more energy-efficient window. Also known as U-value.

describes how well a building element conducts heat. It measures the rate of heat transfer through a building element over a given area, under standardized conditions. The greater the U-value, the less efficient the building element is as an insulator. The inverse of (1 divided by) the U-value is the R-value.

LEED v4
vehicle storage that is underground, under deck, under roof, or under a building
2009 SS
is underground or under a deck, roof, or building; its hardscape surfaces are shaded.

all design, construction, and development work that contribute to the creation of the LEED project building.

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.

means notifying building occupants not less than 72 hours before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions, and within 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergency conditions. Use of a least toxic pesticide or self-contained nonrodent bait does not require universal notification; all other pesticide applications do.

consists of all 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 interface with the district energy system. It includes the central energy plant and all transmission and distribution equipment associated with transporting the thermal energy to the project building and site.

a combination of urea and formaldehyde used in some glues and adhesives, particularly in composite wood products. At room temperature, ureaformaldehyde emits formaldehyde, a toxic and possibly carcinogenic gas.

is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's certification for products that contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Any remaining ingredients must consist of approved nonagricultural substances (as listed by USDA) or be nonorganically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form.

land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and that is available for these uses, as determined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service

a distinct, officially recognized business, nonprofit, civic, religious, or governmental organization, or dwelling units (residential use) or offices (commercial office use). It has a stationary postal address and is publicly available. It does not include automated facilities such as ATMs, vending machines, and touchscreens.

a local standard deemed equivalent to the listed standard by the U.S. Green Building Council through its Process for Establishing Non-U.S. Equivalencies in the LEED Rating System.

is any material used to prevent moisture penetration through wall, ceiling, and floor assemblies and potential condensation that can result from differences between a building's interior and exterior temperatures.

a roof partially or fully covered by vegetation, used to manage water runoff and provide additional insulation in winter and cooling in summer.

are planters, gardens, or other constructs intended to host flora.

the number of miles or kilometers driven by motorists in a specified time period, such as a day or a year, in absolute or per capita terms.

of certified wood is the company that supplies wood products to contractors or subcontractors for on-site installation. A vendor needs a chain-of-custody number if it is selling FSC-certified products that are not individually labeled; this includes most lumber.

is the process of supplying air to or removing air from a space for the purpose of controlling air contaminant levels, humidity, or temperature within the space. (ASHRAE 62.1-2007).

is the range of checks and tests carried out to determine whether components, subsystems, systems, and interfaces between systems operate in accordance with the contract documents.

occur on a vertical surface. They can be added together arithmetically when more than 1 source provides light to the same surface.

a direct line of sight to the outdoors from a typical location in a room; in LEED for Healthcare, a view must be within an 11-degree angle from a window in both plan and section.

an area of land, water, or other environmental element that is visible to the human eye from a fixed vantage point.

is the ratio of total transmitted light to total incident light.I.e.,the amount of visible spectrum light passing through a glazing surface divided by the amount of light striking the glazing surface. The higher Tvis value, the more incident light passes through the glazing.

is that portion of exterior windows between 30 and 90 inches above the floor that permits a view to the exterior of the project space.

a carbon compound that vaporizes (becomes a gas) at normal room temperatures. VOCs contribute to air pollution directly and through atmospheric photochemical reactions (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and ammonium carbonate) to produce secondary air pollutants, principally ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate.

are placed inside building entrances to capture dirt, water, and other materials tracked inside by people and equipment.

LEED v4
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, or equivalent pedestrian facilities. The distance must originate from a commonly used entrance fronting a public space.
2009 SS
is the length of the walkable pathway between the building and public transportation.
2009 ND
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.

comprises all materials that flow from the building to final disposal. Examples include paper, grass trimmings, food scraps, and plastics. In LEED, waste refers to all materials that are capable of being diverted from the building's waste stream through waste reduction.

eliminates waste by means of burial in a landfill, combustion in an incinerator, dumping at sea, or any other way that is not recycling or reuse.

is a management activity that disposes of waste other than through incineration or the use of landfills. Examples include reuse and recycling.

includes both source reduction and waste diversion through reuse or recycling.

encompasses source reduction, reuse, and recycling. Such a program assigns responsibility within the organization for implementation, lists the general actions that will be taken to reduce waste, and describes tracking and review procedures to monitor waste reduction and improve performance.

is the overall flow of waste from the building to a landfill, incinerator, or other disposal site.

is the spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter. (Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable)

publicly owned water and wastewater infrastructure. It does not include septic and mound wastewater treatment systems.

the surface water of a stream (first-order and higher, including intermittent streams), arroyo, river, canal, lake, estuary, bay, or ocean. It does not include irrigation ditches.

a project-specific method of calculating the amount of water required by the building and associated grounds. The budget takes into account indoor, outdoor, process, and makeup water demands and any on site supply including estimated rainfall. Water budgets must be associated with a specified amount of time, such as a week, month, or year and a quantity of water such as kGal, or liters.

measures the volume of water usage. Most commercial building water meters are designed to measure cold potable water.

are dry plumbing fixtures that use advanced hydraulic design and a buoyant fluid to maintain sanitary conditions.

capture energy from waves and the diurnal flux of tidal power, respectively. The captured energy is commonly used for desalination, water pumping, and electricity generation.

is a sound pressure level measured with a conventional frequency weighting that roughly approximates how the human ear hears different frequency components of sounds at typical listening levels for speech. (ANSI S12.60Ð2002)

LEED v4
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 does 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.
2008 Homes
an area inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 232). Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.

is electricity generated by wind turbines.

is the total area of the window (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.

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.

a landscaping method that uses drought-adaptable and low-water plants as well as soil amendments, such as compost and mulch, to reduce evaporation and make irrigation unnecessary.

a vehicle used primarily to facilitate the movement of truck trailers and other types of large shipping containers from one area of a site to another. It does not include forklift trucks.