The Alphabet Soup of Sustainable Construction

When researching sustainability in construction, there are a lot of acronyms that can be confusing to anyone new to the field. This blog is your guide to the 15 most common terms related to sustainability in construction and the built environment.

1. CWM: Construction Waste Management. A common practice in sustainable construction is to track the amoun of construction waste that is generated, and what percentage of it can be diverted from the landfill (via reuse, recycling, etc.). Learn more about CWM here.
2. EPD: Environmental Product Declaration. This is a document that building product manufacturers can obtain to demonstrate the environmental impact of their materials. Learn more about EPDs here.
3. ESC/SWPPP: Environmental Sedimentation Control/Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. This is a document explaining the procedures that will be made on-site to manage erosion and stormwater. Project teams are also required to take photos to show the measures being taken in compliance with the plan. Learn more about ESC in LEED here. 
4. ESG: Environmental Social Governance. A business strategy that guides companies towards prioritizing environmental, social, and governance practices in their business. Learn more about ESG in construction here.
5. GHG: Greenhouse Gas. Atmospheric gases that absorb and trap heat near Earth’s surface. GHGs include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. Learn more about GHGs here.
6. GRESB: Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark. A reporting framework that provides data and benchmarks for ESG in real estate and infrastructure. Learn more about GRESB here. 
7. GWP: Global Warming Potential. In an EPD, the GWP represents the products total carbon footprint. It is usually in the unti of CO2 equivalents. Learn more about GWP here.
8. HPD: Health Product Declaration. This is a document that building product manufacturers can obtain to demonstrate the impact their materials have on human health. Learn more about HPDs here.
9. IAQ: Indoor Air Quality. In construction, this refers to the quality of the air inside a building. In construction, it is important to manage activities that generate air pollutants so that construction workers and building occupants are not exposed to them. Learn more about IAQ in construction here.
10. LCA: Lifecycle Assessment. This is an analysis of the environmental impact of a product over the course of its entire lifecycle. Learn more about LCAs here
11. LEED: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. LEED is the most widely used Green Building Rating system in the world. The LEED frameworks helps building owners, architects, general contractors, and others involved with building projects ensure they are using sustainable practices. Learn more about LEED here. 
12. LEM: Low Emitting Materials. These are building products that have been evaluated to have low levels of VOC, which make them safer for the environment and human health. Learn more about LEM here.
13. USGBC: United States Green Building Council. The USGBC is a nonporfit organization that administers LEED certifications and accreditations. Learn more about USGBC here.
14. VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds. Chemicals that are emitted from commonly used building products like paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants that can impact human health. Learn more about VOC here. 
15. WELL: The WELL Building Standard. WELL is the most widely used building rating system that evaluates the health impact buildings have on humans. The WELL frameworks helps building owners, architects, general contractors, and others involved with building projects ensure they are keeping human health in mind on building projects. Learn more about WELL here.