Sustainable Architecture Glossary

Repurposing an existing building for a new function to conserve embodied energy and reduce construction waste.

Designing buildings in response to local climate conditions to optimize comfort with minimal energy input.

Integrating natural elements and patterns into the built environment to enhance human well-being.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, a UK-originated green building certification system.

The physical barrier between a building's conditioned interior and the exterior environment.

A digital process for creating and managing detailed 3D representations of a building's physical and functional characteristics.

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, as occurs naturally in timber used for construction.

A circular design philosophy where all materials are nutrients cycling in biological or technical loops.

An engineered wood product with layers glued at right angles, offering structural strength with low embodied carbon.

The strategic use of natural light to illuminate building interiors and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

Total greenhouse gas emissions from the production, transport, and assembly of building materials.

A metric of annual energy consumption per unit of floor area, used to benchmark building performance.

A roof system with vegetation and growing medium installed over a waterproof membrane.

Wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry that can be treated and reused for non-potable purposes.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a globally recognized green building rating system.

A methodology evaluating total environmental impact of a building from material extraction through end of life.

The most rigorous green building standard, requiring net-positive energy, water, and verified year-long performance.

Large-scale engineered wood products such as CLT and glulam used as structural elements in buildings.

Ventilating buildings using wind and buoyancy-driven airflow rather than mechanical systems.

A building performance target where annual on-site renewable energy generation equals annual energy consumption.

Greenhouse gas emissions from a building's energy use during its operational phase.

A rigorous German building energy standard emphasizing airtightness, super-insulation, and heat-recovery ventilation.

Technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials.

Collecting and storing roof runoff for reuse in irrigation, toilet flushing, or other non-potable applications.

An approach that goes beyond minimizing harm to actively restoring and improving ecological and social systems.