glossary
Welcome to our glossary of useful terms and expressions related to sustainability in the m&e sector.
You can search for definitions and explanations using our alphabetical links below or simply by scrolling through.
We hope you find these helpful and you will see as you navigate other pages on the site that each time a glossary term occurs there is a live link to its definition here.
Please contact the site editor Ewen Rose if there are other subjects you think we should include.
- Landfill Tax
- A tax on the disposal of waste. It aims to encourage waste producers to produce less waste, recover more value from waste, for example through recycling or composting and to use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal.
- Largescale building integrated photovoltaics
- Systems where the photovoltaic panels replace conventional building materials such as roof tiles or facades.
- Life cycle cost
- The overall estimated cost for a particular system over the time period corresponding to the life of the system. It includes direct and indirect initial costs plus any periodic or continuing costs of operation and maintenance.
- Low and Zero Carbon (LZC) technologies
- Building services systems that are deemed to be either carbon neutral or very highly energy efficient so leading to low carbon emissions from power generation.
- Low Carbon Buildings Programme
- A grant scheme run by the Department of Trade and Industry offering up to £1million per project to subsidise the design, installation and use of low carbon technologies including ground source heat pumps, solar thermal water heating and wind energy. It provides grants for microgeneration technologies to householders, community organisations, schools, the public and not for profit sector and private businesses.