Green
Glossary
Anti-microbial finish
A material that has an applied finish, or ingredient in
the product that inhibits the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria
or fungi.
Beeswax
A wood preservative considered non-toxic.
Borax
A wood preservative considered non-toxic.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless gas that naturally exists in the earth's atmosphere.
The major source of manmade CO2 emissions is from the combustion
of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas and
is known to contribute to global warming and climate change.
Carbon footprint
The measure of the impact human activities have on the environment
in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced; measured in
units of carbon dioxide.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
A deadly gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
Certified sustainably managed
Wood determined to have been harvested from a sustainable forest
that exhibits the same ecological characteristics as a healthy
natural forest. A number of certifying organizations have been
established to oversee the harvesting of wood for lumber and provide
guidelines for preservation of forests.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
A family of chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning,
packaging, insulation, or as solvents and aerosol propellants, which
drift into the upper atmosphere and destroy the Earth's protective
ozone layer.
Clean technology
A technical measure taken to reduce or eliminate at the
source the production of any nuisance, pollution, or waste and to
help save raw materials, natural resources, and energy.
Domestic hardwood
Deciduous trees that grow in the United States. This is
the only type of wood in the U.S. where on a general scale the growth
of new trees easily exceeds the removal rate.
Eco-friendly
Having little or no impact on the native ecosystem.
Ecological footprint
The area of land and water needed to produce the resources
to entirely sustain a human population and absorb its waste products
with prevailing technology.
EER
Energy Efficiency Rating, a standard for rating an appliance's
energy efficiency. The higher the EER number, the more efficient
the appliance.
Energy smart
Meeting energy needs cost effectively and with the least
impact on the environment.
Energy Star
The Energy Star program, managed by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Department of Energy, helps consumers identify energy-efficient
products for their homes.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
A federal (U.S.) agency with regulatory authority over matters affecting
the environment, including waste generation and habitat destruction.
Exterior grade plywood
Uses phenol formaldehyde (a volatile organic compound) as
an adhesive rather than the urea formaldehyde used in interior grade
plywood and particle board.
Formaldehyde
Colorless, pungent smelling, toxic material used as an adhering
component of glues in many wood products. It can cause respiratory
problems, cancer, and chemical sensitivity. At concentrations above
0.1 ppm in air, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and mucous membranes,
resulting in watery eyes. Naturally occurring, but when added it
is referred to as urea formaldehyde.
Fossil fuels
Carbon-rich deposits in the Earth, such as petroleum (oil),
coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of ancient plants
and animals and used for fuel. These are non-renewable resources
with a finite supply. They are pollutive, but are commonly used due
to their traditionally low costs.
Global warming
An increase in the global mean temperature of the Earth
resulting from increased emissions of greenhouse gases that are trapped
within the Earth's atmosphere. Global warming is believed to have
adverse consequences, such as climate change and a rise in sea levels.
The scientific community is in general agreement that the Earth's
surface has warmed by about 1°F over the past 140 years.
Graywater
Wastewater from sources such as sinks, showers, kitchens,
and washers, which after purification, is used for non-potable activities
such as flushing and irrigation. Rainwater from gutters can be used
for this.
Green design
A design, also referred to as a sustainable design or eco-design,
which conforms to environmentally sound principles of building, material,
and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of
skylights, recycled building materials, and energy efficient appliances.
Greenhouse gases
Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the Earth's atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides are of particular concern
due to the length of time they remain resident in the atmosphere.
Primarily, the emissions of coal-fired power plants and combustion
engine automobiles produce carbon dioxide that prevents excess heat
from escaping through the atmosphere, thereby raising the surface
temperature of the earth. More than 80 percent of all U.S. greenhouse
gases are carbon dioxide emissions from energy-related sources.
Green power
Electricity generated from renewable energy sources. This
includes solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric power.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs)
A class of haloalkanes where not all hydrogen has been replaced by
chlorine or fluorine. They are used primarily as chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC) substitutes, as the ozone depleting effects are only about
10% of the CFCs.
Indigenous materials
Building materials that are mined, manufactured, or fabricated
locally to reduce transportation costs and increase the viability
of the local economy.
Indoor air quality (IAQ)
The content of interior air that could affect the health
and comfort of building occupants. Good air quality inside a building
results from streaming an appropriate amount of outside air into
the building and regulating proper filtration, air distribution,
and removal of indoor pollutants through use of proper ventilation.
LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design)
A voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for
developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Developed by
the USGBC, LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art
strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy
efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental
quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design
and construction that provides immediate, measurable results for
building owners and occupants.
Low-E (Low-Emissive)
Glass that reflects heat, not light, and therefore keeps
spaces warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Non-renewable energy
resources
Energy resources that cannot be restored or replenished
by natural processes and therefore are depleted through use. Commonly
used non-renewable energy resources include coal, oil, natural gas,
and uranium.
Ozone
A form of oxygen found naturally and that provides a protective
layer shielding the Earth from ultraviolet radiation's harmful effects
on humans and the environment. Ground level ozone is the primary
component of smog, produced near the Earth's surface through complex
chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds,
and sunlight.
pH
A scale used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of water,
with values from 1 to 14; neutral is 7; decreasing numbers below
7 mean greater acidity and increasing numbers above 7 mean greater
alkalinity.
Regeneration
Renewal of sites or habitats that have become unfit for
human, animal, or plant habitation, bringing them back into productive
use. The term most commonly refers to urban and industrial land.
Reclaim
To use a product again after its initial use. This commonly
refers to materials such as tile, brick, and stone.
Recycling
The reprocessing of materials into new products, which generally
prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces the consumption
of raw materials, lowers energy usage, and decreases greenhouse gas
emissions compared to virgin production.
Renewable energy
Energy resources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass,
geothermal, ocean thermal, and wave power, that replenish themselves
within a short period. Although non-pollutive, some displace habitats
and require large tracts of land.
(Rapidly) Renewable resource
Organic materials, like bamboo or corn, that have a short
regeneration period to full maturation, usually in stark contrast
to the material they are replacing.
SEER
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, a standard for rating
the annual energy efficiency of appliances which considers the effects
of climate. The higher the EER, the more efficient the appliance.
Smart house
A home that consists of programmable electronic controls
and sensors that can regulate heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting,
and equipment operation in an energy conserving and climatically
responsible manner.
Sustainability
The practice of meeting the needs of the present without
depleting resources or harming natural cycles for future generations.
USGBC (United States
Green Building Council)
A non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable
building practices. The USGBC is composed of more than 12,000 organizations
from across the building industry that are working to advance structures
that are environmentally sustainable, profitable, and healthy places
to live and work. Members include building owners, real estate developers,
facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors,
subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government
agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Volatile Organic Compound
(VOC)
Any organic compound that evaporates at room temperatures
and is hazardous to human health, causing poor indoor air quality.
Many VOCs found in homes, such as paint strippers and wood preservatives,
contribute to sick building syndrome because of their high vapor
pressure. VOCs are often used in paint, carpet backing, plastics,
and cosmetics. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has found concentrations of VOCs in indoor air to be, on average,
two to five times greater than in outdoor air. During certain activities,
indoor levels of VOCs may reach 1,000 times that of the outside air. |
