LEED Terms & Definitions Question with complete solution 2023

LEED Terms & Definitions Question with complete solution 2023Built Environment The man-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity. Includes buildings, roads, infrastructure, neighborhoods, and cities. Carbon Neutrality Achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing the carbon footprint with an equivalent amount of sequestered or offset greenhouse gases. Closed System A system with a closed loop, and is thought to be more sustainable because they are self-sustaining. Closed systems can be linked so that one system uses the byproducts of another system. Conventional Design Traditional form of project delivery where team members work in isolation and only collaborate when absolutely needed. Initial costs and operating costs can be significantly higher with this approach. Externality A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the price of the goods or services involved, e.g. the pollution created in power generation for one state blown over another state Hard Costs Purchase price of a hard asset such as masonry, wood, steel, carpet, tile, mechanical systems, roofing, etc. Integrated Process Enables project team members to work together from the project outset to develop solutions that have synergies and multiple benefits. The approach invests in design activities that increase the opportunity for integrated solutions with an eye to better performance and life cycle savings. International Code Council (ICC) A membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention. Develops codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings including homes and schools. Most US cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the ICC. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) The investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of a given product or service. LCA evaluates environmental performance. This view takes into account the whole life of a product or project. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) The evaluation of the total cost of a building or product over its useful life, including initial, operations, maintenance costs as well as savings. LCC evaluates economic performance. Leverage Point A point in a system where a small change can lead to large changes and results. Small actions implemented at a leverage point, which can be free or of little cost, might mean large savings or improvements on a project. Negative Feedback Loop A cycle where an output may signal the system to stop changing. e.g. a thermostat tells an HVAC system to shut off once the design temperature is achieved.