ASTM E2432-05

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Designation:E2432–05
Standard Guide for
General Principles of Sustainability Relative to Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2432; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope with environmental, economic, and social issues as appropriate
to the building use, type, scale, and location.
1.1 Sustainabilty has three types of general principles:
1.8 This guide offers an organized collection of information
environmental, economic, and social. This guide covers the
oraseriesofoptionsanddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourse
fundamental concepts and associated building characteristics
of action. This document cannot replace education or experi-
for each of the general principles of sustainability.
ence and should be used in conjunction with professional
1.2 This guide distinguishes between ideal sustainability
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
and applied sustainability. Ideally, human activities would not
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
require making trade-offs among environmental, economic,
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
and social goals. However, this guide recognizes that, in
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
applying sustainability principles to buildings, decision makers
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
must often balance opportunities and challenges associated
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
with each of the general principles.
document means only that the document has been approved
1.3 This guide identifies general methodologies associated
through the ASTM consensus process.
with the decision-making process used in pursuing sustainabil-
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ity.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.4 This guide addresses buildings individually and in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
aggregate (collectively).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.4.1 The general principles identified in this guide are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
applicable to all scales of building projects, including: interior
spaces, individual buildings and groups of buildings, infra-
2. Referenced Documents
structure systems, and land use.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.4.2 The general principles identified in this guide are
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
applicable to all life-cycle stages of a building and its compo-
E917 Practice for Measuring Life-Cycle Costs of Buildings
nents, including: material extraction, product manufacturing,
and Building Systems
product transportation, planning, siting, design, specification,
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability Relative to the Per-
construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, retrofit, re-
formance of Buildings
use, deconstruction, and waste disposal of buildings.
2.2 ISO Standards:
1.5 A variety of tools and standards exist that qualify and
ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment
quantify impacts of buildings, building materials, and building
methods in terms of one or more of the general principles of
3. Terminology
sustainability. It is not within the scope of this standard to
3.1 Definitions:
recreate or replace these tools.
3.1.1 For terms related to building construction, refer to
1.6 This guide does not provide direction as to the specific
Terminology E631.
implementation of the general principles; nor does it provide
3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to the
direction as to the specific weighting of principles necessary
performance of buildings, refer to Terminology E2114. Some
for achieving balance.
of these terms are reprinted here for ease of use.
1.7 Implementation of this guide will require professional
judgment. Such judgment should be informed by experience
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E60.01 on Buildings and Construc- the ASTM website.
tion. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
Current edition approvedAug. 15, 2005. PublishedAugust 2005. DOI: 10.1520/ la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://
E2432-05. www.iso.ch.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2432–05
3.1.3 biodiversity, n—the variability among living organ- 3.1.12 renewable resource, n—a resource that is grown,
isms from all sources including: terrestrial, marine, and other naturally replenished, or cleansed, at a rate which exceeds
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which depletion of the usable supply of that resource.
they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between 3.1.12.1 Discussion—A renewable resource can be ex-
species, and of ecosystems.
hausted if improperly managed. However, a renewable re-
3.1.4 deconstruction, n—disassembly of buildings for the source can last indefinitely with proper stewardship. Examples
include: trees in forests, grasses in grasslands, and fertile soil.
purpose of recovering materials.
3.1.13 reuse, v—using a material, product or component of
3.1.5 ecosystem, n—community of biological organisms
and their physical environment, functioning together as an the waste stream in its original form more than once.
interdependent unit within a defined area. 3.1.14 sustainability, n—the maintenance of ecosystem
components and functions for future generations.
3.1.5.1 Discussion—For the purposes of this definition,
humans, animals, plants, and micro-organisms are individually 3.1.15 sustainable building, n—see green building.
all considered biological organisms. 3.1.16 sustainabledevelopment,n—developmentthatmeets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
3.1.6 green building, n—a building that provides the speci-
fied building performance requirements while minimizing future generations to meet their own needs.
disturbancetoandimprovingthefunctioningoflocal,regional, 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
and global ecosystems both during and after its construction
3.2.1 carbon sinking, n—an approach to offset carbon
and specified service life. dioxide emissions through the absorption potential of forests
3.1.6.1 Discussion—Agreen building optimizes efficiencies and other vegetation.
in resource management and operational performance; and, 3.2.2 Design for the Environment (DfE), n—the systemic
minimizes risks to human health and the environment. consideration of design performance with respect to environ-
mental, health, and safety objectives over the full product
3.1.7 indoor environmental quality (IEQ), n—the condition
or state of the indoor environment. life-cycle.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—Aspects of IEQ include but are not 3.2.3 external costs/benefits, n—economic impact associ-
ated with the action of a party that is not borne by that party,
limited to qualitative and quantitative measures for thermal
comfort, light quality, acoustic quality and air quality. but rather by a third party or parties.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—This is intended to include economic
3.1.8 life-cycle assessment (LCA), n—a method of evaluat-
costs and benefits associated with environmental and social
ing a product by reviewing the ecological impact over the life
of the product. impacts arising out of the action.
3.2.4 green roof system, n—an assembly that supports an
3.1.8.1 Discussion—At each stage, the product and its
area of planting/landscaping, built up on a waterproofed
components are evaluated based upon materials and energy
substrate at any level that is separated from the natural ground
consumed, and the pollution and waste produced. Life stages
by a human-made structure.
include extraction of raw materials, processing and fabrication,
3.2.5 heat island effect, n—a phenomenon in which urban
transportation, installation, use and maintenance, and reuse/
air and surface temperatures are higher than nearby rural areas
recycling/disposal. ISO 14040 defines LCAas the compilation
due to the replacement of natural land cover with pavement,
and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environ-
buildings, and other infrastructure.
mental impacts of a product system throughout its life-cycle.
3.1.9 life-cycle cost (LCC) method, n—a technique of eco-
4. Significance and Use
nomic evaluation that sums over a given study period the costs
of initial investment (less resale value), replacements, opera-
4.1 Every building and building product has environmental,
tions (including energy use), and maintenance and repair of an
economic, and social impacts. These impacts occur at all
investment decision (expressed in present or annual value
life-cycle stages in multiple ways and on local, regional, and
terms).
global scales. It is imperative to understand the nature of these
3.1.9.1 Discussion—LCC is distinct from LCAin that LCA
impacts and their relationship to the general principles of
is an environmental review methodology and LCC is an
sustainability in order to address the opportunities and chal-
economic review methodology.
lenges they present in buildings.
3.1.10 non-renewable resource, n—resource that exists in a
4.1.1 Buildingsimpacttheenvironment.Inordertoadvance
fixed amount that cannot be replenished on a human time-
sustainability,itisnecessarytoidentifyenvironmentalimpacts,
scale.
mitigate negative environmental impacts, and promote positive
3.1.10.1 Discussion—Non-renewable resources have the
environmental impacts.
potential for renewal only by the geological, physical and
4.1.2 Buildings have economic impacts. In order to advance
chemical processes taking place over hundreds of millions of
sustainability, it is necessary to quantify and optimize life-
years. Non-renewable resources exist in various places in the
cycle costs/benefits and external costs/benefits to the greatest
earth’s crust. Examples include iron ore, coal, and oil.
extent possible.
3.1.11 perpetual resource, n—a resource that is virtually
4.1.3 Buildings impact society. In order to advance sustain-
inexhaustible on a human time scale.
ability, it is necessary to identify the health, safety, and welfare
3.1.11.1 Discussion—Examples include solar energy, tidal impacts, and to contribute to a positive quality of life for
energy, and wind energy. current and future generations.
E2432–05
4.2 The general principles of sustainability— balances the use of earth’s renewable, non-renewable, and
environmental, economic, and social—are interrelated. Deci- perpetual resources in order to preserve these resources for
sionsfoundedontheopportunitiesandchallengesofanyofthe future generations.
principles will have impacts relative to all of the principles.
5.1.2 Associated Building Characteristics:
However, to facilitate clarity in the presentation of the general
5.1.2.1 Ecosystems—Sustainable buildings contain features
principles of sustainability relative to buildings, they are
that protect or enhance local, regional, and global ecosystems.
discussed individually in Section 5.
For example, energy efficiency features, both active and
4.3 Sustainability is an ideal. The practical application of
passive, can reduce the amount of energy used by the building.
the general principles of sustainability relies upon balancing
This approach can reduce the regional impacts associated with
environmental, economic, and social impacts and committing
air emissions from electric power generation facilities and
to continual improvement to approach this ideal. Section 6
reduce the local impacts of the heat island effect.
discusses this balancing of environmental, economic, and
5.1.2.2 Biodiversity—Sustainable buildings contain features
social impacts in pursuit of sustainability.
that protect or enhance species’habitats. For example, a green
4.4 The marketplace is evolving as technology, economics,
roof system can retain and utilize stormwater through the use
and society become globalized. The range of topics and
of climate-appropriate plants. This approach can reduce the
approaches to standards development has evolved in tandem
amount of polluted stormwater runoff and creates new habitats
with the changes in the marketplace. This guide addresses one
within the built environment.
of the primary issues of today’s global marketplace—
5.1.2.3 Natural Resources—Sustainable buildings maxi-
sustainability. It provides an overview of sustainability, as it is
mize the effective use of resources. Sustainable buildings
applicable to buildings. It provides general guidance but does
preserve or enhance the quality of resources and do not
not prescribe a specific course of action.
adversely alter the balance between renewable resources and
4.5 This guide is intended to inform professionals associ-
their rate of consumption for building-related purposes. For
ated with the building industry, including specifiers, planners,
example, water resource stewardship approaches such as
developers, architects, landscapers, engineers, general contrac-
water-efficient, native landscaping, and permeable surfaces can
tors, subcontractors, owners, facility managers, financial orga-
reduce the use of water and help to naturally filter contami-
nizations related to the building industry, product manufactur-
nants. These approaches can assist in recharging groundwater
ers, and government agencies including building officials, and
resources. Similarly wood building products obtained from
other building professionals.
sustainably managed forests offer a renewable resource that
4.5.1 The general principles identified in this guide are
can contribute to the preservation of forests for future genera-
intended to assist users in making decisions that advance
tions. This approach can support biodiversity and contribute to
sustainability.
carbon sinking.
4.5.2 The general principles identified in this guide are
intended to inform the development and refinement of tools
5.2 Economic Principles—Buildings have both direct and
and standards to qualify and quantify impacts of buildings,
indirect economic impacts that are inherent to the proc
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