Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR)
Commercial building energy and greenhouse rating tool. This has now been incorporated under NABERS for Offices – Energy and is referred to as NABERS Energy ratings. www.nabers.com.au
Average Recurrence Interval (ARI)
The long-term average number of years between the occurrence of a flood as big as (or larger than) the selected event. For example, floods with a discharge as great as (or greater than) the 20-year ARI flood will occur on average once every 20 years.
BASIX
The Building Sustainability Index is a web-based rating tool that calculates the water and energy efficiency of new homes. The NSW Government introduced BASIX so new homes are designed and built to use up to 40% less water and produce 40% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than today’s average home. www.basix.nsw.gov.au
BioBanking
A market-based scheme that provides a streamlined biodiversity assessment process for development, a rigorous and credible offsetting scheme as well as an opportunity for rural landowners to generate income by managing land for conservation. www.environment. nsw.gov.au/biobanking/
Carbon neutrality
Refers to the situation where the net greenhouse gas emissions associated with an organisation’s activities are zero through the acquisition and retirement of carbon offsets that meet additionality criteria.http://www.beyondneutral.com/up-content/uploads/National-carbonoffset- standard-NOV-2009.pdf
Carbon neutrality is typically determined as a sum of a greenhouse gas emitter calculating their Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
Scope 1: all direct greenhouse gas emissions.
Scope 2: indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam.
Scope 3: other indirect emissions, such as the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels and transport related activities. https://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools/faq
CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
A colourless, odourless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a product of fossil fuel combustion. It is the most significant greenhouse gas because it is released in vast quantities, mainly as a result of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
CO2e (Carbon dioxide equivalent)
Greenhouse gas emissions which include other gases such as methane are often measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, which means the equivalent amount of CO2 emissions which would have the same effect.
Conservation Management Plans (CMPs)
A document which sets out what is significant in a place and, consequently, what policies are appropriate to enable that significance to be retained in its future use and development.
Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC)
An assemblage of species occupying a particular area that are in danger of becoming extinct (refer to NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 for detailed description).
EEC High conservation significance
Native vegetation in good condition greater than 100m wide that forms a sole link between other native vegetation in good condition.
Mitchell, P.B. (2002). NSW Ecosystems Study: Background and Methodology. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
EEC Moderate conservation significance
Low condition native vegetation greater than 100m wide or native vegetation in good condition 50-100m wide that forms part of a sole link between other vegetation in good condition.
Mitchell, P.B. (2002). NSW Ecosystems Study: Background and Methodology. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
EEC Low conservation significance
Low condition native vegetation greater than 100m wide or native vegetation in good condition greater than 50m wide that is part of one of several links to other native vegetation in good condition.
Mitchell, P.B. (2002). NSW Ecosystems Study: Background and Methodology. Unpublished report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
EMP
Environmental Management Plan.
Greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases are those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and as a result of human activities, that absorb and emit radiation, warming the lower atmosphere. This property causes the greenhouse effect. Water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and ozone (O3) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.
GreenPower
GreenPower is a government accreditation program for renewable energy. It is bought by energy providers and generated from sources such as mini hydro, wind power and biomass which produce no net greenhouse gas emissions. www.greenpower.gov.au
Habitat
Includes Endangered Ecological Communities where habitat is suitable for threatened species.
In-stream breaks
Stuctures located in a watercourse, such as weirs, locks, dams and bio-banks. http://download.mdba.gov.au/Guide-to-proposed-BP-Vol2-08-12.pdf
Landcom Guidelines
Set of seven design and planning guides (on built form, universal housing, streets, street trees, open space, community centres and public art) to assist Landcom’s development managers, partners and other stakeholders to create sustainable neighbourhoods. www.landcom.com.au/whats-new/publications-reports/the-landcom-guidelines.aspx
Masterplan
An interpretation of the planning controls and urban design principles for a site setting the framework for future development. Mean annual load The yearly average amount of material discharged. Often refers to discharge of water pollutants into a river or creek.
Mean annual load
The yearly average amount of material discharged. Often refers to discharge of water pollutants into a river or creek.
MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards)
MEPS is a regulatory tool for improving the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment. MEPS sets the minimum levels of energy efficiency a product must meet for it to be sold in the Australian marketplace. Moderate Income Housing (MIH) Housing that is affordable to those households on incomes between $54,000 and $81,000 per year in 2009/2010.
Moderate income housing (MIH)
Housing that is affordable to those households on incomes defined by Australian Bureau of Statistics household income data. For this reporting period it was for household income between $57,000 and $85,000 in 2010-2011.
NABERS
(National Australian Built Environment Rating System)
NABERS is a performance-based rating system for existing buildings and includes the building’s performance on energy and water. NABERS rates a building on the basis of its measured operational impacts on the environment, and provides a simple indication of how well an organisation is managing these environmental impacts compared with their peers and neighbours. www.nabers.com.au
NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme)
NatHERS provides a framework that allows various computer software tools to rate the potential energy efficiency of Australian homes. NatHERS defines the minimum set of information that must be used by all software tools. www.nathers.gov.au
OH&S
Occupational Health and Safety.
Potable water
Water that is suitable for drinking.
Ramsar
The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention), signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. www.ramsar.org
Remnant vegetation
The NSW Native Vegetation Act 2003 defines remnant native vegetation as any native vegetation other than regrowth (native vegetation that has regrown during specified time periods). The definition of native vegetation covers indigenous vegetation including: trees (any sapling, shrub or scrub), understorey plants, groundcover (being any type of herbaceous vegetation) and plants occurring in a wetland.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 allow owners of eligible small generation units to create and trade RECs. Each REC represents the equivalent of one megawatt hour (MWh) of generated electricity from an accredited renewable energy source.
Riparian corridor
Land directly adjacent to or surrounding a natural or artificial waterway, including rivers, intermittent or permanent creeks and streams, wetlands and lakes. The corridors provide a crucial link between land and water ecosystems.
Riparian Corridor Management Plan
A document, often required as a condition of consent, or commitment of the project, detailing proposed methods of management in order to mitigate impacts on riparian corridors on, or adjacent to, a site during construction and operation of the proposed development.
Stormwater
Surface water resulting from heavy rain, which is channelled into drainage systems to prevent flooding.
Stream Erosion Index (SEI)
The SEI has been defined by the NSW Growth Centre Commission as the post-development duration of flows greater that then "stream-forming flow" divided by natural duration of flows greater than the ‘streamforming flow’. The "stream-forming flow" is defined as 50% of the two year flow rate estimated for the catchment under natural conditions. www.growthcentres.nsw.gov.au
Stream Order Classification System (first, second and third order)
The Strahler stream classification system assigns an "order" to waterways according to the number of additional tributaries associated with each waterway (Strahler, 1952). A higher number indicates a greater number of tributaries associated with that waterway.This system provides a measure of system complexity, and therefore, the potential for aquatic habitat to be present. www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Threatened species
A species that is either endangered, vulnerable or presumed extinct as defined by the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
Total nitrogen
Total nitrogen is the sum of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia and organic nitrogen. Nitrogen is found in fertilisers and contributes to algal blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth.
Total phosphorus
The total concentration of phosphorus found in the water. Phosphorus is a plant nutrient found in many fertilisers, increasing the growth of plant life such as algae.
Total Suspended Solids
Total suspended solids (TSS)are a measure of the mass of fine inorganic particles suspended in the water. TSS concentration has important ecological impacts including decreasing light penetration into the water column, clogging gills of fish and smothering aquatic habitat.
Vegetation Management Plan
A document, often required as a condition of consent, or commitment of the project, detailing proposed methods of management in order to mitigate impacts on bushland on, or adjacent to, a site during construction and operation of the proposed development.
Vehicle Environmental Performance Score (EPS)
A NSW Government program that calculates the greenhouse emissions (carbon dioxide emissions and noxious pollutants – oxides of nitrogen, fine particulates and hydrocarbons to assess how much pollution a vehicle emits. Each vehicle is given a greenhouse score and a noxious pollutants score, both out of 10. The higher the score out of 20 indicates a less polluting vehicle. www.statefleet.ogp.commerce.nsw.gov.au
VENM (Virgin Excavated Natural Material)
The NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 defines VENM as “natural” material (such as clay, gravel, sand, soil or rock fines) that has been excavated or quarried from areas that are not chemically contaminated and that do not contain any sulfidic ores or soils or any other waste. www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
WSUD seeks to ensure that urban development and urban landscapes are designed, constructed and maintained in a manner that minimises the impacts on the urban water cycle – drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and groundwater.
WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) Scheme
WELS is Australia’s water efficiency labelling scheme that requires certain products to be registered and labelled with their water efficiency in accordance with the standard set under the national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. www.waterrating.gov.au
GJ = Gigajoule
Ha = hectare
kL = kilolitre
Kg = kilograms
kWh = kilowatt hour
tCO2e t = Carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes