| breaam | building research establishment environmental assessment method - independent appraisal method to certify environmental performance of a building. |
| basins and swales | swales are dry channels or ditches, whereas basins are dry "ponds" which provide temporary storage for storm water, reduce peak flows to receiving waters, and facilitate the filtration of pollutants and microbial decomposition as well as facilitating water infiltration directly into the ground. |
| balance point | the outdoor temperature at which a building's heat loss to the environment is equal to internal heat gains from people, lights, and equipment. surface load dominated buildings such as single family detached residences will have balance points in the 15-20oc range. internally load dominated structures, like office buildings, may have balance points so low that the climate never overcomes their internal heat gain. |
| balancing pond | a pond designed to attenuate flows by storing runoff during the peak flow and releasing it at a controlled rate during and after the peak flow has passed. the pond always contains water. also known as wet detention pond. |
| barge board | the board placed along the verge of a roof at the gable end. |
| bba | british board of agrément provides independent certification for building products. |
| benchmarking | the continuous process of measuring companies in similar service areas against strong competitors or recognised industry leaders. benchmarking is used by regulators to improve performance and can be applied to all facets of operation. it requires a measurement mechanism so that the performance gap can be identified. |
| biocide | an additive which will prevent growth of bacteria or fungi. used in paints, floor coverings and sometimes in fabrics; toxic materials which are usually only safe in low concentrations. |
| biodegradable | materials that will decompose into naturally occurring, harmless components with exposure to air, sunlight and/or moisture. |
| biofuel | a fuel produced from dry organic matter or combustible oils produced by plants. examples of biofuel include alcohol (from fermented sugar), bio diesel from vegetable oil and wood. |
| biological wastewater treatment | purifying waste water in a natural or emulated wetland environment. such systems are powered mainly by sunlight and achieve purification through the combined action of living food chains, many of which are microscopic. |
| biomass | the total mass of all living organisms within a biological community. in the energy production industry, it refers to living and recently living biological material which can be used as fuel or for industrial production. most commonly biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as bio fuel, but also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. |
| black water | water from toilets, kitchen sink, or other dirty sources, which may be contaminated with microorganisms or harmful bacteria. |
| bre | building research establishment. provides research-based consultancy, testing and certification services to customers world-wide. |
| breathe-able structure | a building that is made of materials that allow the passage of water vapour through the structure. this allows for the materials to naturally regulate the humidity levels within the structure. this makes for a healthier internal environment to live and work. |
| breather membrane | a breather membrane repels water that penetrates an outer cladding material but is permeable to water vapour escaping from the structure. it is defined as a material with a vapour resistance between 0.1 and 2.0 mns/g, although the norm is for breather membranes to have a maximum vapour resistance of 0.6 mns/g. |
| brownfield | an area previously used for housing, industry or other infrastructure which then has to be cleared, de-contaminated and redeveloped for a new use. |
| brown roof | a roof that incorporates a substrate (laid over a waterproof membrane) that is allowed to colonise naturally. |
| building ecology | physical environment and systems found inside the building. key issues include air quality, acoustics, and electromagnetic fields. |
| building envelope | building elements (e.g., walls, roofs, floors, windows, etc.) that enclose conditioned spaces and through which energy may be transferred to and from the exterior. |
| building regulations | a series of governmental regulations that stipulate how buildings are constructed and arranged. each section is called a ‘part'. for example part l refers to energy efficiency of a building. |
| building related illnesses (bri) | illnesses caused by toxic off-gassing from building materials or moulds, bacteria, etc. that can accumulate in hvac systems and carpeting. |
| built-in obsolescence | products constructed to degrade and malfunction after only a short time of use, needing replacements. |
All Site Content ©2009 Sustainable Building Resource
All sustainable building encyclopedia content is released under the GNU FDL free document content license.
Built and supported by
Cardiff Search Engine Optimisation, Web Design,
and good cause fanatics. Clear Intent