RESOURCES

Below are definitions for various terms used throughout our website.

• Equator Principles: A financial industry benchmark for determining, assessing and managing social & environmental risk in project financing
• GRI: Global Reporting Initiative: The de-facto international standard (used by over 850 companies) for corporate reporting on environmental, social and economic performance.
• LEED®: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
• ISO: International Standards Organization: ISO 14000 is a series of international standards on environmental management. It provides a framework for the development of an environmental management system and the supporting audit program.
• Lean Manufacturing: A process improvement method based on Toyota's "Toyota Production System". Tools used as part of this method include waste elimination and reduction, mistake proofing, visual control, standardization, and production flow improvement, among others. Lean techniques have been used with great success in service and manufacturing businesses.
• Six Sigma: A problem solving method focused on reducing variation and defects. It is based on previous methods such as Total Quality, and Quality Control. First used by Motorola in 1986, the company has claimed $17 billion in savings through application of various Six Sigma techniques.
• Black Belt: Six Sigma Black Belts receive over 160 hours of training in statistics, change management, and the details of all Six Sigma problem solving tools. Within organizations, Black Belts lead the implementation of Six Sigma, train other practitioners, and spread the culture of process and quality improvement.