3G: triple glazed

ACH: Air changes (usually per hour is quoted at some pressure, e.g. 6.4ACH@50Pa)

AD: Approved Document [Building Regulations]

AECB: Association For Environment Conscious Building

AGW: Anthropogenic Global Warming

ALLI: Area of Local Landscape Importance

AOD: Above Ordnance Datum

A: ampere

ASHP: Air source heat pump

BBA British Board of Agrement

BERR: Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (formerly part of the DTI)

BFF: Building for a future magazine (Now Green building Magazine)

BI: Building inspector

BIAT:British Institute of Architectural Technologists (now superseded by CIAT: Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists)

BSRIA - Building Services Research and Information Association

BR: Building Regulations

BRE: Building Research Establishment

BREEAM: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Model

BS British Standard

CAMS: Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies

CAT: Centre for Alternative Technology

CCA: Copper Chromate Arsenic (wood preserver)

CFC: Chlorofluorocarbon (ozone destroying gas which used to be used in insulation)

CFL: Compact Fluorescent Light

CH: Central heating

CHP: Combined Heat and Power

CIBSE: Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

CIRIA - Construction Industry Research and Information Association

CLP: Carbonlite Programme (run by the AECB)

CMM Confederation of Multifoil Manufacturers

CO2: Carbon Dioxide

CoP: Coefficient of performance (term used to explain the performance of heat pumps)

CSH: Code for Sustainable Homes

ctrs: centers (as in joist spacings)

CUAP Common Understanding of Assessment Procedure

DCLG: Department for Communities and Local Government, formerly:

DDA: Disability Discrimination Act

DG or DGW: double glazed unit

DHW: Domestic hot water

DPC: Damp proof Course

DPM: Damp proof Membrane

DER - Dwelling Emissions rate

EER: Energy Efficiency Ratio (used to rate air conditioners)

EPS: Expanded Polystyrene [Insulation]

ERV: Energy Recovery Ventilator

ESCO: Energy Services Company

ESH: Earth Sheltered Home

EST - Energy Savings Trust

FFL: Finished Floor Level

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council

GBB: Green Building Bible

GBM: Green Building Magazine

GSHP: Ground source heat pump

GPA: Groundwater Protection Area

GWP: Global warming potential

HCFC: Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (ozone destroying gas which is still used in some insulation)

HFC:- Hydroflurocarbon - replacement refrigerant with zero ODP

HIP: Home Information Pack

HLP - Heat Loss Parameter

HMG: Her Majesty's Government

HRV: Heat Recovery Ventilator

HSE: Health & Safety Executive

HSPF: Heating Season Performance Factor (used to rate ASHPs)

ICE: Institution of Civil Engineers

ICF: Insulated Concrete Form

IStructE: Institution of Structural Engineers

K: Kelvin (but we usually use degrees Celcius)

kg: kilogram

kW: Kilowatts

kWh: Kilowatthours

L1A and L1B: Approved Documents of BR relating to thermal performance, conservation of fuel and power, in new-build and refurb respectively

LA: Local authority

LCA: Lifecycle analysis

LCBP: Low Carbon Building Programme

LED: Light Emitting Diode

LEED: Leadership in Energy Efficient Design - US efficient building program for mainly commercial buildings

LNR: Local Nature Reserve

LZC - Low or Zero Carbon

m: metre (metric measurement)

M&E: Mechanical & Electrical

MDF: Medium density fibreboard

MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (used to rate the effectiveness of filters in forced air equipment)

MHRV: Mechanical Heat and Recovery Ventilation

MOL: Metropolitan Open Land

Natura 2000: European special sites (includes all SAC's & SPA's)

NNR: National Nature Reserve (Wildlife and/or geology)

NOx - Nitrogen Oxides or Oxides of Nitrogen (E.g. NO, NO2)

ODP: Ozone depleating potential

ODPM: Office of Deputy Prime Minister

OSB: Oriented strand board (large flaked building board like chipboard)

PAHS: Passive Annual Heat Storage

PEFC: Programme for the endorsement of forest certification schemes

PIR - Passive Infrared

PIR: Polyisocyanurate [Insulation]

PUR: Polyurethane [Insulation]

PV: Photovoltaic solar panels

PVC: Polyvinylchloride

PVCu Unplasticised Polyvinylchloride (rigid as used in waste pipes etc)

RAMSAR: Internationally Important Wetland

REGOs: Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certificate

RIAS: Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland

RIBA:Royal Institute of British Architects

RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

RIGS:Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites.

ROCs: Renewable Obligation certificates

s: second

SAC: Special Area of Conservation (Mainly for habitats)

SAP: Standard Assessment Procedure

SEDA: Scottish Ecological Design Association

SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (the above corrected for an idealized cooling season)

SI: System International

SIPs: Structural insulated panels

SO2: Sulpher dioxide

SPA; Special Protected Area (Mainly for birds)

SSSI: Site of Special Scientific Interest (Wildlife and/or geology)

SUDS - Sustainable Drainage Systems or Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

TAS Thermal Analysis Simulation

TER - Target Emisissons rate

UFH: Underfloor heating

uPVC: Unplasticised Polyvinylchloride (rigid as used in waste pipes etc)

XPS: Extruded polystyrene [Insulation]

Thanks to the following forum members for help with this list so far:
Tony
Nick Parsons
LizM
Paul in Montreal
TheDoctor
Pingy
Olly
Mike George
StuartB
Ted
Jon
Skywalker