Terms listed in this glossary are identified in context throughout the courses within this site. You can identify glossary terms links by this icon: 
2.5 Rule — Governs the potential effectiveness of daylighting from a window. The reach of daylight from a window will be about 2.5 times the height of that window.
Adaptation — The process of the eye becoming accustomed to more or less light than was just encountered, resulting in a change in the sensitivity of the eye.
Altitude — The vertical angle from the horizon to a point in the sky.
Ambient Lighting — General illumination of an area.
Azimuth — The horizontal angle from true south to a vertical plane containing a point in the sky.
Baffle — A single opaque or translucent element used to shield a source of light from direct view (or to absorb light) at certain angles.
Basis of Design (BOD) — The documentation by the design team of the primary thought processes and assumptions behind design decisions that are made to meet the Owner's Project Requirements. The BOD describes the assumptions used for sizing and selection of systems (i.e. codes, standards, operating conditions, design conditions, weather data, interior environmental criteria, other pertinent design assumptions, etc.). (Source: GSA Commissioning Program)
Blowdown – the removal and replacement of water from a boiler or water system to control the quantity or quality of water
Chiller - Mechanical equipment used to circulate chilled water throughout a building; consists of a compressor, condenser, and evaporator.
Circadian Rhythms — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm
Charrette — Integrated design is a process in which all aspects of a project are considered holistically and synergistic strategies are developed.
Clerestory — A part of a building rising clear from roofs or other parts whose walls contain windows to admit daylight. (Any window with a sill above eye level.)
Commissioning – The process of assuring and verifying that all facility systems perform interactively in accordance with the design documentation and intent, as well as with the owner's operational needs, including preparation of operation personnel.
Commissioning Authority (CxA) — The qualified person, company or agency that plans, coordinates and oversees the entire commissioning process. Also called Commissioning Agent. (Source: GSA Commissioning Program)
Commissioning Plan — The document prepared for each project that describes all aspects of the commissioning process including schedules, responsibilities, documentation requirements and communication structures. (Source: GSA Commissioning Program)
Commissioning Report — The complete set of commissioning documentation for the project.
Complete (or Lambertian) Diffusion — Reflection or transmittance with no specular component (i.e. the resultant luminance is the same regardless of direction).
Construction Checklist — A checklist to ensure that the specified equipment has been provided, is properly installed and initially started and checked out adequately in preparation for full operation and functional testing. (Source: GSA Commissioning Program)
Cooling Tower - A cooling device in which atmospheric air circulates and cools warm water. The type of heat rejection in a cooling tower is termed "evaporative" in that it allows a small portion of the water being cooled to evaporate into a moving air stream to provide significant cooling to the rest of that water stream. |
