RICS Sustainability
Global glossary of sustainability terms June 2010
Sustainability
rics.org/sustainability
02
Introduction
03
A
04
B
07
C
09
D
17
E
18
F
21
G
22
H
26
I
28
J
30
K
31
L
32
M
33
N
34
O
36
P & Q
37
R
39
S
41
T
45
U
46
V
47
W
48
XYZ
49
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Sustainability has become a wide-ranging term that can be applied to almost every facet of life on Earth, from a local to a global scale and over various time periods and hence it has become the buzzword and mantra of our age, used in a myriad of contexts. It is therefore useful to consider the most common definition of sustainability, the property of being sustainable; the condition where human activity may be continued indefinitely without damaging the environment and where the needs of all peoples are met equally. (Source: Towards Sustainability, www.towards-sustainability.co.uk) Of particular use to the property professional is the definition of sustainable development published in 1987 by the World Commission on the Environment and Development, ’… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ (World Commission on the Environment and Development, also frequently referred to as the Brundtland Commission). In consequence, it has become an important part of every professionals work to have an understanding of sustainability as, increasingly, performance is being measured against how ‘sustainable’ you are, due in part to a more environmentally and socially aware culture. The RICS Presidential Commission document Surveying sustainability: a short guide for the property professional published in June 2007 sought to deliver a fully integrated vision of sustainability and led to a sustainability policy for the institution. This policy was written by the Commission and adopted by the RICS International Governing Council in July 2005. A new mandatory APC/ATC competency in Sustainability was adopted in July 2006, and from that point forward all incoming chartered surveyors must show (as a minimum requirement) that they can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how and why sustainability seeks to balance economic, environmental, and social objectives at global, national, and local levels, in the context of land, property and the built environment. This glossary has therefore been designed to provide the property professional with definitions of commonly used terms from across the sustainability spectrum. There are a large number of journals devoted to various aspects of sustainability and RICS also has a free electronic sustainability newsletter – Global Balance, which can be accessed via the dedicated website www.rics.org/sustainability
Martin Russell-Croucher Director Sustainability and Special Projects
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Ursula Hartenberger Global Head of Sustainability Policy
03
A Acid rain
Additionality
‘Acid rain’ is a broad term referring to deposits of material from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulphuric acids. Whilst there are natural sources of acid rain, such as volcanoes, the main concern is from man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) resulting from fossil fuel combustion.
Emissions reductions that are greater than would have occurred under a business-as-usual scenario. For example, in order for emission credits to be awarded, projects under the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation must show that any emissions reductions are in addition to what would have occurred without the project. Additionality can also be used to describe other added benefits from the projects, including funding, investment, and technology.
Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulphuric acid and nitric acid which can be blown by prevailing winds over hundreds of miles. There are two types of acid rain, wet deposition which refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. If the acid chemicals in the air are blown into areas where the weather is wet, the acids can fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, fog, or mist. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depends on several factors, including:
Afforestation The creation of a carbon sink through the conversion of unforested land to forested land. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), afforestation is the direct human-induced conversion of land that has not been forested for a period of at least 50 years through planting, seeding, and/or the human-induced promotion of natural seed sources. Afforestation is one tool that can be used to generate Certified Emissions Reduction CER offset credits under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.
• how acidic the water is
Air quality
• the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved; and
Air pollution can have a serious effect on people’s health, cause damage to the environment and cause a range of subsidiary damages. For example, the impact of poor air quality (from man-made particles alone) was estimated to reduce average UK life expectancy by about eight months in 2005, creating an annual cost of up to £9.1–£21.4 billion. (Sources: UK DEFRA air quality environmental impact guidance, see www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/ airquality/index.htm)
• the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water. Dry deposition occurs in dry areas where the acid chemicals may become incorporated into dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition, sticking to the ground, buildings, homes, cars, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can be washed from these surfaces by rainstorms, leading to increased runoff. This runoff water makes the resulting mixture more acidic. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition.
Adaptation Changes in policies and practices designed to deal with climate threats and risks. Adaptation can refer to changes that protect livelihoods, prevent loss of lives, or protect economic assets and the environment. Examples include:
Since 1997 all UK local authorities have had statutory duties for local air quality management (LAQM) for seven key air pollutants under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. Australian air quality regulation includes AS 1668.2, which seeks to regulate the indoor air quality environment by mandating the levels of outside air entering an air-conditioned building and AS 3666 which regulates maintenance of cooling towers to reduce the incidence of airborne contaminants entering air intakes.
• changing agricultural crops to deal with changing seasons and weather patterns • increasing water conservation to deal with changing rainfall levels; and • developing medicines and preventive behaviours to deal with spreading diseases.
04
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Air source heat pump
Alternative energy
See also Heat pumps.
Energy derived from non-traditional sources, such as wind, compressed natural gas, biogas (cogeneration), or hydroelectric. ’Alternative energy’ is often used interchangeably with ’renewable energy’, meaning energy derived from renewable resources. However, some technologies not derived from renewable resources, such as nuclear power or coal gasification, may also be considered alternative energy.
Air source heat pumps use the difference in temperature between the outside and internal air to provide space heating or cooling to a building. An air source heat pump has three main parts: • the evaporator coil absorbs heat from the outside air
Annex countries
• the compressor pumps the refrigerant through the heat pump and compresses the gaseous refrigerant to the temperature needed for the heat distribution circuit
Groups of nations (for example, Annex 1 or Annex B) with different obligations under international climate agreements. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Annex 1 countries include industrial countries and economies in transition that agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels collectively. Annex 2 countries are industrial countries that committed to help developing countries by providing them with technology, financial assistance, and other resources. Annex B countries have assigned emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The category non-Annex 1 includes countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. Some countries are included in more than one Annex.
• the heat exchanger transfers the heat from the refrigerant to air or water. The benefits of air source heat pumps are that they do not require the use or storage of external fuel. Instead they run on electricity, which eliminates the need for a gas connection or storage of oil/solid fuel. Air source heat pumps present an advantage over ground source heat pumps because they require less space to install. Instead of requiring the installation of buried underground coils, air source systems can be fitted using much less space and are therefore, more suited for an urban home. It is even possible for air source heat pumps to extract useful heat from air at temperatures as low as minus 15oc – though the usual lowest operating temperature is 5oc.
Allocation An approach in a cap and trade system by which emission allowances are distributed or ’allocated’ by the government to regulated entities at little or no cost. Such allocations can be based on a variety of policy factors but are generally tied to either a ’grandfathering’ approach based on past emissions in a base year or an ’updating’ approach based on more recent emissions data. The alternative to direct allocation is to sell allowances via an auction. A cap and trade program may use a combination of auction and allocation to distribute allowances. See also Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Anthropogenic Made by people or resulting from human activities. In the context of climate change, the term refers to emissions of greenhouse gases attributable to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and land-use changes. The term can also be used to distinguish between carbon that is naturally present in the environment (see biogenic carbon) and carbon that is present solely due to human activities, primarily the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels.
Atmospheric concentration A measure used by climate scientists to register the level of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Atmospheric concentration is most often measured in parts per million of carbon dioxide and can be tracked over time to understand trends and make projections.
Allowance A marketable, government-issued instrument that entitles the holder to emit a defined quantity of greenhouse gas, typically one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, into the atmosphere during a specified time period. Collectively, all allowances for a particular time period equal the emissions cap established under a cap and trade emissions reduction program.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
05
B Baseline
Black carbon
A level or year against which subsequent greenhouse gas emission levels and concentrations are measured, especially in the context of emission reductions. For example, the Kyoto Protocol calls for 5% reductions in human-caused greenhouse gases below 1990 levels (the baseline) by the 2008–12 period.
Soot and other aerosol particles that come from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Black carbon increases atmospheric warming by lowering the reflectivity of snow, clouds, and other surfaces and by absorbing heat from the sun. Some scientists believe that black carbon plays a large role in climate change and that reducing it may be one of the best opportunities to slow climate change in the short run.
Biodiesel A type of fuel made by combining animal fat or vegetable oil with alcohol. Biodiesel can be directly substituted for diesel, or can be used as an additive mixed with traditional diesel.
Biodiversity The variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems.
BREEAM BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a widely used UK environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets standards for best practice in sustainable design. BREEAM assesses buildings against a set criteria covering:
Biofuel
• management
Solid, liquid or gaseous fuel obtained from lifeless or living biological material. Biofuel is similar to fossil fuel, which is derived from long dead biological material. Also, various plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacturing. Biofuel has the added advantage of biosequestration of atmospheric C02 and so assisting to remediate greenhouse gas and climate change problems.
• waste
Biogenic carbon This is carbon emitted by formerly living matter which has absorbed carbon through its life (such as wood products, food waste and sea algae) as opposed to carbon from fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil.
Biomass Living or recently-dead organic material that can be used as an energy source or in industrial production. It excludes organic material that has been transformed by geological processes (such as coal or petroleum).
Biosequestration The capture and storage of the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by an increased volume or quality of photosynthesis (through practices such as growing more trees and genetic engineering respectively), as well as enhanced soil carbon in agriculture. It has been crucial to the initiation, evolution and preservation of life and is a key policy concept in the climate change mitigation debate. It does not generally refer to the sequestering of carbon dioxide in oceans (see Carbon sequestration) or rock formations, depleted oil or gas reservoirs (see Oil depletion and peak oil), deep saline aquifers, or deep coal seams (see also Geo-sequestration for all of the above) or through the use of industrial chemical carbon dioxide scrubbing (see Carbon capture and storage).
06
• health and wellbeing • pollution • energy • land use and ecology • transport • materials • water; and • innovation and provides an overall score which will fall within a band providing a rating of pass, good, very good, excellent or outstanding. Assessment must be carried out by an accredited assessor.
Brown power/energy Electricity generated from the combustion of non-renewable fossil fuels (coal, oil, or natural gas) which generates significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
Brownfield Land previously utilised by commercial or industrial facilities that remains abandoned with known or perceived environmental contamination.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Building conservation The process of maintaining a building or place to keep its appearance and historical significance intact. In may include the preservation, restoration, reconstruction or adaption of a building.
Building Sustainability Index Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) is a scheme introduced by the government of New South Wales, Australia to regulate the energy efficiency of new buildings. It offers an online assessment tool for rating the expected performance of residential developments in terms of water efficiency, thermal comfort and energy usage.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
07
C Cap and trade system
Carbon dioxide
A strategy to reduce carbon emissions via financial incentives; ‘caps’ establish emissions limits and fines for exceeding those limits, while companies operating below their carbon limits can sell or ’trade’ their offsets to companies that are operating above the limits.
One of the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into our atmosphere when carboncontaining fossil fuels such as oil, (CO2) natural gas, and coal are burned. As a result of the world-wide consumption of such fossil fuels, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased over the past century. CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas.
This administrative approach is used to control pollution whereby a central authority sets a limit or emissions cap on the total amount of a pollutant that can be emitted by all covered sources. A government entity or other central authority issues tradable emission allowances equal to the cap. Regulated entities must periodically surrender back to the regulator a quantity of allowances (or valid offsets) equal to that entity’s actual emissions. Entities with excess allowances (for example, companies that install technology to reduce their emissions) may sell those allowances via a carbon market, referred to as a ’trade’. Cap and trade has been used successfully in the US to curb acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide emissions from large power plants, though there are some significant differences between the underlying circumstances of that effort and the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon budget A ‘carbon budget’ is a cap on the total quantity of greenhouse gas emissions emitted in the over a specified time. Under a system of carbon budgets, every ton of greenhouse gas emitted is accounted for and where emissions rise in one sector, corresponding falls have to be achieved in another. The UK has set carbon budgets to cover five-year periods, with three budgets set at a time. The first three carbon budgets run from 2008–2012, 2013–2017 and 2018–2022.
Carbon capture and storage This is also referred to as ‘carbon capture and sequestration’. It is the process of separating and capturing carbon dioxide (or another regulated gas) from an emission source (e.g. a power plant or industrial facility), converting it from a gaseous state to a supercritical fluid, transporting it (typically via pipeline or tanker truck) to an injection site, and injecting it into a deep subsurface rock formation for long-term storage. Key elements of this technology – carbon dioxide capture and deep geologic injection – have been employed in the petroleum industry to promote enhanced oil recovery. However, the long-term stability of injected carbon dioxide is not well understood and the technology has not yet been employed to eliminate emissions from a commercial coal-fired power plant. The term ’clean coal’ is often used as shorthand for this proposed technology.
08
Carbon dioxide equivalent Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) is a measure used to convert the masses of each of the greenhouse gases to a mass of CO2 that would give the equivalent global warming potential generally over a 100 year timeframe. Carbon dioxide equivalency thus reflects the time-integrated radiative forcing of a quantity of emissions or rate of greenhouse gas emission. For example, methane has a CO2-e 25 times that of CO2, and nitrous oxide 298 times. Carbon dioxide intensity and carbon dioxide per capita Alternatives to total emissions for measuring a nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon intensity measures emissions per unit of gross domestic product. Carbon dioxide per capita measures emissions per person. Both measures can be used to look at emission differences between nations. For example, while China has recently taken the lead in total greenhouse gas emissions, its per capita emissions level is far lower than that in most industrial countries.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Target The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) (2008–2011) is the third three-year phase of a UK domestic energy supplier obligation and requires all domestic energy suppliers with a customer base in excess of 50 000 customers to make savings in the amount of CO2 emitted by householders. CERT is significantly more ambitious and doubles the level of activity seen under the previous Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) 2005–2008. It also sees a shift in emphasis, with the target set in terms of carbon savings rather than terawatt hours. When CERT began in April 2008, energy suppliers were required to deliver measures that will provide overall lifetime carbon dioxide savings of 154MtCO2 – equivalent to the emissions from 700 000 homes each year (which we estimate will lead to energy supplier investment of around some £2.8bn). As part of the Prime Minister’s £1 billion Home Energy Saving Programme, the CERT target was further exceptionally raised by an additional 20%, increasing the scheme’s lifetime carbon savings to 185MtCO2 (some 31MtCO2 more than under the original CERT target) thereby making a significant contribution to the government’s environmental and social ambitions.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Suppliers must focus 40% of their activity on a ‘Priority Group’ of vulnerable and low-income households, including those in receipt of eligible benefits and pensioners over the age of 70. By increasing the energy efficiency of GB households, CERT will not only help households from falling into fuel poverty but is also expected to help alleviate fuel poverty.
(Source: The Forum for the Future, see www.forumforthefuture.org/files/Getting%20to%20Zero_ UK%20version_June%202008.pdf)
Carbon offsetting
CERT allows suppliers to meet up to 5% of their obligation through a ‘flexibility mechanism’, which aims to target hard-totreat homes (i.e. those off-grid, or solid walled homes) in the Priority Group.
A financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon offsets are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) and may represent six primary categories of greenhouse gases. One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.
Carbon footprint
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly through any human activity, typically expressed in equivalent tons of either carbon or carbon dioxide.
A proposed cap-and-trade system of emissions trading for greenhouse gases. The scheme is due to be introduced in Australia in 2010.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon Reduction Commitment
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, yet it is very toxic to humans. It is produced from the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds; it forms when there is not enough oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), such as when operating a stove or an internal combustion engine in an enclosed space. Carbon monoxide burns, with a characteristic blue flame, producing carbon dioxide.
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly known as the Carbon Reduction Commitment) is the UK’s mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme, which started in April 2010. It is central to the UK’s strategy for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. It has been designed to raise awareness in large organisations, especially at senior level, and encourage changes in behaviour and infrastructure. The schemes amended title serves to better reflect the CRC’s focus on increasing energy efficiency.
Carbon neutral True corporate carbon neutrality means there is no net increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases from the existence of the company – or from a clearly-defined part of the company that accounts for a significant portion of the company’s overall climate impact. If a company makes a claim regarding a specific product, then there should be no net increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases from the existence of that product. The process for achieving neutrality should begin with an inventory of the company’s entire carbon footprint (or a full life-cycle analysis of a particular product) and the setting of a clear boundary. The company should then embrace a neutralisation strategy that prioritises the avoidance of emissions, their reduction through energy efficiency, the replacement of high-carbon energy sources with low- or zero-carbon alternatives, and then the use of high-quality carbon offsets.
Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration – technique for long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to reduce the affects of global warming. (See also Carbon capture and storage)
Carbon tax A tax levied on carbon dioxide emissions that aims to reduce the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions by setting a price on pollution. A carbon tax can be used independently or in conjunction with other emissions controls such as a carbon cap. The tax generates revenue that can be used to underwrite further emissions reductions, technology development, cost relief for consumers, or other initiatives.
Every claim must be backed up by easily accessible, clearly communicated information regarding: • the company’s full carbon footprint • the boundaries it has applied; and • the strategy that has been embraced to achieve neutrality.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
09
C Carbon trading
• provides for a system of carbon budgeting
A trading system for countries, companies and individuals designed to offset carbon emissions from one activity with another, whereby those who cannot meet their emissions goals may purchase credits from those who surpass their goals.
• establishes a Committee on Climate Change
Certified wood/timber A credible guarantee that wood-based products originate from an environmentally responsible source. This assures the public that certain wood and paper products come from responsibly managed forests. USGBC LEED recognises the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Wood label.
Chain of custody (COC) A certificate with a unique number that provides a system for tracking wood through each stage, from the forest to the product’s point of sale. It assures the public that the product was produced from a well-managed forest. A part of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
Clean Development Mechanism Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol that allows industrial countries to meet their emission reduction targets by investing in low- or no-emission projects in developing nations. The CDM also aims to stimulate investment in developing countries.
Clean energy Most of our energy comes from coal burning power plants that emit carbon and other pollutants into the air. Clean energy comes from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
Climate change Changes in global climate patterns (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) that last for extended periods of time as a result of either natural processes or human influences. According to Sir Nicholas Stern ‘Climate change represents the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen.’ (Source: Sir Nicholas Stern, ‘The Stern Review’ into economics of climate change, October 2006.)
Climate Change Act The Climate Change Act 2008 (UK):
• confers powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of limiting greenhouse gas emissions or encouraging activities that reduce such emissions or remove greenhouse gas from the atmosphere • makes provisions about adaptation to climate change • confers powers to make schemes for providing financial incentives to produce less domestic waste and to recycle more of what is produced • makes provisions about the collection of household waste • confers powers to make provisions about charging for single use carrier bags • amends the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 about renewable transport fuel obligations • makes provisions about carbon emissions reduction targets • makes other provisions about climate change; and for connected purposes.
Climate Change Levy The Climate Change Levy (CCL) is part of a range of measures designed to help the UK meet its legally binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is chargeable on the industrial and commercial supply of taxable commodities for lighting, heating and power by consumers in the following sectors of business: • industry • commerce • agriculture • public administration • other services. The levy does not apply to taxable commodities used by domestic consumers, or by charities for non-business use. All revenue raised through the levy is recycled back to business through a 0.3% cut in employers’ national insurance contributions, introduced at the same time as the levy, to support energy efficiency and low carbon technologies.
• set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from a 1990 baseline with an interim target of 34% reduction by 2020
10
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
Climate feedback
Community Energy Saving Programme
The mechanism whereby changes in one part of the climate system lead to changes in other parts, which in turn circle back to amplify or diminish the original change process. A rise in global temperature, for example, causes permafrost to melt and release methane, which in turn feeds back to further raise global temperature. Reinforcing effects like this are called positive feedbacks. Negative feedbacks work in the opposite direction, minimising the original factor: temperature increase, for example, can lead to greater cloud cover which blocks the inflow of solar radiation, which in turn limits temperature increase.
The UK government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). The broad policy proposals for the design of the programme included:
Code for Sustainable Homes In February 2008 the UK government confirmed that a mandatory rating against the Code would be implemented for new homes in England from 1 May 2008. The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. It uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. It also sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The Code also gives buyers of new home better information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs, and offer builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms. Since April 2007 the developer of any new home in England has been able to choose to be assessed against the Code.
Combined heat and power Combined heat and power (CHP) is the simultaneous generation of usable heat and power (usually electricity) in a single process. CHP is a highly efficient way to use both fossil and renewable fuels and can therefore make a significant contribution to the UK’s sustainable energy goals, bringing environmental, economic, social and energy security benefits.
Committee on Climate Change The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body established under the Climate Change Act 2008 to advise the UK Government on setting carbon budgets, and to report to Parliament on the progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
• placing an obligation on energy suppliers and electricity generators to meet a CO2 reduction target by providing energy efficiency measures to domestic consumers • requiring that this obligation be met by providing these measures to households in areas with high levels of low incomes • to offer these measures as a package to homes, to deliver a ‘whole house approach’ so that homes can receive all the major energy efficiency measures they need, which could also include district heating schemes; and • specifying that only certain measures are eligible to count towards the CO2 targets, focusing on those measures which can make a substantial difference to a household emissions and fuel bills.
Conference of the Parties (COP) Regular meetings of governments that have signed an international treaty to discuss its status and possible revision. The 15th COP of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Copenhagen 30 November to 11 December 2009.
Conservation See building conservation.
Copenhagen Accord The Copenhagen Accord recognised that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the present and that actions should be taken to keep any temperature increases to below 2°C. The document is not legally binding and does not contain any legally binding commitments for reducing CO2 emissions.
Corporate citizenship A company’s responsible involvement with the wider community in which it is situated
Corporate responsibility The degree to which companies manage business practices to produce an overall positive impact on society.
11
C Corporate responsibility report A periodically-published report of a company’s corporate responsibility practices, goals, and progress toward achieving those goals that may be included with the company’s annual report or as a separate publication that focuses on the company’s social and environmental impact; the process of creating this report is meant to uncover strengths and weaknesses as well as enhance transparency for all company stakeholders; see Corporate sustainability report.
Corporate social responsibility Corporate social responsibility (CSR) represents the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workplace as well as the local community and society at large. It is a company’s obligation to be accountable to all of its stakeholders (financial stakeholders as well as suppliers, customers, and employees) in all its operations and activities with the aim of achieving sustainable development not only in the economic dimension but also in the social and environmental dimensions.
Corporate sustainability report The corporate sustainability report is a method for an organisation to demonstrate transparency and accountability beyond the traditional domain of financial performance. This has come about because there is an increased public expectation for organisations and industries to take responsibility for their non-financial impacts, including impacts on the environment and the community. The Global Reporting Initiative (www.globalreporting.org), which is recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme, provides advice, a sustainability reporting framework and guidelines for organisations to disclose their sustainability performance. These are applicable to organisations of any size, type, sector or geographic region.
12
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
D Deforestation Deforestation is the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. It does not include the removal of industrial forests such as plantations of pines. Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests to four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21% of the earth’s land surface.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
13
E El Niño
Embodied energy
A warming of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, occurring every 4–12 years and causing unusual global weather patterns. An El Niño is said to occur when the trade winds that usually push warm surface water westward weaken, allowing the warm water to pool as far eastward as the western coast of South America. When this happens, the typical pattern of coastal upwelling that carries nutrients from the cold depths to the ocean surface is disrupted, and fish and plankton die off in large numbers. El Niño warming is associated with the atmospheric phenomenon known as the southern oscillation, and their combined effect brings heavy rain to western South America and drought to eastern Australia and Indonesia. El Niño also affects the weather in the United States, but not as predictably. Compare La Nina.
Embodied energy is the energy that is used in making a product. Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which aims to find the sum total of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle. This lifecycle includes raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition.
EMAS The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report on and improve their environmental performance. The scheme has been available for participation by companies since 1995 and was originally restricted to companies in industrial sectors. Since 2001 EMAS has been open to all economic sectors including public and private services. In 2009 the EMAS Regulation has been revised and modified for the second time. Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) was published on 22 December 2009 and entered into force on 11 January 2010. Participation is voluntary and extends to public or private organisations operating in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) – Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. An increasing number of candidate countries are also implementing the scheme in preparation for their accession to the EU.
Embodied emissions The total CO2-e emissions for any product or process based on data for each sector of the economy from government surveys and data compilation. The total emissions for any product can be calculated for its manufacture and distribution use and disposal. See also Embodied energy.
14
Emission reduction unit An emission reduction unit (ERU) One metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent that is reduced or sequestered. Under the Clean Development Mechanism, industrial countries earn certified emission reduction units (CERs) for projects in developing countries that can be applied toward their national reduction targets. Countries can also earn emission reduction units under the Joint Implementation mechanism.
Emission trading A market approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Trading allows parties that emit less than their allowed emissions to trade or sell excess pollution credits to other parties that emit more than they are allowed. The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) is a mandatory emission trading scheme currently in place; the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) is a voluntary trading program.
Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) Developed by the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency and launched in India in June 2007. It provides the minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of buildings. The code is mandatory for commercial buildings or building complexes that have a connected load of 500 kW or greater or a contract demand of 600 kVA or greater. The code is also applicable to all buildings with a conditioned floor area of 1,000m2 (10,000ft2) or greater.
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive’s (EPBD) official title is: Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings. The principal objectives of this Directive are to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the EU through cost effective measures and to promote the convergence of building standards towards those of Member States which already have ambitious levels.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
The Directive sought to achieve these objectives through: • establishing a framework for a common methodology for calculating the energy performance of all buildings • setting minimum energy performance standards for both new buildings and buildings subject to a major refurbishment • introducing energy performance certificates with accompanying recommendations for energy efficiency improvements for most buildings; and • introducing independent assessors who are authorised to produce EPCs. Member states were due to have implemented these provisions by January 2009 at the latest. A recast of the directive was published in April 2010 widening the number of buildings covered by the directive and introducing more comprehensive reporting requirements.
Energy Star Household products (refrigerators, dishwashers, etc.), homes and business practices that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US EPA and US Department of Energy.
Environmental, social, governance Environmental, social, governance (ESG) is a term similar to corporate social responsibility and which refers to the conduct of business investment activities which are environmentally and socially responsible and which incorporate good governance principles to ensure accountability to investors.
Equality and diversity Equality can be described as the fair and/or equal treatment of people who can be grouped according to one or more common characteristic(s) (such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief). Equality of opportunity is often supported by a legal framework, which makes it illegal to discriminate against people because they belong to such identity groups. Diversity relates to individual differences between people and how these are understood and/or valued. Using diversity creatively and positively can benefit people, organisations and society. Whilst there is a clear difference between equality and diversity, they are nonetheless interconnected.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
15
F Food miles Food miles refers to the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches consumers. It is one aspect of assessing the environmental impact of food.
Forest Stewardship Council A non-profit organisation devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC certification is available to landowners or companies that sell timber or forest products, to establish that they have practiced forestry consistent with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. www.fsc.org
Fuel cell An electrochemical cell that produces electricity from a replenishable fuel tank. The electricity is generated through the reaction, triggered in the presence of an electrolyte, between the fuel (on the anode side) and an oxidant (on the cathode side). The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction products flow out of it, while the electrolyte remains within it. Fuel cells can operate virtually continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained. Fuel cells are different from conventional electrochemical cell batteries in that they consume reactant from an external source, which must be replenished – a thermodynamically open system. By contrast, batteries store electrical energy chemically and hence represent a thermodynamically closed system. Many combinations of fuels and oxidants are possible. A hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen as its fuel and oxygen (usually from air) as its oxidant. Other fuels include hydrocarbons and alcohols. Other oxidants include chlorine and chlorine dioxide.
16
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
G Geo-sequestration or geological storage
Green belt
This involves storing carbon dioxide directly into suitable underground rock strata.
A policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding, or neighbouring, urban areas.
Global warming The gradual, average increase of temperature of the Earth’s near surface atmosphere that is accelerated by the greenhouse gases emitted by human industry. Global warming is one type of (and a contributor to other types of) global climate change in general, such that at individual locations the temperature may fluctuate or drop even though the global average is rising The term global warming is often used to refer to the more general issue of climate change. More correctly, it is the commonly used name for the enhanced greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect describes the natural process by which the gases in the atmosphere allow incoming solar radiation (largely visible light) to pass through with little absorption, but which restrict the outgoing thermal radiation (infrared light or heat). Without the natural greenhouse effect the average temperature of the Earth would be 33o Celsius lower. Since the Industrial Revolution the composition of the gases in the atmosphere has been changing, due primarily to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels. The increase in these greenhouse gases enhances the natural greenhouse effect leading to an additional warming of the Earth.
Global warming potential Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much a given mass of greenhouse gas is estimated to contribute to global warming. It is a relative scale which compares the gas in question to that of the same mass of carbon dioxide (whose GWP is by definition 1). A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval and the value of this must be stated whenever a GWP is quoted or else the value is meaningless.
Global warming potential (GWP) factor of C02 equivalents over a 100 year lifetime Greenhouse gas
Global Warming Potential (GWP) Factor
Carbon dioxide
1
Methane
21
Nitrous oxide
290
Halocarbons (HFC) Sulphur Hexafluoride
140 to 11,700 22,000
In UK town planning, the green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth. The idea is for a ring of countryside where urbanisation will be resisted for the foreseeable future, maintaining an area where agriculture, forestry and outdoor leisure can be expected to prevail. The fundamental aim of green belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open, and consequently the most important attribute of green belts is their openness. It was first proposed around London by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee in 1935. The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 then allowed local authorities to include green belt proposals in their development plans.
Green building A sustainable building or green building is an outcome of a design philosophy which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use, including energy, water and materials, while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building’s life cycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal. Though green building is interpreted in many different ways, a common view is that buildings should be designed and operated to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment.
Green building councils See World Green Building Council.
Green energy Sources of energy considered to be environmentally friendly and non-polluting.
Greenhouse development rights Within the context of climate change obligations, this is the principle that all societies have a fundamental right to reduce poverty, achieve food security, increase literacy and education rates, and pursue other development goals. Societies or countries below a certain income level are excluded from greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios and are expected to concentrate their resources on raising their standard of living rather than lowering emissions.
Source: Redefining Zero, RICS, London 2010, based on IPCC Third Assessment Report – Climate Change 2001
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
17
G Greenhouse gas emissions
Green roof
Gases in the atmosphere which reduce the loss of heat into space (especially carbon dioxide). Gas build-up contributes to global temperatures through the greenhouse effect, adding to the natural greenhouse effect (whereby heat is trapped within the Earth’s atmosphere). Greenhouse gases include:
Green roofs are vegetated layers that sit on top of the conventional roof surfaces of a building. Usually a distinction is made between ‘extensive’ and ‘intensive’. These terms refer to the degree of maintenance the roofs require.
• carbon dioxide
Intensive green roofs are composed of relatively deep substrates and can therefore support a wide range of plant types: trees and shrubs as well as perennials, grasses and annuals. As a result they are generally heavy and require specific support from the building. Intensive green roofs (what most people think of as roof gardens) have in the past been rather traditional in their design, simply reproducing what tends to be found on the ground, with lawns, flower beds and water features. Because of their larger plant material and horticultural diversity, intensive green roofs can require substantial input of maintenance resources.
• methane • nitrous oxide • hydrofluorocarbons • perfluorocarbons; and • sulphur hexafluoride.
Greenhouse gas protocol The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The GHG Protocol, a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change. It provides the accounting framework for nearly every GHG standard and program in the world – from the International Standards Organization to The Climate Registry – as well as hundreds of GHG inventories prepared by individual companies. The GHG Protocol also offers developing countries an internationally accepted management tool to help their businesses to compete in the global marketplace and their governments to make informed decisions about climate change. For more information go to www.ghgprotocol.org
Green lease A green lease is a deed of lease over commercial property which incorporates terms to ensure that the ongoing maintenance and management of the premises is in accordance with environmentally sustainable practices. Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Developed jointly by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and the Energy Resource Institute (TERI), this is a green building ‘design evaluation system’.
18
Extensive green roofs are composed of lightweight layers of free-draining material that support low-growing, tough droughtresistant vegetation. Generally the depth of growing medium is from a few centimetres up to a maximum of around 10cm. Extensive green roofs can be designed into new buildings or ‘retrofitted’ onto existing buildings.
Green Star Green Star is an Australian voluntary environmental rating system for buildings which was launched in 2003 by the Green Building Council of Australia. The system considers a broad range of practices for reducing the environmental impact of buildings and to showcase innovation in sustainable building practices, while also considering occupant health and productivity and cost savings.
Greenwashing The process by which a company publicly and misleadingly declares itself to be environmentally-friendly but internally participates in environmentally- or socially-unfriendly practices.
Grey water Grey water is waste water generated from domestic activities such as dish washing, laundry and bathing is called grey water and can comprise 50–80% of residential waste water generated from all of the house’s sanitation equipment except for the toilets.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
H Heat and Energy Saving Strategy The UK Government’s Heat and Energy Saving Strategy (HESS) aims for emissions from existing buildings to be approaching zero by 2050. This involves increasing the scope and ambition of energy saving measures, as well as decarbonising the generation and supply of heat.
i. The ground loop comprises lengths of pipe buried in the ground, either in a borehole or a horizontal trench. The pipe is usually a closed circuit and is filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze, which is pumped around the pipe absorbing heat from the ground. The ground loop can be: • vertical, for use in boreholes
The key policy proposals are:
• horizontal, for use in trenches; or
• All homes to have received (by 2030) a ‘whole house’ package including all cost-effective energy saving measures, plus renewable heat and electricity measures, as appropriate. All lofts and cavity walls to be insulated, where practical, by 2015
• spiral, coil or ‘slinky’, also for use in trenches.
• Comprehensive information and advice to be made available to help people make changes to save energy and save money – including widespread availability of home energy advice by accredited advisers • Development of new ways to provide financial support so people can make more substantial energy saving and renewable energy improvements to their homes through mechanisms that allow costs to be more than offset by energy bill savings • Consideration of whether a new delivery model is needed, to allow a more coordinated approach to rolling out improvements to homes and communities, house-by-house and street-by-street • Consideration of widening requirements under Building Regulations to carry out energy saving measures alongside certain types of building work, and consideration of a new voluntary code of practice with the building trade on energy efficiency and low carbon energy • A new focus on district heating in suitable communities, and removing barriers to their development • Encouragement of combined heat and power and better use of surplus heat through carbon pricing mechanisms.
Heat pumps A heat pump is a device which applies external work to extract an amount of heat from a cold reservoir and delivers heat to a hot reservoir. There are three important elements to a ground source heat pump.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
ii. A heat pump operates in the same way that your fridge uses refrigerant to extract heat from the inside, keeping your food cool. A ground source heat pump extracts heat from the ground, and uses it to heat your home. It has three main parts: • the evaporator (e.g. the squiggly thing in the cold part of your fridge) absorbs the heat using the liquid in the ground loop • the compressor (this is what makes the noise in a fridge) moves the refrigerant round the heat pump and compresses the gaseous refrigerant to the temperature needed for the heat distribution circuit • the condenser (the hot part at the back of your fridge) gives up heat to a hot water tank which feeds the distribution system. iii. The heat distribution system consists of under floor heating or radiators for space heating and, in some cases, water storage for hot water supply.
Hydroelectric Hydro power systems convert potential energy stored in water held at height to kinetic energy (or the energy used in movement) to turn a turbine to produce electricity. Energy available in a body of water depends on the water’s flow rate and the height (or head) that the water falls. The scheme’s actual output will depend on how efficiently it converts the power of the water into electrical power (maximum efficiencies of over 90% are possible but for small systems 60–80% is more realistic). Hydroelectric developments offer a clean source of electrical energy with a steady output and no production of particulates or harmful gases. A scheme with a capacity of 100kW would typically supply enough electricity for about 150 homes. This is equivalent to emissions from fossil fuel power stations of around 400 tons per year of carbon dioxide, as well as around 5 tons of sulphur dioxide and 2 tons of nitrogen oxides.
19
I Indian Green Building Council
Insulation
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is part of the Confederation of Indian Industry and Godrej Green Business Centre (GBC). The council is actively involved in the promotion of green buildings in India. The IGBC is among those taking the lead to create a knowledge base and infrastructure to create green buildings. IGBC which endorses LEED is attempting to indigenise the rating system according to the environmental conditions prevalent in India. Together with the IGBC Green Homes rating, which is perhaps the first rating programme exclusively created for Indian homes, and other systems such as TERI GRIHA and Eco Housing, LEED offers developers and home owners the support they require to upgrade the performance of their residential complexes. (See also World Green Building Council).
See Thermal insulation.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific intergovernmental body tasked with evaluating the risk of climate change caused by human activity. The panel was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), two organisations of the United Nations.
Indicators A system of sustainability indicators that measures progress toward sustainability. UK sustainability indicators In 1994 the government published its Strategy for Sustainable Development, following the commitment made at the Earth Summit of June 1992 in Rio. These were revised in 1995 and 2005. One of the commitments in that document was the development of a set of indicators to help to inform people, including those in government, industry, non-governmental organisations, and the general public, about the issues involved in considering whether our development is becoming more sustainable. For more information see also Sustainable economy. For more information on the latest UK government indicators go to: www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/ progress/national/index.htm
Indoor air quality Indoor air quality (IAQ) A term used to describe the characteristics of the indoor climate of the building, with special concern for the impact on occupant health.
Indoor environment quality Building indoor environment covers the environmental aspects in the design, analysis, and operation of energy-efficient, healthy, and comfortable buildings. It can include specialist areas such as architecture, HVAC (air conditioning) design, thermal comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting, acoustics, and control systems. As a total the indoor experience is known as the indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
20
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
J Joint Implementation Joint Implementation (JI) is an initiative of the Kyoto Protocol that allows industrial countries to earn emission reduction credits by investing in reduction projects in other industrial countries. JI is related to the Clean Development Mechanism, which involves reduction projects in developing countries. Many JI projects are located in Eastern Europe
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
21
K Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These amount to an average of 5% against 1990 levels over the 5–year period 2008–2012. The major distinction between the Protocol and the Convention is that while the Convention encouraged industrialised countries to stabilise GHG emissions, the Protocol commits them to do so. Recognising that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. 184 Parties of the Convention have ratified its Protocol to date. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh in 2001, and are called the ‘Marrakesh Accords’. Under the Protocol, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures.
22
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
L Land use, land use change, and forestry Land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) is the set of activities that occur on any given parcel of land, such as grazing, forestry, or urban living. Changes to land use such as converting forestland to agriculture can release significant amounts of greenhouse gases. These activities are considered during climate negotiations and when planning emission reductions.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary nationwide green building rating system developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of green buildings. There are four levels of LEED certification for new buildings-Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Certification is based on a point system, with points awarded for performance in categories of water, energy, materials, indoor environment, innovation in materials and sustainable sites. www.usgbc.org/leed
Life cycle assessment Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the comprehensive examination of a product’s environmental and economic effects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use, and disposal.
Low carbon economy A low carbon economy is an economy with minimal emission of greenhouse gases as part of a global warming mitigation strategy brought about through integration of manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and power-generation etc. around technologies that produce energy, materials and waste disposal with little GHG emission.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
23
M Marrakesh Accords A set of agreements reached at a UN conference in Marrakesh in 2001 on the rules for meeting the targets set out in the Kyoto Protocol.
Mean sea level The average global sea level over time, mean sea level eliminates variations due to tides, waves and other disturbances. Sea level is affected by the shape of ocean basins, changes in water quantity, and changes in water density. Climate change is expected to raise sea level by increasing glacier melts and sea temperatures.
Methane Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gas in terms of contribution to the human induced greenhouse effect. It is released from coal mining, from venting and flaring of oil production, from waste and from agriculture. Current atmospheric methane concentrations are more than double the pre-industrial levels. Methane’s contribution to the human induced greenhouse effect from long-lived gases is about 18%. As well as from natural gas and oil production, emissions result mainly from landfill and from the livestock sector, in particular dairy and beef cattle.
Mitigation Policies and behaviours designed to reduce greenhouse gases and increase carbon sinks.
Models, predictions and pathways Tools for analysing alternative climate futures. Scientists use climate and atmospheric modelling to understand how the climate works and how greenhouse gas concentrations and other triggers lead to climate change. Models help scientists make predictions about climate changes resulting from biological, physical, and chemical variables, such as greenhouse gas emissions and land use changes. Emission pathway scenarios are developed to understand what emission limits are needed to meet climate stabilisation points, such as avoiding a two-degree rise in surface temperature.
24
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
N National Australian Built Environment Rating System National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) is a government initiative for measuring and comparing the environmental performance of Australian buildings. The NABERS ratings for commercial buildings includes Energy, Water, Waste and Indoor environment.
National Building Code of India 2005 Designed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Building Code of India 2005 is a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country. It serves as a Model Code for adoption by all agencies involved in building construction works such as public works departments, government construction departments, local bodies and private construction agencies. The Code mainly contains: • administrative regulations, development control rules and general building requirements • fire safety requirements • stipulations regarding materials, structural design and construction (including safety); and • building and plumbing services.
Natural capital A company’s environmental assets and natural resources existing in the physical environment, either owned (such as mineral, forest, or energy resources) or simply utilised in business operations (such as clean water and atmosphere). Often traditional economic measures and indicators fail to take into account the development use of natural capital, although preservation of its quantity and quality and therefore its sustainable use is essential to a business’ long-term survival and growth.
In the presence of excess oxygen (O2), nitric oxide (NO) will be converted to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), with the time required dependent on the concentration in air. Various health effects related to NOx caused when it reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form nitric acid vapour. This can lead to lung damage and worsening of respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and it may also aggravate existing heart disease. NOx (especially N2O) destroys ozone layer. This layer absorbs ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to life on earth. Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula NO2. It exists as a radical in nature. One of several nitrogen oxides, NO2 is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid, millions of tons of which are produced each year. This reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odour and is a prominent air pollutant.
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) A private, non-profit organisation that is independent of business and government and that works toward some specific social, environmental, or economic goal through research, activism, training, promotion, advocacy, lobbying, community service, etc.
Non-renewable resource A natural resource that is unable to be regenerated or renewed fully and without loss of quality once it is used, i.e. fossil fuels or minerals.
Nitrous oxide Nitrous oxide (NOx) is a generic term for mono-nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2). These oxides are produced during combustion, especially combustion at high temperatures. At ambient temperatures, the oxygen and nitrogen gases in air will not react with each other. In an internal combustion engine, combustion of a mixture of air and fuel produces combustion high temperatures leading to various oxides of nitrogen being produced. In areas of high motor vehicle traffic, such as in large cities, the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted into the atmosphere can be quite significant.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
25
O Oil depletion and peak oil Global oil production has probably peaked during the last decade and will fall never to rise again, based on applying the methodology developed by geologist M. King Hubbert in the US to accurately predict, in 1956, the peak and fall of US oil production during the 1970s. The development of alternative energy sources on a large scale is therefore more pressing as the slowdown in oil production causes price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas.
Organic A term signifying the absence of pesticides, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and other toxic materials in the cultivation of agricultural products. ‘Organic’ is also a food labelling term that denotes the product was produced under the authority of the US Organic Foods Production Act 1990.
Ozone depletion Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction. Although natural phenomena can cause temporary ozone loss, chlorine and bromine released from man-made compounds such as CFCs are now accepted as the main cause of this depletion.
26
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
P Q Parts per million (ppm)
Photovoltaics
A ratio-based measure of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is usually measured in parts per million. In 2007 the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide passed 384ppm, an increase of more than 100ppm since 1750. Other less widespread greenhouse gases may be measured in parts per billion or parts per trillion.
The photovoltaic process converts sunlight – the most abundant energy source on the planet – directly into electricity. The sun emits photons (light), which generate electricity when they strike a photovoltaic cell. In the same way, a photovoltaic cell, made from a semi-conducting material, is a device that converts light into electricity.
Passive buildings
Solar cells are made two or more thin layers of semi conducting material, usually silicon (a special type of melted sand). The layers are given opposite charges – one positive, one negative. When sunlight strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose and move toward the treated front surface of the solar cell. This creates an electron imbalance between the front and back of the cell and causes electricity to flow – the greater the intensity of light, the greater the flow of electricity.
A well insulated airtight building with mechanical inlet and extract ventilation. Internationally, Germany is the leader regarding construction and further development of passive buildings. Passiv House (Passivhaus) A specific construction standard for residential buildings which have excellent comfort conditions in both winter and summer. These principles can be applied not only to the residential sector as the name suggests, but also to commercial, industrial and public buildings. A dwelling which achieves the PassivHaus standard typically includes: • very good levels of insulation with minimal thermal bridges • well thought out utilisation of solar and internal gains • an excellent level of airtightness; and • good indoor air quality, provided by a whole house mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery.
Polluter pays principle The polluter pays principle (PPP) is an environmental policy principle which requires that the costs of pollution be borne by those who cause the damage to the natural environment. For example, manufacturers and importers of products should bear a significant degree of responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout the product life cycle, including: • upstream impacts inherent in the selection of materials for the products • impacts from the manufacturers’ production processes themselves; and • downstream impacts from the use and disposal of the products.
By specifying these features, the design heat load is limited to the load that can be transported by the minimum required ventilation air. Thus, a PassivHaus does not need a traditional heating system or active cooling to be comfortable to live in the small heating demand can be typically met using a compact services unit which integrates heating, hot water and ventilation in one unit (although there are a variety of alternative solutions).
Peak date The year that atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases must stop growing and begin declining if a given target concentration is to be achieved.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
27
R Recycled or reclaimed water
Resilience
Reclaimed water, sometimes called recycled water, is former waste water (sewage) that has been treated to remove solids and certain impurities, and then allowed to recharge the aquifer rather than being discharged to surface water. This recharging is often done by using the treated waste water for irrigation. In most locations, it is only intended to be used for non-potable uses, such as irrigation, dust control, and fire suppression, and there is controversy about possible health and environmental effects for those uses. In some locations, including Singapore and California’s Orange County, it is given more advanced treatment and is used indirectly for drinking.
Resilience is the ability of natural or human systems to survive in the face of great change. To be resilient, a system must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and develop new ways to thrive. In ecological terms, resilience has been used to describe the ability of natural systems to return to equilibrium after adapting to changes. In climate change, resilience can also convey the capacity and ability of society to make necessary adaptations to a changing world – and not necessarily structures that will carry forward the status quo. In this perspective, resilience affords an opportunity to make systemic changes during adaptation, such as addressing social inequalities.
Recycling
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development 1992
Recycling is the processing of used materials into new products: • to prevent waste of potentially useful materials • to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials • to reduce energy usage • to reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from land filling) by reducing the need for ’conventional’ waste disposal; and
The Declaration on Environment and Development by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development reaffirmed the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment with the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among states, key sectors of societies and people. The declaration has 27 principles about sustainable development.
• to lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ waste hierarchy.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation A policy that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. In principle, Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) provides financial incentives for countries to maintain and preserve forestlands as carbon sinks rather than cutting them down. In December 2007, climate change negotiators in Bali agreed to consider including REDD as part of a new climate change agreement.
Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources which are renewable (naturally replenished), such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat.
28
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
S Sick building syndrome A situation in which a building’s occupants experience acute health and/or comfort issues that appear to be linked to time spent there, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified.
SKA rating SKA rating is an environmental labelling method from RICS, designed to rate and compare the performance of fit-out projects, initially for office buildings in the UK. It was developed by the industry for the industry and designed to encourage good practice in fit-out work. See www.rics.org/ska
Solar electric See Photovoltaics.
Solar gain The increase in temperature in a space, object or structure that results from solar radiation. The amount of solar gain increases with the strength of the sun, and increases or decreases with the ability of any intervening material to transmit or resist the radiation.
Solar thermal energy Solar thermal energy (STE) is a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy (heat). Solar thermal collectors are defined by the USA Energy Information Administration as low-, medium-, or high-temperature collectors. Low-temperature collectors are flat plates, generally used to heat swimming pools. Medium-temperature collectors are also usually flat plates but are used for creating hot water for residential and commercial use. High temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors or lenses and are generally used for electric power production. STE is different from photovoltaics, which convert solar energy directly into electricity. While only 600 megawatts of solar thermal power was up and running worldwide in October 2009 according to Dr David Mills of Ausra, another 400 megawatts is under construction and there are 14 000 megawatts of serious concentrating solar thermal (CST) projects being developed.
Smart metering An advanced meter (usually an electrical meter) that identifies consumption in more detail than a conventional meter; and optionally, but generally, communicates that information via some network back to the local utility for monitoring and billing purposes.
Stern Review A report released on 30 October 2006 by economist Nicholas Stern for the UK Government, which discusses the effect of
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
global warming on the world economy. Although not the first economic report on climate change, it is significant as the largest and most widely known and discussed report of its kind. Its main conclusion is that the benefits of strong, early action on climate change considerably outweigh the costs. It proposes that 1% of global gross domestic product (GDP) per annum is required to be invested in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, and that failure to do so could risk global GDP being up to 20% lower than it otherwise might be. The Review states that climate change is the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen, presenting a unique challenge for economics. It provides prescriptions, including environmental taxes, to minimise the economic and social disruptions.
Sulphur dioxide Sulphur dioxode (SO2) is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulphur compounds, their combustion generates sulphur dioxide. Further oxidation of SO2, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as NO2, forms H2SO4, and thus acid rain. This is one of the causes for concern over the environmental impact of the use of these fuels as power sources.
Sun power The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) (a petawatt is 10 to the power of 15) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the rest is absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth’s surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet. The absorbed solar light heats the land surface, oceans and atmosphere. The warm air containing evaporated water from the oceans rises, driving atmospheric circulation or convection. When this air reaches a high altitude, where the temperature is low, water vapour condenses into clouds, which rain onto the earth’s surface, completing the water cycle. The latent heat of water condensation amplifies convection, producing atmospheric phenomena such as cyclones and anti-cyclones. Wind is a manifestation of the atmospheric circulation driven by solar energy. Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at an average temperature of 14°C. The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy via photosynthesis produces food, wood and the biomass from which fossil fuels are derived.
29
S Sustainability
Sustainable development
The 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, set out the case for international governments to progress towards economic development that could be sustained without depleting natural resources or harming the environment. The report highlighted three key components of sustainable development: environment, society and economy.
The Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development is the most widely used today: ‘development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
Sustainable communities:
At the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on Environment and Development, 27 principles to guide sustainable development globally were adopted by 179 governments.
• are areas that are economically prosperous
Sustainable economic growth
• have decent homes at a price people can afford
‘ ... economic growth that can be sustained and is within environmental limits, but also enhances the environment and social welfare, and avoids greater extremes in future economic cycles.’
Sustainable communities
• safeguard the countryside • enjoy a well-designed, accessible and pleasant living and working environment; and • are effectively and fairly represented and governed, with a strong sense of community.
(Crown copyright, HM Government, Prosperous Places: Taking forward the Review of Sub National Economic Development and Regeneration, March 2008, www.berr.gov.uk/files/file45468.pdf)
(Source: DETR: Sustainable communities – building for the future, 2003, www.communities.gov.uk/documents/ communities/pdf/146289.pdf)
Sustainable economy
Sustainable construction A sustainable construction industry: • ‘ ... will design better products and services reducing the environmental impacts from the use of energy, resources and hazardous substances’; • ‘ ... will reduce, and ultimately eliminate waste in construction through improved design, procurement, and greater reuse and recycling of resources’; and • will support the reuse ‘of existing built assets and the construction of new, long lasting, energy conscious and future-proof (adaptable and flexible) buildings and structures which are easy to maintain, operate and deconstruct.’ (Crown copyright: Draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction A consultation paper, BERR 2007) Sustainable construction can also support social aspects such as supporting skills development, inclusion and innovation, and understanding and responding to issues such as fuel poverty and vulnerable communities and individuals.
‘ ... a strong, stable and sustainable economy which provides prosperity and opportunities for all, and in which environmental and social costs fall on those who impose them (’the polluter pays’), and efficient resource use is incentivised.’ (Crown copyright, HM Government, Securing the future: delivering UK sustainable development strategy March 2005, www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/publications/ uk-strategy/documents/SecFut_complete.pdf)
Sustainable procurement ‘Sustainable procurement is a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment.’ (Crown copyright, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Procuring the Future - Sustainable Procurement National Action Plan: Recommendations from the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, 2006, www.defra.gov.uk/ sustainable/government/documents/full-document.pdf)
(Source: Advantage West Midlands (AWM), 2009, www.advantagewm.co.uk)
30
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
T Thermal imaging Infrared thermography is a non-contact temperature measurement technique. It has the ability to see and measure temperature differences in a non-intrusive manner with the use of an infrared thermal imaging camera.
Thermal insulation Materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. Heat energy can be transferred from one material to another by conduction, convection, radiation and/or by actual movement of material from one location to another. Insulators are used to minimise that transfer of heat energy. In home insulation, the R-value is an indication of how well a material insulates. The flow of heat can be reduced by addressing one or more of these mechanisms and is dependent on the physical properties of the material employed to do this.
Triple bottom line Triple bottom line, a phrase attributed to John Elkington (coined in 1994), describes how the ‘three pillars’ of sustainable development (environmental, social and economic) underpin an organisation’s value and performance. Triple bottom line accounting means expanding the traditional reporting framework to take into account ecological and social performance in addition to financial performance. The ’people, planet, profit’ phrase was coined for Shell by SustainAbility (www.sustainability.com), influenced by 20th century urbanist Patrick Geddes’s notion of ‘folk, work and place’. • People (human capital) pertains to fair and beneficial business practices toward labour and the community and region in which a corporation conducts its business. A TBL company conceives a reciprocal social structure in which the well being of corporate, labour and other stakeholder interests are interdependent. • Planet (natural capital) refers to sustainable environmental practices. A TBL company endeavours to benefit the natural order as much as possible or at the least do no harm and curtail environmental impact. • Profit is the economic value created by the organisation after deducting the cost of all inputs, including the cost of the capital tied up. It therefore differs from traditional accounting definitions of profit.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
31
U UK Green Building Council The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) was launched in February 2007 to bring clarity, purpose and co-ordination of sustainability strategy to the built environment sector. The government’s Sustainable Buildings Task Group had earlier reported that no one body or organisation was providing clear direction for the sector as a whole. The UK-GBC was established to fulfil this role. The UK-GBC is part of the World Green Building Council federation, membership of which is growing as new chapters are established across the globe.
United Nations Environment Programme This part of the UN is designed to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in May 1992 and signed at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. The Convention established general principles to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations and prevent dangerous human-caused interference with the climate system. The Convention includes requirements such as preparing national inventories of GHG emissions and a commitment to reduce emissions to 1990 levels. The Convention has nearly universal membership, with more than 190 signatory countries.
US Green Building Council The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organisation consisting of professionals from the building industry devoted to promoting buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. USGBC developed the LEED certification guidelines. www.usgbc.org
32
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
V Vancouver Valuation Accord The Vancouver Valuation Accord, adopted on 2 March 2007 is an agreement to address the interrelationship of sustainability and value (see www.vancouveraccord.org). RICS has signed this Accord. It is meant as a response to the evolving importance of sustainability and the need for its implications to be understood in valuations and appraisals. It is a commitment to review sustainability and valuation, including education, standards and practices, with the aim of improving understanding of their relationship.
Volatile organic compounds Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are materials that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and are consistently found higher indoors. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
33
W Waste Waste is any substance which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard. An item is discarded when it is no longer part of the normal commercial cycle or part of the chain of utility. ’a product which is no longer used in its primary role... which the holder then intends to, or is required to, discard.’ (Source: www.wasteawareconstruction.org.uk/definitions.asp) Construction waste specifically is ’materials resulting from the construction, remodelling, repair or demolition of buildings, bridges, pavements and other structures.’
Waste & Resources Action Programme The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is a UK not-for-profit private company, limited by guarantee, set up in 2000 and backed by government funding from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its purpose is to help individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.
Wave power The exploitation of energy from ocean surface waves to do useful work such as electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs).
Wind power Wind power available in the atmosphere is much greater than current world energy consumption. It is estimated that the potential of wind power on land and near-shore to be over five times the world’s current energy use in all forms.
Wind turbine A wind turbine is a rotating machine which converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used directly by machinery, such as a pump or grinding stones, the machine is usually called a windmill. If the mechanical energy is instead converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind turbine of generator.
World Green Building Council Green Building Councils are transparent, consensus based, not for profit coalition based organisations with no private ownership and diverse and integrated representation from all sectors of the property industry.
34
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
XYZ Zero carbon buildings The UK Government defined the zero carbon homes standard as homes that should be built with high levels of energy efficiency and achieve at least a minimum level of carbon reductions through a combination of energy efficiency, on-site energy supply and/or (where relevant) directly connected low carbon or renewable heat – and choose from a range of (mainly off-site) solutions for tackling the remaining emissions. The European Commission in their recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive defined ’net zero energy building’ as meaning a building where, as a result of the very high level of energy efficiency of the building, the overall annual primary energy consumption is equal to or less than the energy production from renewable energy sources on site.
Global glossary of sustainability terms | June 2010
35
rics.org/sustainability
RICS HQ
Advancing standards in land, property and construction.
Parliament Square London SW1P 3AD United Kingdom
RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction.
e
[email protected] Contact Centre: e
[email protected] t +44 (0)870 333 1600 f +44 (0)20 7334 3811
In a world where more and more people, governments, banks and commercial organisations demand greater certainty of professional standards and ethics, attaining RICS status is the recognised mark of property professionalism. Over 100 000 property professionals working in the major established and emerging economies of the world have already recognised the importance of securing RICS status by becoming members. RICS is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity – providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. RICS is a regulator of both its individual members and firms enabling it to maintain the highest standards and providing the basis for unparalleled client confidence in the sector. RICS has a worldwide network. For further information simply contact the relevant RICS office or our Contact Centre.
Europe (excluding United Kingdom) Rue Ducale 67 1000 Brussels Belgium
Asia Room 1804 Hopewell Centre 183 Queen’s Road East Wanchai Hong Kong
Americas 60 East 42nd Street Suite 2918 New York, NY 10165 USA
Oceania Suite 2, Level 16 1 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
t +32 2 733 10 19 f +32 2 742 97 48
[email protected]
t +852 2537 7117 f +852 2537 2756
[email protected]
t +1 212 847 7400 f +1 212 847 7401
[email protected]
t +61 2 9216 2333 f +61 2 9232 5591
[email protected]
United Kingdom Parliament Square London SW1P 3AD United Kingdom
Africa PO Box 3400 Witkoppen 2068 South Africa
Middle East Office F07, Block 11 Dubai Knowledge Village Dubai United Arab Emirates
India 48 & 49 Centrum Plaza Sector Road Sector 53, Gurgaon – 122002 India
t +44 (0)870 333 1600 f +44 (0)207 334 3811
[email protected]
t +27 11 467 2857 f +27 86 514 0655
[email protected]
t +971 4 375 3074 f +971 4 427 2498
[email protected]
t +91 124 459 5400 f +91 124 459 5402
[email protected]
100% SGS-COC-002592
JUNE 2010/ VP/777EA
Worldwide media enquiries:
