Certificate
The process of verifying the conformity of a product or a service in relation to technical specifications. The Valideo certificate relates to the environmental characteristics of a construction project according to a referential comprised of 4 themes (site & construction, management, comfort, social values) and where each theme consists of 4 categories. In other words, 16 categories in total, making it possible to touch on all of the aspects involved in sustainable development.

Attestation
A written document that witnesses a particular condition. A declaration realised by an organisation that examines, measures and reports on the object during a visit to the construction site of organization.

Sustainable construction
The design and realisation of a construction project that integrates the concerns for sustainable development; namely, respecting the environment, the economy, the social values and this over all the lifespan of a building.

Referential
A document that encompasses all of the environmental criteria for sustainable development and which is used as a basis for the evaluation of the projects applying for the Valideo certificate.

Certification schemes
The procedures that describe the stages and documents required for the Valideo certificate. There are just as many certification schemes in existence as there are types of construction or organizations.

Advisory committee
The committee comprised of representatives from the professional construction sectors, which are in charge of making suggestions with regard to modifications or improvements to the referential and the Valideo certification schemes.