Appendix
Glossary
Acoustical Comfort
The subjective human perception of the sonic environment in any given space, including enclosures and open environments.
Event-driven climate risks, including increased severity of extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, hurricanes, heat or cold waves, floods, etc.).
Air Quality Testing
Utilization of testing devices and methods to measure Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by spot-testing indoor pollutants (e.g., carbon monoxide, particulates, etc.).
Anaerobic Digestion
A series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable materials in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic digestion is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to generate heat or energy through the capture of methane. Materials left after anaerobic digestion processing can be either composted or disposed.
Area Designated for Community Use
Interior or exterior spaces designated for activities and services that benefit the public or local community. These areas can include auditoriums, gymnasiums, cafeterias, conference or multi-purpose rooms, playing fields and stadiums, parks or greenfield areas, and joint parking.
A specific year (12-month period) used to track changes and improvements in performance over time.
The variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Biodiversity includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
GHG accounting and reporting boundaries can have several dimensions: organizational, operational, geographic, business unit, and target boundaries. The inventory boundary determines which emissions are accounted and reported by an organization.
Bundled REC vs. Unbundled REC
A bundled REC means the date, time and quantity of purchased renewable energy generation corresponds with the date, time and quantity of consumption. Bundled RECs are necessary to claim zero operational carbon emissions of electricity. Unbundled RECs do not require generation coincide with consumption for all hours.
Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
A predetermined set of strategies, resources, plans and procedures that describe how an entity's mission and business processes will be sustained during and after a significant incident with effects lasting more than 24 hours.
Business Impact Assessment
Predicts the consequences of a disruption to the entity and gathers information needed to develop recovery strategies.
Carbon Offsets
A tradeable document that represents one MTCO2e of reduced GHG emissions from a dedicated project or activity. Such an offset must be real, permanent, and verified, and demonstrate additionality. These documents are used to offset non-electricity emissions. Similar third-party tracking systems are involved.
Longer-term shifts in climate patterns (e.g., sustained higher temperatures, sea level rise, changing precipitation patterns) that may cause sea level rise or chronic heat waves.
Climate-related risks associated with the transition to a lower-carbon global economy, the most common of which relate to policy and legal actions, technology changes, market responses, and reputational considerations.
The universal unit of measurement to indicate the global warming potential (GWP) of each of the six greenhouse gases, expressed in terms of the GWP of one unit of carbon dioxide. CO2e is used to evaluate releasing or the avoidance of releasing different GHGs against a common basis.
Community Investment
Financial or non-financial investments made to support the needs of local communities near properties within the portfolio.
Composting
The controlled aerobic decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms.
Continuous Monitoring
Utilization of devices deployed throughout a portfolio to actively monitor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by ongoing measurement of indoor air parameters such as carbon dioxide (CO2), VOCs, and particulate matter (PM).
Diverted waste
The total amount of waste that is diverted away from landfills, incineration (including waste-to-energy facilities) and the environment. Diverted waste also includes waste that is reduced, reused, composted, recycled, anaerobically digested or otherwise recovered using processing technologies.
The GHG emissions associated with the raw material extraction, manufacturing and processing, transportation, and installation of a building material.
Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
A predetermined set of strategies, resources, plans and procedures that describe how to prepare for and respond to an incident — natural or human-caused — that threatens life, property or the environment.
A factor allowing GHG emissions to be estimated from a unit of available activity data (e.g., tons of fuel consumed, tons of product produced) and absolute GHG emissions.
Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
The Total Energy Use per unit area across the real estate portfolio for a specific period.
Financial Impact Analysis
An analysis of monetary risks and opportunities that could affect a portfolio’s cash flows, access to finance or cost of capital over the short, medium or long term.
Financial Investment Initiatives
Financial investments supporting the needs of local communities (e.g., charitable donations, partnerships with local organizations, funding/sponsorship to local activities, etc.).
GHG Emissions
The total GHG emissions emitted by a real estate portfolio over a specific period. GHG emissions include the seven gases listed in the GHG Protocols: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). GHG emissions are expressed in CO2 equivalents (CO2e).
GHG Emissions Intensity
The total GHG emissions per unit area across the real estate portfolio for a specific period.
A greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory is a list of emission sources and the associated emissions quantified using standardized methods.
(GWP)
A factor describing the radiative forcing impact (i.e., the degree of harm to the atmosphere) of one unit of a given GHG relative to one unit of CO2.
Grasscycling
A source reduction activity whereby grass clippings are left on the lawn after mowing to help hold moisture and naturally add nutrients back to the soil.
A subset of renewable energy composed of grid-based electricity produced from renewable energy sources.
Gross Floor Area
Gross floor area is thesum of the floor areas within a building excluding floor area dedicated to parking and the circulation of motor vehicles, and non-enclosed areas, non-enclosable areas and roofed areas.
The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors (e.g., soil, moisture, range of temperature, availability of light, etc.) and biotic factors e.g., availability of food, presence of predators, etc.).
Hazardous Materials
Waste that poses or potentially poses threats to public health or the environment. There are four factors that determine if a substance is hazardous: ignitability (i.e., flammable), reactivity, corrosivity and toxicity. Local jurisdictions, states or countries determine if a material is hazardous.
Health and Safety (H&S) Risk Assessment
A process used to identify potential hazards and analyze in relation to human health and safety what could happen if a disaster or hazard occurs.
Highest and Best Use
Creating and keeping materials and products for a use as high on the zero-waste hierarchy as possible and in the useful loop as long as possible. Keeping materials from being downcycled where the number of future uses or options are limited.
Incident
Any situation to which hazard control and mitigation are required for a business to resume full functionality.
Incineration
Reducing the volume of solid waste by use of an enclosed device and controlled flame combustion.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitors
Devices installed within occupied spaces in a portfolio that are building grade or better.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Testing Methods
Any test method capable of measuring the required indoor air parameters.
Indoor Environmental Quality
A combination of a building’s indoor air quality and thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort conditions.
Indoor Environmental Quality Assessments
Assessments such as the U.S. EPA’s IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (IBEAM) that are conducted on a 12-month basis and assess the assets in a portfolio for issues related to Indoor Air Quality and Occupant Health.
Interim Target:
User defined goals to demonstrate incremental progress toward the defined target.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Parameters used to track and evaluate the effectiveness and performance of the Worker Health and Safety Plan.
Landfill
A pollution control facility for safe and sanitary final disposal of solid waste on land.
Materials
Solid, non-hazardous discards that are generated within the property boundaries.
Non-Financial Investment Initiatives
Non-financial investments made to support the needs of local communities. Examples of non-financial initiatives include volunteer time off, community events, affordable housing units and employment or educational opportunities.
Non-Potable Water
Water that is not treated to drinking water standards and is not intended for human consumption.
Occupant Satisfaction Survey
A survey to determine occupant satisfaction with indoor environmental quality typically assessed on a point scale. For example, seven- point scale may include the following options: very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, somewhat satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied.
Occupied Space
An enclosed space intended for regular human activity. Occupied Spaces exclude those intended for occasional or short-term use (e.g., storage rooms, equipment rooms, etc.).
On-Site Alternative Water
Water captured on-site, rather than water from a public source. On-site alternative water includes rainwater, well water, sump pump water, air-handling unit condensate, reject water from water purification systems or water derived from other water reuse strategies.
Overall Satisfaction Score
The overall satisfaction of occupants with a property is based on the criteria contained in the occupant survey. Overall satisfaction is represented as a percentage of satisfied occupants. For example, on a seven-point scale, the overall satisfaction score would include the percentage of occupants surveyed indicating they were somewhat satisfied (5), satisfied (6), and very satisfied (7).
Performance Approach
Ways in which performance may be measured and verified.
Performance Approach A
Measures absolute performance of a metric
Performance Approach B
Measures change in performance of a metric.
Performance Category
Key impact areas to measure, track and verify sustainability performance of a portfolio.
Performance Metric
Key indicators to measure, track and verify performance outcomes of a portfolio.
Physical Climate Risk Assessment
A detailed evaluation that analyzes the vulnerabilities of individual properties to climate-related hazards (e.g., floods, storms, etc.).
Physical Climate Risk Screening
A high-level screening that evaluates the exposure of properties in the portfolio to potential physical climate hazards (e.g., such as floods, storms, wildfires, etc.).
The potential negative impacts of climate change on a portfolio. The physical risks from climate change can be event-driven (i.e., acute) or related to longer-term shifts (i.e., chronic) in precipitation, temperature and increased variability in weather patterns. Acute risks include the increased severity of extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, droughts, floods, fires, etc.). Chronic risks include sea level rise.
Portfolio
A collection of real estate assets owned, managed and/or controlled by the legal entity (organization) participating in the program. The defined portfolio must include all underlying real estate assets associated with the performance goals, claims or targets being verified.
Portfolio Site Area
The sum of the total site area across all properties within the portfolio, including building footprints and all land.
Portfolio Gross Floor Area
The sum of the total gross floor area across all properties within the portfolio. (See gross floor area definition above.)
Potable Water
Water that has been treated and is safe for human consumption.
Properties
The real estate assets of which a portfolio is comprised, including both buildings and associated land.
Protected Habitat Areas
Land and any aquatic ecosystems (e.g., wetlands) that are identified as a habitat for species that are threatened or endangered, or for species that are of particular concern.
Reclaimed Water
Wastewater that has been treated for reuse.
Recycling
The series of activities by which discarded materials are collected, sorted, processed, converted into manufacturing feedstock material, and used in creation of new products. Recycling excludes use of these materials as a fuel substitute or for energy production.
Regular Building Occupants
Habitual users of a building. These could include part-time and full-time employees, staff, volunteers, residents, primary and secondary school students, hotel guests and inpatients, depending on the building type.
Energy sources not depleted by use (e.g., the sun, wind, low-impact hydropower, geothermal, waves and tides.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
A tradeable document that represents the non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation. RECs are issued by third-party tracking systems for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy delivered to the electricity grid by a renewable energy asset. A certificate is assigned a unique numbering and includes the specific date, time, and location of the generation.
Reporting Year
The most recent or current year (12-month period) for which performance is being tracked and submitted for verification.
Response Rate
The ratio of survey respondents to survey recipients. A minimum response rate of 15% is considered desirable.
Restored Habitat Areas
Land that has been previously damaged or has had negative ecological impacts and has been restored to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.
Reuse
Use of a product or item in its original form more than one time.
Risk Exposure Analysis
An analysis of the risk exposure, including rating the likelihood of a risk occurring with the magnitude of the impact to the portfolio.
Minimizing the potential of physical hazards to create adverse impacts, including those that are human induced. This minimization can occur through actions that reduce hazards, exposure and vulnerability.
A process for identifying and assessing a range of potential outcomes of future events under conditions of uncertainty. In the case of climate change, for example, scenarios allow an organization to explore and develop an understanding of how the physical and transition risks of climate change may impact its businesses, strategies, and financial performance over time.
Scope 1 Emissions (Scope 1)
Direct GHG emissions that occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the portfolio (e.g., natural gas, fuel, refrigerant leakage, etc.).
Scope 2 Emissions (Scope 2)
Indirect GHG emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heating or cooling.
Scope 3 Emissions (Scope 3)
Emissions that are the result of activities not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, those that the portfolio indirectly affects in its value chain.
Single Stream
Collection of unsorted recyclable materials from a property in a non-compartmentalized vehicle to be separated at a facility later. A single-stream program integrates the separation and collection components of recycling.
A Social and Community Impact Assessment includes the processes of analyzing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of a property on its community. The Assessment’s primary purpose is to bring about a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human environment.
Source Reduction
Any action which causes a net reduction in the generation of solid waste. Source reduction includes, but is not limited to, reducing the use of non-recyclable materials, replacing disposable materials and products with reusable materials, reducing packaging, reducing the amount of yard wastes, establishing garbage rate structures with incentives to reduce waste tonnage and increasing the efficiency of the use of paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, and other materials. Source reduction is synonymous with waste prevention.
Source Separation
The act of separating recyclable or reusable materials from other materials intended for disposal.
Survey Concept
An item in a survey used by a portfolio to measure occupant satisfaction. Survey concepts can include satisfaction of space temperature, lighting levels, cleanliness and noise.
Sustainable Site Maintenance
Practices to conserve existing ecosystems and habitats, and maintain the benefits they provide. Site maintenance practices include protecting biodiversity of native plant and animal species; protecting water resources and soils; minimizing erosion and sedimentation; avoiding the use of pesticides; using soil amendments or mature stable compost instead of chemical fertilizers; using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach; having a multi-year control and management plan for invasive species; supporting resource recovery efforts and the proper disposal of organic waste; limiting or eliminating carbon emitting maintenance equipment; collaborating with ecologists, indigenous communities and local stakeholders to help protect and restore areas; and purchasing of sustainable materials and products that avoid biodiversity loss.
Target
A user-defined goal to achieve a desired performance outcome by a user-defined date.
Time periods used to evaluate exposure to risks, typically defined as short-term, medium-term and long-term horizons. An important aspect for organizations to consider is the time horizon for assessing exposures. While the common perception is that climate-related risks are “long term,” arising in 10, 20, or 30 years, this may not be the case. Policies, technology innovation, and markets are likely to adjust and shift in advance of many foreseeable climate trends. Likewise, more frequent and severe storms, floods, and droughts are occurring today. Organizations, therefore, should carefully consider the time horizon they use to evaluate their exposures and possibly assess them over a range of time horizons to capture potential exposures arising in the short-, medium-, and longer-term.
Total Energy Use
The total energy consumed across all properties within a portfolio over a specific period. This includes energy use from all sources such as electricity, natural gas and renewables.
Total Site Energy Use
The sum of all energy consumed on site across all properties in the portfolio over the reporting period. Site energy includes all energy consumed on the customer side of the utility meter including energy purchased from the grid and renewable energy produced and used on-site.
Total Source Energy (or Primary Energy) Use
The total amount of energy required to operate the portfolio, including not only the energy consumed on-site (i.e., site energy) but also the energy lost during generation, transmission, and distribution.
Unoccupied Space
An area designed for equipment, machinery or storage rather than for human activity. An equipment area is considered unoccupied only if retrieval of equipment is occasional.
Visitors
Occasional users of a building. These could include retail customers, outpatients, volunteers and higher-education students, depending on the building type.
Vulnerable occupants or groups
Groups and communities at a higher risk for poor physical, psychological or social health (e.g., older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, etc.).
Waste Generation
The amount of materials and products, by weight or volume, that enter the waste stream before recycling, landfilling or combustion take place.
Waste-To-Energy (WTE)
The conversion of recovered solid waste into a usable form of energy, usually through combustion at extremely high temperatures.
Water Consumption
The portion of water use that is not returned to the original water source after being withdrawn.
Water Use
The amount of water withdrawn from its source.
Water Use Intensity
The measure of a building’s or portfolio’s water use as a function of its size.
Worker Health and Safety Plan
A plan outlining the policies and procedures to protect on-site workers operating and maintaining properties from accidents, injuries, and health risks.
The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.
Reuse of a product or material for its original purpose, an alternate purpose, or reuse of its parts
Recycling of inorganic materials in closed loop systems or single-use applications
Composting or mulching of organic materials to sustain soils, avoid use of chemical fertilizers, or reduce erosion and litter and retain moisture.
Acronyms
AA
AccountAbility
AR
Absentee rate
ASHRAE
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASR
Accident Severity Rate
ASTM
ASTM International, formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials
BCP
Business Continuity Plan
BIU
BREEAM In-Use
BREEAM
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology
BUS Methodology
Building Use Studies Methodology
BY
Base Year
CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBE
Center for the Built Environment
CBECS
Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey
CCF
Centum cubic feet
COD
Commercial operation date
CY
Calendar year
DEFRA
U.K. Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
EACs
Energy Attribute Certificate
ECMs
Energy conversation measures
EIA
Ecological Integrity Assessment
EMIS
Energy Management Information System
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ERP
Emergency Response Plan
ESRS
European Sustainability Reporting Standards
EU
European Union
EUI
Energy Use Intensity
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
ft3
Cubic feet
FY
Fiscal year
gal
Gallons
GBCI
Green Business Certification Inc
GBF
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
GHG
Greenhouse Gas
GIS
Geographic Information Systems
GJ
Joules
GRESB
Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark
GRI
Global Reporting Initiative
GWP
Global warming potential
H&S
Health and Safety
HEP
Habitat Evaluation Procedures
IAQ
Indoor Air Quality
IBEAM
U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality Building Education and Assessment Model
IEA
International Energy Agency
IEQ
Indoor Environmental Quality
IFC
International Finance Corporation
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPM
Integrated Pest Management
IR
Injury rate
ISAE
International Standard on Assurance Engagements
ISO
International Standards Organization
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature
KBTUs
British thermal units
KPIs
Key Performance Indicators
kWh
Kilowatt-hours
L
Liters
LDR
Lost day rate
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification offered by USGBC
LEED BD+C
LEED Building Design and Construction certification offered by USGBC
LEED ID+C
LEED Interior Design and Construction certification offered by USGBC
LEED O+M
LEED Operations and Management certification offered by USGBC
LTI
Lost time injury
m2
Square Meters
m3
Cubic meters
MBTUs
British thermal units
MERV
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value
MJ
Joules
MRY
Most Recent Year
MT
Metric ton
MWh
Mega-watthours
NFGS
Network for Greening the Financial System
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association
NiGEM
National Institute Global Econometric Model
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PM
Particulate Matter
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement
RCP
Representative Concentration Pathway
REC
Renewable Energy Certificate
RH
Relative Humidity
RHA
Rapid Habitat Assessment
RPS
Renewable Portfolio Standard
SASB
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
SBT
Science Based Targets
SITES
Certification offered by GBCI
sq ft
Square Feet
SQRT
Square Root
SSP
Shared Socioeconomic Pathway
SSR
GHG sources, sinks, and reservoirs
T
Temperature
tCO2e
Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
TFND
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
TRUE
Total Resource Use and Efficiency certification offered by GBCI
TVOC
Total volatile organic compounds
U.S. DOE
United States Department of Energy
U.S. EEIO Models
US Environmentally-Extended Input-Output Models
U.S. SEC
United State Securities and Exchange Commission
USGBC
U.S. Green Building Council
VOC
Volatile organic compounds
WELL
WELL Building Standard
WGBC
World Green Building Council
WHC
Wildlife Habitat Council
WHO
World Health Organization
WRI
World Resources Institute
WTE
Waste-To-Energy
WUI
Water Use Intensity
Resources and Tools
Biodiversity Monitoring Programs – Organizations can participate in programs and citizen science initiatives such as eBird, iNaturalist, and BioBlitz.
GIS Software - Allows to map, analyze, and visualize habitat data such as habitat boundaries, land cover types, and spatial relationships between habitat patches.
Habitat Assessment Protocols - Standardized habitat assessment protocols and methods such as the Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP), Ecological Integrity Assessment (EIA), and Rapid Habitat Assessment (RHA) provide approaches for looking at habitat condition, biodiversity values and ecological functions.
Habitat Management Planning Software - Applications like ArcGIS Online, ESRI ArcMap, and Trimble Land Resource Manager are all tools for developing and implementing habitat management plans.
Habitat Mapping and Remote Sensing - Remote sensing technologies such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) can be used to map and monitor habitat types and their condition across large geographic areas. Remote sensing provides valuable data for habitat assessment, monitoring and conservation planning.
Monitoring and Data Collection Tools - There are a variety of different field data collection tools like mobile apps, GPS devices, and digital data recorders that may be useful. Consider universities or other academic or non-profit institutions for potential research collaborations.
Pan American Health Organization Emergency Preparedness Toolbox
Sustainability Reporting Frameworks - Frameworks like GRI, CDP, and SASB all provide guidelines and metrics for reporting on habitat management practices, biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental performance.
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