Overview
ASTM E2114-23: Standard Terminology for Sustainability is an international standard developed by ASTM that defines key terms related to sustainability and sustainable development, with particular focus on building performance and related environmental concepts. The standard’s primary goal is to facilitate clear, consistent technical communication by providing widely recognized definitions for sustainability terminology. This standard aids professionals, organizations, and regulatory bodies in adopting a unified language, thus improving understanding and collaboration within sustainability-focused fields.
Key Topics
ASTM E2114-23 covers a comprehensive range of sustainability-related terminology, emphasizing the importance of precise meanings and usage. Key topics include:
- Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Clear definitions of sustainability, sustainable development, and related ecosystem functions for future generations.
- Building Performance: Terms covering building operation, performance assessment, green buildings, and sustainable buildings.
- Environmental Concepts: Definitions for environmental impact, ecological indicators, life-cycle assessment (LCA), life-cycle cost (LCC), and resource management.
- Materials and Resources: Explanations of terms such as renewable resources, non-renewable resources, recycled content, recovered materials, and embodied energy.
- Pollution and Indoor Environment: Detailed terminology for point and non-point pollution sources, indoor air quality (IAQ), indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and related health impacts such as sick building syndrome (SBS) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).
- Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Definitions for biodiversity, native and invasive species, habitat, carrying capacity, and conservation practices.
- Energy and Waste Management: Terms on renewable energy, biomass, cogeneration, waste to energy, composting, and rainwater harvesting.
Applications
ASTM E2114-23 serves as a foundational reference for various sectors involved in sustainability, particularly in the built environment. Its applications include:
- Building Design and Construction: Professionals use this standard to specify and document project requirements related to sustainable materials, green building design, and environmental impact.
- Regulatory Compliance: Authorities and certifying bodies reference standardized terminology when developing sustainability codes, standards, and rating systems.
- Environmental Assessment and Reporting: Used in preparing sustainability reports, life-cycle assessments, and environmental product declarations where clear definitions are critical for comparability.
- Education and Training: Institutions and training providers rely on standardized terms to educate students and professionals on sustainability concepts, supporting consistent learning outcomes.
- Communication Across Disciplines: Enhances mutual understanding among architects, engineers, regulatory officials, facility managers, and stakeholders engaged in sustainable development initiatives.
Related Standards
ASTM E2114-23 references and complements several key standards and frameworks, ensuring alignment with international best practices:
- ASTM D1356: Terminology relating to sampling and analysis of atmospheres
- ASTM E631: Terminology of building constructions
- ASTM E833: Terminology of building economics
- ASTM E1705: Terminology relating to biotechnology
- ASTM E2921: Practice for minimum criteria for comparing whole building life cycle assessments
- ISO 14040: Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Principles and framework
By referencing ASTM E2114-23, organizations ensure consistency in their sustainability communication, align projects with global best practices, and support effective sustainable development and building performance evaluation. The use of standardized sustainability terminology helps eliminate ambiguity, streamlines collaboration, and supports informed decision-making across the construction, environmental, and regulatory sectors.