EDUCATION CONNECTION
A GREEN VOCABULARY LESSON:
Terms to Know as the Sustainability Movement Strengthens By Maddie Bass The sustainability movement may not be affecting your
future of building and construction. Electronic models that lay
business right now but it’s just around the corner. Because the
out all the features of different building components, down to
building and construction industry accounts for a large portion
the material level are assembled to create 3D renderings. BIM
of waste destined for landfills, environmental concerns have led
models are pulled into different software platforms to render
material manufacturers to take a hard look at their products
spaces and entire buildings to visualize how different items
and processes. What products are made of, how and where they
interact and potentially create conflicts or issues, which can be
are made and what can be done with any waste produced are
resolved in the preconstruction phase of a project. The ability to
important questions to which consumers are demanding answers.
model these materials early can save costly design errors.
But providing those answers is more complex than it seems. The
Biophilic Design: a design practice that focuses on the
tests, documentation and certifications required to be a verified
natural desires of humans to be attracted to living things and
green, sustainable, eco-friendly, or socially responsible company
naturally occurring elements. Biophilic design can be as simple
can be confusing. While the focus is currently on manufacturers to do better, fabricators should be prepared to field questions as well. Here’s a road map of sustainable terms anyone in this industry should know. Terms You May Already Know
as adding plants to a space, as tangible as having dynamic heating and cooling that feels like being outdoors or as abstract as having a countertop with a veined pattern that mimics the flow of a river. Circularity: According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a circular economy is based on the principles of designing out
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and
This is the most widely used green building rating system. Based
regenerating natural systems. Circularity is the characteristic of
on the standards set by LEED, buildings or entire neighborhoods
products, systems, processes and materials that allows them to fit
can be certified as LEED Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. This
into this kind of economy. A product is circular when it can be
certification verifies that a project is healthier for the planet and
continually used and it generates minimal waste and pollution.
for people by reducing strain on natural resources, improving energy efficiency, and much more. MSDS/SDS: Material Safety Data Sheet or Safety Data Sheet.
Cradle to Cradle: Also referred to as C2C, this term was trademarked by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) and is based on the concept of the entire life cycle of
These documents summarize the health hazards of a material
the product, from its birth (cradle) to its next reincarnation
based on its chemical contents and provide best practices for
(cradle). Cradle to Cradle certification, now managed by the
working with them. OSHA requires that all users of chemicals
C2C Product Innovation Institute, looks at the impact a product
have access to the SDS for that material. OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Under the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA is the administrative body that sets and regulates health and safety standards in workplaces across industries to protect employees and employers. A Deeper Dive into Sustainability BIM: Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the digital 20 • Vol. 14 / Issue 4 • International Surface Fabricators Association
has across five categories including material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. C2C Certification is achieved at Platinum, Gold, Silver or Certified levels. Declare: an internationally recognized label that provides a list of ingredients for products, including what they are composed of, where they come from, and how the products are treated at end of life. Declare is a transparency platform and product database for
