New to climate terminology? The glossary will help you get a jumpstart.
Term |
Definition |
---|---|
Adaption | Changing behaviors or systems to reduce negative impacts |
Balanced Mix Design | Use of performance tests to design pavement structure |
Carbon Credit | Tradeable certificate used in carbon mitigation policy systems |
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent | Measurement unit used to standardize climate impacts of greenhouse gases |
Carbon Emissions | Carbon substances released into atmosphere |
Carbon Footprint | Measurement of climate impact over a lifecycle |
Carbon Neutrality | Net zero emission achieved through carbon offsets and elimination |
Carbon Offsets | Purchasing of carbon credit to comply with emission caps |
Carbonation | Permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide |
Climate Change | Change in temperature, precipitation or wind for longer than 10 years |
Corporate Social Responsibility | Business commitment to behave ethically in the workplace and community |
Downstream Scope Three Emissions | Emissions (indirect) from use of company's product |
ENERGY STAR APEX Program | A program to reduce energy consumption and costs at asphalt facilities |
Environmental Product Declaration | Details of a product's environmental performance during its lifecycle |
Environmental, Social & Governance | Three factors measuring corporate sustainability and ethical impact |
e-Ticketing | Paperless electronic document on driver and load delivered |
Fleet Management | Strategies for managing commercial vehicles |
Fly Ash | Fines of a coal combustion product |
Green Rating Systems | Framework of sustainable guidelines and metrics for design and construction |
Greenhouse Gas | A gas that heats the earth because it absorbs infrared radiation |
Greenwashing | Green public relations which are deceptive about a product, claims or policies |
Intelligent Compaction | Compaction of road materials using rollers, computer, and GPS. |
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change | Organization assessing scientific and technical literature on climate change |
International Roughness Index | Mathematical measurement of road's smoothness |
Kyoto Protocol | 1997 treaty where nations detailed emission reduction targets for first time |
Landfill-free | At least 90% of operational waste is reused, recycled or converted to energy |
Life Cycle Assessment | Environmental assessment method evaluating all stage of a life cycle |
Open-Graded Friction Course | Thin permeable asphalt layer |
Our Common Future | The 1987 UN report which defined sustainable development |
Ozone Layer | Region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's radiation |
Paris Climate Agreement | 2015 treaty on climate change to mitigate, adapt and finance CO2 reductions |
Perpetual Pavement | Long-lasting structural design and construction of asphalt |
Porous Pavement | Product designed to allow water to move through the asphalt layer |
Product Category Rules | Product category-specific requirements for conducting a life cycle assessment |
Quality Assurance | Method to prevent mistakes in manufactured products and ensure quality |
Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement | Reprocessed pavement containing asphalt and aggregate |
Recycled Asphalt Shingles | Reprocessed shingles containing a stiff binder and aggregate fines |
Recycling | The collection and reprocessing of a resource for reuse |
Renewable Energy | Electricity supplied from renewable sources |
Resilience | The ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions |
Rolling Resistance | Force resisting a tire's motion |
Scope One Emissions | Emissions from company-owned and controlled resources |
Scope Two Emissions | Emissions (indirect) from a company's purchase of generated power |
Sequestration | Storage or removal of carbon dioxide within a product |
Slag | Stony ore waste, a byproduct of smelting |
Smoothness | Pavement quality that ensures high driver satisfaction |
Speed of Construction | Quick construction techniques, practices, and materials for satisfaction |
Stone Matrix Asphalt | Gap-graded mixture designed for rut resistance and durability |
Sustainable | Meeting present needs while ensuring future generations can too |
Thinlay | Pavement preservation technique that adds 3/4- to 1 1/2 inches of structure |
Triple Bottom Line | Balancing environmental, economic, and social impacts |
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals | Call for countries to tackle climate action, life and justice issues |
Upstream Scope Three Emissions | Emissions (indirect) of products used in the manufacturing of a pavement |
Variable Frequency Drive | Type of motor drive |
Warm Mix Asphalt | Technologies that allow for production at lower temperature |
Wildlife Habitat | Wildlife areas that provide opportunities for food, water, and nesting |
Zero Waste | System-wide approach maximizing recycling and reducing waste/consumption |