Sustainable Architecture Vocabulary Quiz

Passive design uses natural energy sources such as sunlight, wind, and thermal mass to heat, cool, and light a building without mechanical systems. Buildings are oriented, insulated, and ventilated intelligently to minimise energy consumption through architectural choices alone, rather than relying on boilers, air conditioning units, or electric lighting during daylight hours.

Thermal mass is the ability of dense materials — concrete, brick, or stone — to absorb, store, and slowly release heat. High thermal mass stabilises indoor temperatures by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, reducing the need for active heating or cooling. It is a fundamental concept in passive house design and sustainable architecture.

Green roofs reduce stormwater runoff, improve building insulation, reduce the urban heat island effect, support biodiversity, and can extend the lifespan of the roof membrane. They also improve local air quality and provide visual and psychological benefits for building occupants in dense urban environments.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor cells, usually made from silicon. When photons from sunlight strike the cells, they displace electrons and generate a direct current (DC), which is converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter for use in the building or export to the national grid.

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is the UK's leading green building certification scheme, evaluating buildings across energy, water, health and well-being, materials, waste, land use, ecology, and management. Ratings range from Pass to Outstanding and are used by developers, planners, and occupiers to demonstrate environmental performance.

Embodied carbon covers the greenhouse gas emissions produced during the manufacture, transport, and installation of building materials, as well as maintenance and end-of-life demolition. Operational carbon refers to the emissions produced by running the building — heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances. Both must be reduced to achieve net-zero buildings.

Biophilic design connects building occupants with nature through plants, natural light, water features, natural materials, and outdoor views. Research consistently shows it improves well-being, reduces stress, boosts productivity, and can aid recovery in healthcare settings — making it valuable in offices, schools, and hospitals alike.

Airtightness measures how well a building's envelope prevents uncontrolled air leakage through gaps, cracks, and junctions. It is typically tested using a blower door test, which pressurises the building and measures the rate of air flow needed to maintain that pressure. High airtightness reduces heat loss and is a key requirement in Passivhaus and net-zero standards.

Adaptive reuse is the repurposing of an existing building for a new function — for example, converting a disused warehouse into apartments. It is considered sustainable because it retains the embodied carbon already locked into the building's materials, avoids demolition waste, reduces demand for new construction materials, and preserves the cultural and historical character of places.

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the total environmental impact of a building or material from cradle to grave — covering raw material extraction, manufacture, construction, use, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. LCA informs design decisions by revealing which materials and systems have the lowest overall environmental footprint.