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Building materials that are extracted, processed, and manufactured sustainably, with minimal impact on the environment, and that have a reduced carbon footprint.

The quality of a building's environment in relation to the health and wellbeing of its occupants, influenced by factors such as indoor air quality, daylight, acoustic comfort, and thermal comfort.

The total energy consumed by all of the processes associated with the production of a building, from mining and processing natural resources to transportation and delivery.

A sustainable and highly efficient method of heating and cooling buildings that leverages the stable temperature of the earth's crust as a heat source in the winter and a heat sink in the summer.

The practice of repurposing old buildings for new uses, which allows historic and older buildings to be preserved and reduces the need for new construction materials.

The practice of reusing building materials from previous structures in new construction or renovation projects, often aimed at preserving historical fabrics, reducing waste, and cutting down resource consumption.

A type of energy-efficient glass designed to prevent heat from escaping through windows to the exterior during cold seasons and also prevent heat from entering during warm seasons.

The collection and storage of rainwater from roofs or other surfaces to be used for irrigation, flushing toilets, and other non-potable uses, potentially reducing the demand for municipal water.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are highly efficient, long-lasting lighting sources that use a fraction of the electricity of traditional incandescent and fluorescent lights.

The movement of heat across an object that is more conductive than the materials around it, creating a pathway for heat loss or gain, often addressed in sustainable design by using thermal breaks.

The reuse of water from sinks, showers, and washing machines for landscaping and irrigation purposes, considerably reducing the need for fresh water.

The total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product, which sustainable design aims to minimize.

Roofing systems that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof, significantly reducing building cooling loads and mitigating the urban heat island effect.

Infrastructure designed to manage surface runoff water, aiming to reduce flooding risk, improve water quality, and enhance the attractiveness of an area.

A type of ventilation system that recovers energy from exhaust air to pre-treat the incoming fresh air, improving indoor air quality while reducing the energy demands for heating or cooling.

The positioning of a building in relation to seasonal variations in the sun's path as well as prevailing wind patterns, aimed at increasing the efficiency of the building's systems.

A design approach that takes into account climate and environmental conditions to maximize thermal comfort, daylighting, and energy efficiency.

Certification marks indicating that a product meets a set of environmental and/or social criteria, which can guide consumers to make environmentally preferable choices.

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It can absorb rainwater, provide insulation, and help lower urban air temperatures.

An approach to design that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies, leading to innovations that support sustainability.

Also known as vertical gardens, these are walls partially or completely covered in vegetation, which can reduce indoor air pollution, provide thermal insulation, and enhance building aesthetics.

A solar power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics, which converts sunlight directly into electricity through solar cells.

Involves the design of buildings leveraging climatic conditions to maintain a comfortable temperature range, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems. It uses building orientation, window placement, and thermal mass to maximize solar gain.

The controlled admission of natural light into a space, used to reduce or eliminate electric lighting and save energy.

A building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

Devices that detect the presence of people within an area and control lighting or HVAC systems accordingly, leading to significant energy savings.

Refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

Choosing a location for a building that minimizes the impact on ecosystems, encourages the use of public transportation, and preserves prime agricultural and ecological land.

The design and placement of windows and doors in a building, which impacts the building's lighting, ventilation, and energy efficiency.