Who can keep track of all the acronyms out there? Many products bear labels not well know to consumers. Here is a cheat sheet to the most common abbreviations when searching for green building products:

CARB | California Air Resources Board | Maintains healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants and providing innovative approaches for complying with air pollution rules and regulations. California is the only state with such a regulatory agency since it was created before the Clean Air Act. It generally leads the nation in improving legislation regarding air quality.

COC | Chain of Custody | Chronological documentation of custody and transfer of a product from extraction to consumer. This is often used to maintain the environmental certification granted to the manufacturer showing compliance with a public policy or standard. Distributors must be audited and maintain standards to market the certification reached by the original manufacturer.

EPA | Environmental Protection Agency | Federal agency charge in protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations passed in Congress. In 1992, they launched the Energy Star program fostering energy efficiency.

EPP | Environmentally Preferable Product | Goods that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing goods. Raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, distribution, operation, maintenance, disposal, performance, durability, and safety are considered.

FSC | Forest Stewardship Council | International non-profit established in 1993 to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Its members work to ensure the permanent existence of forest areas through responsible forest management and conservation. It focus is on the consumer to empower their demand for responsible forestry.

GBI | Green Building Initiative | Non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the building industry to adopt efficient, healthy, sustainable practices. Focused on evolving from the feel good rationale to performance-based approach. Its user-friendly principles lead to the creation of Green Globes, a rating system similar to LEED.

IAQ | Indoor Air Quality | Quality of air within and around buildings relating to health and comfort of occupants. Air quality can be infiltrated by gases, microbial contaminants, or particulates that can adversely affect health of ventilation and should be vented form the building.  Dynamic control of air changes, filters, mold management, and pressurization dilute the presence of toxins such as radon, mold, carbon monoxide, VOC, asbestos, carbon dioxide and others atmospheric pollutants.

LCA | Life Cycle Analysis | Also known as cradle to grave evaluation of the environmental impact of a product or service. A holistic assessment from raw material to disposal considering eco-pollutants, habitat destruction, land use, and depletion of natural resources. Practitioners utilize software to calculate a more accurate impact over the life of a product or service.

LEED | Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design | Environmentally sustainable rating system developed by the USGBC in 2000. Industry leaders formed public committees to address sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor air quality, and innovation and design. Four levels of certification are determined by third-party verification.  It is the most recognized rating system for sustainability.

NAF | No Added Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde is a compound commonly used as a drying agent in adhesives for composite wood, plumbing fixtures, windows, carpeting, and paint which can be toxic, allergenic and/or carcinogenic. The word “added” is due to the fact that small levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in some products.

SCS | Scientific Certification System | Third-party global environmental auditing, testing and standardizing organization. International standards were developed to strive for the highest level of environmental improvements, social accountability, and product performance.

SFI | Sustainable Forestry Initiative | Non-profit organization responsible or maintaining, overseeing, and improving a sustainable forestry third-party certification program. It promotes responsible forest management through fiber sourcing, water quality, biodiversity and regeneration on certified and non-certified lands. It is viewed a controversial by many conservationists due to its clear cutting acceptance and questionable funding.

USGBC | US Green Building Council | Non-profit trade organization, founded in 1993, that promotes sustainable, profitable and healthy buildings founded in 1993. It works closely through local chapers to educate and guide federal, state, and local governments as well as the building industry and the public.

VOC | Volatile Organic Compounds | Natural or synthetic compounds capable of readily vaporizing into harmful carbon, which compromises air quality. Methane and formaldehyde are two common VOCs.  Heavily regulated by the EPA to prevent sick building syndrome, health risks, and negative atmospheric impacts.