Green
Anything safely sourced from the environment, whether materials or energy. Green power, for example, is electricity generated by solar, wind or geothermal methods, while green development uses these resources to minimize energy consumption and a building’s impact on the environment. Often used interchangeably with “sustainable.”
Sustainable/Sustainability
Any system, resource or material that functions or can be utilized and renewed without detracting from the natural environment. Sustainable development, therefore, might use wood from forests that can replenish themselves and aren’t at risk of depletion and install water systems that collect and utilize rainwater as part of an irrigation system that then purifies the water to return it to the environment.
USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit organization of nearly 7,000 member groups devoted to environmentally and socially responsible development of buildings and communities.
LEED
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design designation is offered by the USGBC to high-performance green properties that meet varying levels of sustainability. Approximately 500 million square feet of commercial property is currently LEED-certified at either the platinum, silver or bronze level. Engineers, architects and builders that incorporate sustainability practices into their development can also be LEED-certified.
Core and Shell
In a commercial building, the “core” operational systems include heating, ventilation and air conditioning, while “shell” construction includes walls and roofs. Because a retail center requires so many different operators within a single space, mall developers seeking LEED designation often opt for a core-and-shell certification, which marks their commitment to sustainable practices in the space that they themselves control.
Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic panels are able to generate electricity when exposed to either sunlight or some other form of electromagnetic radiation. Often used on building rooftops in order to supplement the energy that the property must draw from the local power grid.
Wind Turbine
The machinery used to harness wind energy. Turbines are often placed on rooftops or in parking lots and used either to alleviate the property’s drain on the power grid or to fuel irrigation and other sustainable systems on the property.