Reclaimed Water
Reclaimed or recycled water, also referred to as wastewater reuse, water reclamation, or purple pipe, is the process of diverting greywater and/or domestic sewage into a system where it can be used for non-potable applications.
Recycled Materials
Post-industrial or post-consumer materials that have been significantly processed or altered from their previous form before reaching their current form.
Red List
The Red List contains twenty-two classes of harmful and polluting chemicals considered to be the worst in class in the building industry. Each chemical class contains a multitude of individual chemicals, identified by their Chemical Abstract Services Registry Number, or CASRN. Taken together, these classes comprise nearly eight hundred individual ingredients. The Red List is a resource to show manufacturers precisely which ingredients are prohibited from inclusion in Living Buildings.
Reference Habitat
An intact habitat containing similar structure and function as the ecosystem that would have naturally occurred on the site, acknowledging that ecosystems are dynamic, and adapt and evolve over time in response to changing environmental conditions.
Regularly Occupied Space
A space used by a full-time employee, part-time employee, resident, extended period visitor, or any other person for 4 or more hours per day for 2 or more days in a week.
Regular Occupant
A full-time employee, part-time employee, resident, extended period visitor, or any other person who uses a project space for 4 or more hours per day for 2 or more days in a week.
Renewable Energy
Energy generated through passive solar, photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind turbines, water-powered microturbines, direct geothermal or fuel cells powered by hydrogen generated from renewably powered electrolysis. Nuclear energy is not considered renewable for purposes of LBC or Core. Combustion-based sources are also neither renewable nor allowed in LBC/ Core projects without an Exception.
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are proof that energy has been generated from renewable sources and are issued when one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource.
Reprotoxin
Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the skin, may produce or increase the incidence of non-heritable adverse effects in the progeny and/or impairment of male or female reproductive functions or capacity.
Salvaged Materials
Used building materials that can be repurposed wholly in their current form or with slight refurbishment or alterations. Salvaged consumer goods that are reused as building, finish, or furniture at the end of their life may contribute to a project’s salvaged count. Salvaged large furniture items or art elements listed in the specifications can count toward salvaged count when the product is being reused as a salvaged material.
Sensitive Ecological Habitat
Habitat that is threatened, endangered, or particularly vulnerable to changes in the local ecology. Examples include, but are not limited to, wetlands, dunes, old-growth forests, and native prairies.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
SDVOSB is a certification program administered by the Government Services Exchange for eligible businesses that are majority-owned by veteran US citizens. See Government Services Exchange for more information.
Sewage
Sometimes called “black water,” sewage is discharged water containing solid and human wastes from toilets, urinals and sometimes sinks.
Single-Event Models
Single-event stormwater models are limited to a single design storm event, e.g., a 50-year storm. They are typically used to estimate the expected volume, rate, or quality of stormwater, to design best management practices and hydraulic structures, and to evaluate the effectiveness of water quality treatment of stormwater control measures.
Single-family Home or Residence
Single-family home or residence applies to a Project Boundary (referred to as Project Area in LBC 4.0 and Core Green Building Certification) covering no more than one “dwelling unit” defined as a single unit designed for human habitation with permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. The unit may be attached or detached.
Small Mechanical Component
Part of a complex mechanical product composed of at least 10 parts that is no more than 10% of the total product assembly by weight and volume.
Smoking
Smoking is generally defined as inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning plant material. For purposes of ILFI requirements, smoking includes combustion of tobacco, cannabis, and controlled substances, and generation of emissions produced by electronic smoking devices.
Social Handprints
Beneficial changes to social impacts (also see Handprints).
Stormwater
Precipitation that falls on the ground surfaces of a property.
Stormwater Detention
Stormwater detention is an area where stormwater is temporarily stored, or detained, and is eventually allowed to drain slowly when water levels recede in the receiving channel.
Stormwater Retention
Stormwater retention holds, or retains, stormwater. With the exception of the water lost to evaporation and to absorption by the soil, retention infrastructure is able to store water for indefinite periods.
Stormwater Runoff
Stormwater runoff is generated from rain and snowmelt events that flow over land or impervious surfaces, such as paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops, and does not soak into the ground.
Structured Parking
Parking that has at least one level of vehicles not at grade; either elevated, underground, or under a building or other space built to be occupied by humans.
Surplus Materials
Excess materials available as a result of unintentional over-purchasing or incorrect specifications that are available for installation on a separate project.
Systems Furniture
A modular furniture system that might include work surfaces, cabinetry, file systems, and flexible partitions to create or furnish a series of office workspaces.
Thriving Vibrant Ecological Environments and Habitats
For purposes of the LBC and Core standards, “thriving, vibrant ecological environments and habitats” are one class of Priority Natural Land which includes places with high-quality or important ecological function, and/or critical ecology, that may not meet the definition of wilderness or pristine greenfield. Also see guidance under Ecological Clarifications in Ecology of Place.
Total Site Area
The area of land in the Project Boundary (referred to as Project Area in LBC 4.0 and Core Green Building Certification), minus any sensitive ecological areas.
Transgender
Transgender refers to those whose gender identity does not align with the sex or gender ascribed at birth. For further information regarding gender-based and other identities, visit Outright International or pflag.
Transit
Formal or informal multi-rider service that travels between regular, designated stops. Single-occupancy ride-hailing services are not considered transit.
Vernacular
Elements that are of, relating to, or characteristic of a period, place, or group. Domestic, native architecture, or other anthropogenic environments, giving a sense of belonging that is unique to the locality.
Volatile Organic Compound
A volatile organic compound (VOC) is any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions. As gases, VOCs are emitted into the air from products or processes and are often harmful to human health and to the environment by themselves, as well as by reacting with other gases to form other air pollutants after they are in the air.
Water Balance
A numerical account of how much water enters and leaves a set boundary over a specified period.
Wetlands
Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.
Whole Facility Pathway
When the dollar value of the output of Living Product(s) exceeds 75% of the dollar value or weight of the facility’s total output, a manufacturer must pursue the Whole Facility compliance path, which requires that the entire manufacturing facility meet the on-site requirements of LPC. Whole Facility compliance simplifies the certification process since Product Share of impact does not need to be calculated for each product individually. Every product produced at a facility that has pursued the Whole Facility path will be understood to be Net Positive within LPC for Energy, Water and Waste.
Wilderness
A wild and uncultivated region, as of forest or desert, largely undisturbed by human activity, that retains ecological functions and biodiversity characteristic of the ecosystem in its natural state; and/or a tract of land officially designated as wilderness and protected by the U.S. government. Within this definition, traditional practices of indigenous communities are not considered disturbance.
Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
WBE is a certification program administered by NWBOC for eligible businesses that are majority-owned by women. See https://www.nwboc.org/basicinfo.html for more information.
Wood Containing Product
Any product containing wood at greater than or equal to 5-10% by weight or characterized by obvious visual wood components. The wood portion of wood-containing products must be included in FSC wood calculations.
Worker Cooperative
A worker cooperative, also known as a cooperative-based organization, is an enterprise that involves one or more classes of membership, in which worker members participate in the profits, oversight, and often management of the enterprise using democratic practices, and in which there are clear criteria for becoming a worker-owner.
Working Port
A harbor town or city where ships may take on or discharge cargo.
