Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

Appendix 2: Gl o s s a r yA b s o r p t i o n—The process by which incident light energy is convertedto another form of energy, usually heat.Acid leachate—Water that has become acidic after seepage throughlandfills; potentially very damaging to fish habitats and drinkingwater supplies.Active noise cancellation (ANC)—Reducing a sound field throughthe interaction of a primary sound source with an actively controlledidentical secondary sound that is 180 degrees out of phase.A d a p t a t i o n—In lighting design, the process by which the humanvisual system becomes accustomed to more or less light, resultingfrom a change in the sensitivity of the eye to light.A d s o r p t i o n—Adhesion of the molecules of a gas, liquid, or dissolvedsubstance to a surface.A l l e r g e n—A substance capable of causing an allergic reactionbecause of an individual’s sensitivity to that substance.Ambient lighting—Lighting in an area from any source that producesgeneral illumination, as opposed to task lighting.Ancillary Materials—All those additional inputs, materials, items,and things necessary to complete the process and result in the“Primary Output.” (J.A. Tshudy, Part IV, Section C)Artificial sky—An enclosure that simulates the luminance distributionof a real sky for the purpose of testing physical daylightingmodels (e.g., a hemispherical-dome or mirror-box artificial sky).A - W e i g h t i n g—System of modifying measured sound-pressure levelsto simulate the response of the human ear to different soundf r e q u e n c i e s .Bacteria sink—Porous material that allows the growth of biologicalcontaminants within the material.B a f f l e—A single opaque or translucent element used to diffuse orshield a surface from direct or unwanted light.B a k e o u t—A process used to remove VOCs by elevating the temperaturein an unoccupied, fully furnished, and ventilated building.B a l l a s t s—Electrical “starters” required by certain lamp types, especiallyfluorescents.B i o a e r o s o l—An aerosolized particle originating from a living thing.B i o d i v e r s i t y—The tendency in ecosystems, when undisturbed, tohave a great variety of species forming a complex web of interactions.Human population pressure and resource consumptiontend to reduce biodiversity dangerously; diverse communitiesare less subject to catastrophic disruption.B i o e n g i n e e r i n g—The use of living plants, or a combination of livingand non-living materials, to stabilize slopes and drainage ways.Biological contaminants—These include bacteria, viruses, molds,pollen, animal and human dander, insect and arachnid excreta.B l a c k w a t e r— Wastewater generated from toilet flushing.Blackwater has a higher nitrogen and fecal coliform level thangraywater. Some jurisdictions include water from kitchen sinksor laundry facilities in the definition of blackwater.Blown-in batt—A method of installing loose insulation in wall cavities,using a powerful blower and a fabric containment screen.B r i g h t n e s s—The subjective perception of relative luminance in aspace or on a surface.B u i l d i n g—The complete, outfitted, and furnished “Structure,”operational in every way, and ready for immediate occupancyand use. (J.A. Tshudy, Part IV, Section C)Building commissioning (C x )—The startup phase of a new orremodeled building. This phase includes testing and fine-tuningof the HVAC and other systems to assure proper functioningand adherence to design criteria. Commissioning also includespreparation of the system operation manuals and instruction ofthe building maintenance personnel.Building pressurization—The air pressure within a building relativeto the air pressure outside. Positive building pressurization isusually desirable to avoid infiltration of unconditioned andunfiltered air. Positive pressurization is maintained by providingadequate outdoor makeup air to the HVAC system to compensatefor exhaust and leakage.Building-Related Illnesses (BRI)—Clinically verifiable diseases thatare attributed to a specific source or pollutant within a buildingand are more serious than Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) condition.The symptoms of the disease persist after the occupantleaves the building, unlike SBS in which the occupant experiencesrelief shortly after leaving the building.Candela (cd)—The SI unit of luminous intensity (formerly calledthe “candle”). One candela equals one lumen per steradian—aspecific measure of luminous intensity, in a given direction.Ceiling cavity—The cavity formed by the ceiling, the plane of theluminaires, and the wall surfaces between them.C h e c k d a m—Low dam of stone, wood, or other material used forholding and spreading runoff and sediment in a swale.C l e r e s t o r y—That part of a building rising above the roofs or otherparts, whose walls contain windows specifically intended to providelighting to the interior.Closed-loop control—A control system that utilizes measurementof a controlled variable for feedback. Based on the measuredfeedback, the control system alters its output in an attempt toforce the controlled variable to reach a given setpoint.C O 2 -based high-limit ventilation control—A ventilation strategythat monitors the CO2 concentration in a building zone or inthe return air duct from the zone. If the CO 2 c o n c e n t r a t i o napproaches a predetermined high limit, the outdoor airflowcontroller is reset to provide additional ventilation. This processsupplements standard ventilation-control strategies by providingadditional ventilation for unexpected occupancy.Coefficient of utilization (CU)—The ratio of light energy (lumens)from a source, calculated as received on the workplane, to thelight energy emitted by the source alone.Color (temperature of a source)—In general terms, a means ofdefining the relative whiteness of a light source, specifically theabsolute temperature (degrees Kelvin) of a blackbody radiatorhaving a chromaticity equal to that of the light source.Commission Internationale de l'Eclairge (CIE)— I n t e r n a t i o n a llighting commission whose standards, procedures, and definitionsare in general use in Europe, but less widely accepted inNorth America.Constructed wetland—Any of a variety of designed systems thatapproximate natural wetlands, use aquatic plants, and can beused to treat wastewater or runoff.C o n s t r u c t i o n—That complete sequence or series of activities andactions that begin with the building “Site” and results in thecompleted “Structure.” (J.A. Tshudy, Part IV, Section C)Contrast sensitivity—The ability to detect the presence of luminancedifferences.C o - p r o d u c t—All those things that result from the process thatundergo some further processing to be converted to materials orthings that have subsequent use and/or value. (J.A. Tshudy, PartIV, Section C)Cradle-to-grave analysis—Analysis of the impact of a product fromthe beginning of its source gathering processes, through the endof its useful life, to disposal of all waste products. Cradle-to-cradleis a related term signifying the recycling or reuse of materialsat the end of their first useful life.