Page 465 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

Definitions 425

(including energy use), and maintenance and repair of an investment decision (expressed in
present or annual value terms).’
Life-Cycle Inventory (LCI) ‘An accounting of the energy and waste associated with the
creation of a new product through use and disposal.’
Light Pollution ‘Waste light from building sites that produces glare is directed upward to the
sky or is directed off the site.’
Lighting Power Density (LPD) ‘The installed lighting power, per unit area.’
Local Zoning Requirements ‘Local government regulations imposed to promote orderly
development of private lands and to prevent land use conflicts.’

Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles ‘For the purpose of this credit (SS credit 4.3), vehicles
that either are classified as zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by the California Air Resources
Board (CARB) or have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for
an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide.’
Luminance Commonly called brightness or the light coming from a surface or light source.
Luminance is composed of the intensity of light striking an object or surface and the amount
of that light reflected back toward the eye. Luminance is measured in foot-lamberts (fL) or
2
candelas per square meter (cd/m ) (as per LEED-NC 2.1).
Mass Transit ‘Transportation facilities designed to transport large groups of persons in a
single vehicle such as buses or trains.’

Mass Transit Vehicles ‘Vehicles typically capable of serving 10 or more occupants, such as
buses, trolleys, light rail, etc.’
Metering Controls ‘Generally manual on/automatic off controls which are used to limit the
flow of water. These types of controls are most commonly installed on lavatory faucets and
on showers.’
Microirrigation ‘Irrigation systems with small sprinklers and microjets or drippers designed
to apply small volumes of water. The sprinklers and microjets are installed within a few
centimeters of the ground, while drippers are laid on or below grade.’
Mixed-Mode Ventilation ‘A ventilation strategy that combines natural ventilation with
mechanical ventilation, allowing the building to be ventilated either mechanically or
naturally, and at times both mechanically and naturally simultaneously.’
Native (or Indigenous) Plants ‘Plants that have adapted to a given area during a defined time
period and are not invasive. In America, the term often refers to plants growing in a region
prior to the time of settlement by people of European descent.’
Net Metering ‘A metering and billing arrangement that allows on-site generators to send
excess electricity flows to the regional power grid. These electricity flows offset a portion of
the electricity flows drawn from the grid. For more information on net metering in individual
states, visit the DOE’s Green Power Network website at www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/
netmetering.shtml.’
Nonflat Coatings ‘Coatings that register a gloss of 5 or greater on a 60-degree meter and a
gloss of 15 or greater on an 85-degree meter.’
Nonoccupied Spaces ‘All rooms used by maintenance personnel that are not open for use by
occupants. Included in this category are janitorial, storage and equipment rooms, and closets.’