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Green building glossary

A glossary of words and phrases used in green construction and sustainable development.

L

Lagoon

A pond designed for the settlement of suspended solids.

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL)

Beams made from thin layers of wood, similar to thick pieces of plywood.

Landfill

Essentially a cavity in the ground in to which refuse is disposed of. Once full this is covered over and landscaped so as to appear as part of the surrounding area.

Latent heat

The heat required to change the phase (e.g. a liquid to a gas) of a material without altering its temperature

Latent load

Cooling load resulting from thermal energy released when moisture in the air goes from a vapor to a liquid state. In hot humid climates, cooling equipment must have sufficient capacity to handle this load if occupants are to be comfortable.

Law on New Economic Regulations (Loi NRE)

A French law that came into force in 2001, making environmental reporting mandatory for businesses.

Leachate

A liquid (usually rainwater) that picks up contaminants from deposited waste in a Landfill site as it passes through the waste.

Lean Construction

Lean changes the way work is done throughout the delivery process. Lean Construction extends from the objectives of a lean production system, maximise value and minimise waste, to specific techniques and applies them in a new project delivery process.

Least Cost Planning (LCP)

Calculation of the comparative costs and benefits of investment in developing capital assets; be it in generation, supply or transmission against the investment in measures to reduce demand. Consideration can include non-market costs and benefits. The aim is to identify the cheapest form of investment.

Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs)

Poorer economically and usually with less social services and amenities like health, education and infrastructure.

Liechtlehm

Straw and clay mixture, moistened and pressed between forms, which hardens into a strong material. Typically used for making walls; an old and durable technique. (German for light loam).

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

A process to evaluate all costs of a product or process through its entire existence, including extracting and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, maintenance, Recycling, reuse, and disposal.

Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA)

The total cost of a product of material including the initial cost and the long term maintenance costs. This approach can often be used to justify more expensive and Energy efficient systems which save money over the life of the product.

Light shelf

A means of deflecting incoming Daylight deeper into an internal space. Light shelves are horizontal projections with reflective surfaces, placed either outside, half outside/half inside or fully inside a window, deflecting indirect light deep into an interior space, at the same time reducing solar heat gain and glare.

Light to solar gain ratio (LSG)

A measure of the ability of a glazing to provide light without excessive solar heat gain. It is the ratio between the visible transmittance of a glazing and its Solar heat gain coefficient.

Local Agenda 21

Action plans which are developed at local authority level to promote and put Sustainable development into practice

Locally sourced materials

Materials obtained from a defined radius around a project site, helping to support the local economy and reducing transportation costs and energy.

Low density

Feature, or structures, spaced out over a wide area.

Low density housing

Population accommodated in more spaciously set out housing, possibly with green space surrounding the buildings.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

See - Polyethylene

Low-E glazing

Glazing with a thin metallic coating applied to glass or plastic, reducing heat loss and solar heat gain through glazing. Glazing that has special coatings to permit most of the sun’s light radiation to enter the building, but prevents heat radiation from passing through.

Low tech (Low technology)

Mechanisms not usually requiring electronic input or much capital.

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