LEED Core Concepts Key Terms and
Definitions Questions And Answers
abandoned property - ANSWER>>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.
adapted plant - ANSWER>>vegetation that is not native to a particular region but
that has characteristics that allow it to live in the area.
added antimicrobial treatment - ANSWER>>a substance added to a product (e.g.,
paint, flooring) to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
adjacent site - ANSWER>>a site having at least a continuous 25% of its boundary
bordering parcels that are previously developed sites.
alternative daily cover (ADC) - ANSWER>>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
scavenging.
alternative fuel - ANSWER>>low-polluting, non gasoline fuels such as electricity,
hydrogen, propane, compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, methanol, and
ethanol.
alternative water source - ANSWER>>non potable water from other than public
utilities, on-site surface sources, and subsurface natural freshwater sources.
annual sunlight exposure (ASE) - ANSWER>>a metric that describes the potential
for visual discomfort in interior work environments.
,Appurtenance - ANSWER>>a built-in, nonstructural portion of a roof system.
area median income - ANSWER>>midpoint in the family-income range for a
metropolitan statistical area, the non-metro parts of a region, or local equivalent
to either.
ASE1000,250 - ANSWER>>reports the percentage of sensors in the analysis area,
using a maximum 2-foot spacing between points, that are found to be exposed to
more than 1000 lux of direct sunlight for more than 250 hours per year.
Assembly - ANSWER>>a product formulated from multiple materials (e.g.,
concrete) or a product made up of subcomponents (e.g., a workstation).
attendance boundary - ANSWER>>the limits used by school districts to determine
what school students attend based on where they live.
Automated dynamic façade systems - ANSWER>>daylighting control devices
whose position or light transmission level can be automatically changed by a
control system to address sunlight penetration or perceived glare in the space.
Automated methods of sunlight penetration or perceived glare control -
ANSWER>>Do not include manually operated interior or exterior façade shading
systems; manually operated dynamic glazing; or fixed exterior overhangs, fins,
shades, screens, awnings or louvers whose position on the fenestration cannot be
automatically changed or adjusted.
Automated dynamic façade systems - ANSWER>>Are allowed to have manual
override but must default back to automated operation after a predefined period
of no longer than two hours.
Dynamic glazing - ANSWER>>Is further defined in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
,Average LED intensity (ALI) - ANSWER>>The illumination output for light-emitting
diode lamps, as specified in the International Commission on Illumination
Standard 127-2007.
Average rated flush volume for tank type toilets with dual-flush capabilities -
ANSWER>>The average rated flush volume is the average of one full-flush and
two reduced-flushes as specified by the manufacturer.
Base building - ANSWER>>Materials and products that make up the building or
are permanently and semi-permanently installed in the project (e.g., flooring,
casework, wall coverings).
Baseline building performance - ANSWER>>The annual energy cost for a building
design, used as a baseline for comparison with above-standard design.
Baseline condition - ANSWER>>Before the LEED project was initiated, but not
necessarily before any development or disturbance took place.
Baseline water consumption - ANSWER>>A calculated projection of building water
use assuming code-compliant fixtures and fittings with no additional savings
compared with the design case or actual water meter data.
Basis of design (BOD) - ANSWER>>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.
Bicycle network - ANSWER>>A continuous network consisting of any combination
of the following: 1) off street bicycle paths or trails 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;
2) physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide;
3) streets designed for a target speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less.
, Bicycling distance - ANSWER>>The distance that a bicyclist must travel between
origins and destinations, the entirety of which must be on a bicycle network.
Bio-based material - ANSWER>>Commercial or industrial products (other than
food or feed) that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of biological
products, renewable agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine
materials), or forestry materials.
Blackwater - ANSWER>>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.
Block length - ANSWER>>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.
Blowdown - ANSWER>>The removal of makeup water from a cooling tower or
evaporative condenser recirculation system to reduce concentrations of dissolved
solids.
Brownfield - ANSWER>>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 contaminant.
BUG rating - ANSWER>>A luminaire classification system that classifies luminaires
in terms of backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G) (taken from IES/IDA Model
Lighting Ordinance).
buildable land - ANSWER>>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.
Definitions Questions And Answers
abandoned property - ANSWER>>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.
adapted plant - ANSWER>>vegetation that is not native to a particular region but
that has characteristics that allow it to live in the area.
added antimicrobial treatment - ANSWER>>a substance added to a product (e.g.,
paint, flooring) to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
adjacent site - ANSWER>>a site having at least a continuous 25% of its boundary
bordering parcels that are previously developed sites.
alternative daily cover (ADC) - ANSWER>>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
scavenging.
alternative fuel - ANSWER>>low-polluting, non gasoline fuels such as electricity,
hydrogen, propane, compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, methanol, and
ethanol.
alternative water source - ANSWER>>non potable water from other than public
utilities, on-site surface sources, and subsurface natural freshwater sources.
annual sunlight exposure (ASE) - ANSWER>>a metric that describes the potential
for visual discomfort in interior work environments.
,Appurtenance - ANSWER>>a built-in, nonstructural portion of a roof system.
area median income - ANSWER>>midpoint in the family-income range for a
metropolitan statistical area, the non-metro parts of a region, or local equivalent
to either.
ASE1000,250 - ANSWER>>reports the percentage of sensors in the analysis area,
using a maximum 2-foot spacing between points, that are found to be exposed to
more than 1000 lux of direct sunlight for more than 250 hours per year.
Assembly - ANSWER>>a product formulated from multiple materials (e.g.,
concrete) or a product made up of subcomponents (e.g., a workstation).
attendance boundary - ANSWER>>the limits used by school districts to determine
what school students attend based on where they live.
Automated dynamic façade systems - ANSWER>>daylighting control devices
whose position or light transmission level can be automatically changed by a
control system to address sunlight penetration or perceived glare in the space.
Automated methods of sunlight penetration or perceived glare control -
ANSWER>>Do not include manually operated interior or exterior façade shading
systems; manually operated dynamic glazing; or fixed exterior overhangs, fins,
shades, screens, awnings or louvers whose position on the fenestration cannot be
automatically changed or adjusted.
Automated dynamic façade systems - ANSWER>>Are allowed to have manual
override but must default back to automated operation after a predefined period
of no longer than two hours.
Dynamic glazing - ANSWER>>Is further defined in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and the
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
,Average LED intensity (ALI) - ANSWER>>The illumination output for light-emitting
diode lamps, as specified in the International Commission on Illumination
Standard 127-2007.
Average rated flush volume for tank type toilets with dual-flush capabilities -
ANSWER>>The average rated flush volume is the average of one full-flush and
two reduced-flushes as specified by the manufacturer.
Base building - ANSWER>>Materials and products that make up the building or
are permanently and semi-permanently installed in the project (e.g., flooring,
casework, wall coverings).
Baseline building performance - ANSWER>>The annual energy cost for a building
design, used as a baseline for comparison with above-standard design.
Baseline condition - ANSWER>>Before the LEED project was initiated, but not
necessarily before any development or disturbance took place.
Baseline water consumption - ANSWER>>A calculated projection of building water
use assuming code-compliant fixtures and fittings with no additional savings
compared with the design case or actual water meter data.
Basis of design (BOD) - ANSWER>>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.
Bicycle network - ANSWER>>A continuous network consisting of any combination
of the following: 1) off street bicycle paths or trails 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;
2) physically designated on-street bicycle lanes at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide;
3) streets designed for a target speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) or less.
, Bicycling distance - ANSWER>>The distance that a bicyclist must travel between
origins and destinations, the entirety of which must be on a bicycle network.
Bio-based material - ANSWER>>Commercial or industrial products (other than
food or feed) that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of biological
products, renewable agricultural materials (including plant, animal, and marine
materials), or forestry materials.
Blackwater - ANSWER>>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.
Block length - ANSWER>>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.
Blowdown - ANSWER>>The removal of makeup water from a cooling tower or
evaporative condenser recirculation system to reduce concentrations of dissolved
solids.
Brownfield - ANSWER>>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 contaminant.
BUG rating - ANSWER>>A luminaire classification system that classifies luminaires
in terms of backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G) (taken from IES/IDA Model
Lighting Ordinance).
buildable land - ANSWER>>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.
