Glossary of Terms

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology

BSI

British Standards Institution

BS7671

This is the national standard used for electrical installation and wiring safety across domestic, commercial, and industrial properties.

Carbon Efficiency

This is the extent to which a product or service is created/achieved with minimum feasible carbon emissions relative to direct sector peers.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community.

CE

Conformité Européene

CER

Carbon Efficiency Rating

Cradle-to-Cradle

This is an approach that looks at how a product goes from creation, through disposal and back to creation again in a cyclical process.

Cradle-to-Grave

This is an approach that looks at a product from its creation through to its disposal.

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility

Design Circularity

This is the process of designing in the cradle-to-cradle approach into products and services.

Direct Emissions

These are emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the reporting entity.

Downstream Emissions

Occur after the organisation delivers its goods and services, including the processing and utilisation of purchased products and services.

Eco Label

Environmental Performance Certificate

EMC

Electromagnetic Compatibility

Energy Efficiency

Total energy consumption divided by floor space m².

Environmental Impact

This is the effect of human activity on the environment in the form of creating environmental imbalance.

EN 15804

This is the EPD standard for the sustainability of construction works and services.

EPC

Energy Performance Certificate

EPD

Environmental Product Declaration

ESG

Environmental, Social and Governance

EUT

Equipment Under Test

First-off

A 'first-off' is when a design is manufactured using the expected production methods.

GHGs

Greenhouse Gases

IET

Institute of Engineering and Technology

Indirect Emissions

These are emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the reporting entity but occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity..

ISO14001

This sets out the criteria for an environmental management system.

ISO14025

This establishes the principles and specifies the procedures for developing Type III environmental declaration programmes and Type III environmental declarations.

ISO14040

This describes the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA)

ISO14044

This specifies requirements and provides guidelines for life cycle assessment.

ISO14067

This works to determine the greenhouse gas emissions produced during each stage in the life cycle of a product.

ISO9001

This sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement).

LCA

Life Cycle Assessment

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LED

Light Emitting Diode

Mock-up

The mock-up is where a design is made full scale but not generally functioning or out of the materials for production.

PCR

Product Category Rule

Product Lifespan

This is the predicted life of a product.

Prototype

The prototype is a full-size working version of the design made in the required materials and with working electricals.

ROHS

Restriction of Hazardous Substances

ROI

Return On Investment

Scope 1

Involves direct emissions owned or controlled by the reporting company.

Scope 2

Consists of indirect emissions from the acquisition of energy sources from a third-party company.

Scope 3

Includes all indirect emissions, not part of scope 2, that occur in the upstream and downstream activities associated with a company.

SECR

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting

SKET

Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Training

SMPS

Switch Mode Power Supply

UKCR

UK Conformity Assessed

Upstream Emissions

Occur before the organisation receives its goods and services, such as extraction of raw materials, production, and transportation.

WEEE

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment