"Green" Glossary
GREEN GLOSSARY
Learn It – Live It!
If you are just getting started in the world of “GREEN” living, all the new terms can be quite overwhelming. In fact, up until a short time ago, ‘organic’ was about the only term that the U.S. Government had actually clearly defined. Just as the age of the internet came upon us with its new vocabulary, eco-explanatory terms will develop and expand for years to come. Hopefully this list will give you a better understanding of “GREEN” terminology.
Active solar design
Uses mechanical devices such as pumps and fans to move heat between collectors, storage, and use. Solar panels that collect solar energy and convert it to electricity are considered an active solar design.
Active solar water heater
Heat from the sun is absorbed by collectors and transferred by pumps to a storage unit. The heated fluid in the storage unit conveys its heat to the domestic hot water of the house through a heat exchanger. Controls regulating the operation are needed.
Adobe
A building constructed of sun dried brick made of clay and straw, used in hot and dry climates
Agricultural by-products
Products developed in agriculture that was not a primary goal of the agricultural activity. The most commonly used as a building product is straw, which is used in wall panels or as bales in a technique called straw bale construction with the bales used as building blocks. The straw bale construction method was common in the plains states at the turn of the century and is currently being revived in Europe and the U.S.
Agricultural Fibers
Agricultural fibers (i.e., cotton) are just recently being introduced for use as insulation materials.
Air Pollution
Contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, & nitrogen.
A fuel other than gasoline or diesel for powering motor vehicles, often with improved energy efficiency pollution reduction features, including electricity, natural gas, methanol, ethanol, and fuel cells.
Asbestos
A mineral fiber that has been commonly used in many building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Invisible fibers of asbestos can be inhaled and have been connected to lung diseases and cancer.
Biomass
Organic matter, especially plant matter, which can be converted to fuel and is therefore regarded as a potential energy source.
Biodegradable
Capable of being decomposed by the action of biological agents, especially bacteria
Brownfields
Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.
Building related illness
The term “building related illness” (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
Built environment
Refers to human-built structures such as single family homes.
A naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, concentrations of which have increased (from 280 parts per million in pre-industrial times to over 350 parts per million today) as a result of humans burning coal, oil, natural gas and organic matter (e.g., wood and crop wastes). It is attributed with being a major contributor to global warming.
Carbon monoxide
A colorless, odorless gas that comes from incomplete combustion of gas stoves, fireplaces, kerosene appliances, tobacco smoke, and automobile exhaust. Proper ventilation is important to prevent negative health effects such as fatigue, dizziness, nausea and even death.
Carbon Neutral
Refers to neutral total carbon release, brought about by balancing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere with renewable energy. (A carbon footprint is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide". It is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming. A conceptual tool in response to carbon footprints are carbon offsets, or the mitigation of carbon emissions through the development of alternative projects such as solar or wind energy or reforestation.
Cellulose
The fibrous part of plants used in making paper and textiles. Most building products with the word cellulose imply that paper was used in the manufacture.
Cellulose insulation with borates
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspaper. The borates provide fire and vermin protection. Most cellulose insulation now uses chemical fire retardants as opposed to the natural borates. Environmentally sensitive persons should avoid cellulose insulation that contains newspaper ink, which can cause allergic reactions. There are cellulose insulation products made without inked newspaper.
Cementitious foam insulation
A magnesium-oxide based material blown with air to create an inert, effective insulation. It is especially good for people with chemical sensitivities.
Certified sustainably managed
Some certifying organizations have been established that oversee the harvesting of wood for lumber. The underlying guidelines are for preservation of a diverse sustainable forest that exhibits the same ecological characteristics as a healthy natural forest.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s )
A family of chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, or as solvents and aerosol propellants. Because CFC’s are not destroyed in the lower atmosphere they drift into the upper atmosphere where their chlorine components destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer.
Composite materials
A complex material made up of two or more complementary substances. They can be difficult to recycle. Plastic laminates are an example. Composite materials are best applied in situations where they can be removed for reuse (not requiring remanufacture).
Composting
A process whereby organic wastes, including food wastes, paper and yard wastes, decompose naturally, resulting in a produce rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioner, mulch, resurfacing material, or landfill cover.
The careful utilization, preservation, and renewal of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion/
Daylighting
A method of illuminating building interiors with natural light so that the use of artificial lighting is reduced in the day time. Common daylighting strategies include the proper orientation and placement of windows, use of light wells, light shafts or tubes, skylights, clerestory windows, light shelves, reflective surfaces, and shading, and the use of interior glazing to allow light into adjacent spaces.
Deciduous
Trees and plants that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season.
Demand control ventilation
Ventilation provided in response to actual number of occupants and occupant activity.
Design charrette
The charrette process is focused workshop(s) which take place in the early phase of the design process. All project team members meet together to exchange ideas, encouraging generation of integrated design solutions.
DOE
Department of Energy
Domestic hardwood
Deciduous trees that grow in the U.S.; 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.
Dust spot efficiency
The dust spot efficiency test is a semi-quantitative measure of a filter’s collection efficiency for fine particles---those associated with smudging of the interior surfaces of buildings. Upstream and downstream paper target filters collect particles and the opacity (light transmission) is measured.
Home design that is partially or totally below ground, either by digging into existing topography or filling over parts of the structure. Earth sheltered design uses the constant temperature of the soil to improve energy efficiency and can be beneficial for us on hilly sites to decrease maintenance and environmental impact.
Earth's thermal energy
A short distance below the surface, the Earth maintains a mostly constant temperature very close to the human comfort range. This can be used advantageously for geothermal heating systems.
Eco-friendly
Not harmful to the environment
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
Electric and magnetic fields are common in nature and in all living things. Electric power produces fields that have a possible association with health risks.
Embodied energy
Embodied energy accounts for all energy expended for production and transportation plus inherent energy at a specific point in the life cycle of a product.
Energy Efficiency
The act of delivering the same or more services for less energy.
Energy modeling
A computer model that analyzes the building’s energy-related features in order to project energy consumption of a given design.
Energy recovery ventilator (ERV)
A mechanical device that draws stale air from the house and transfers the heat or coolness in that air to the air being pulled into the house. This can help reduce energy costs and dilute indoor pollutants.
Environmentally preferable
Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or service.
Ethanol
An alternative automotive fuel derived from grain and corn; usually blended with gasoline.
Exterior grade plywood
Uses phenol formaldehyde (a volatile organic compound) as an adhesive that is released in much smaller amounts compared to urea formaldehyde used in interior grade plywood and particleboard.
Fly ash
The ash residue from high temperature combustion processes. Electric motor plants using western coal produce a non-toxic fly ash that because of its very high calcium content can be a substitute for Portland Cement (the common bonding material in concrete).
Fossil fuel
Fuel, such as coal, oil and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals.
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.
Free range
Permitted to graze or forage for grain, etc., rather than being confined to a feed lot or a small enclosure. A labeling term that has come under strong scrutiny due to interpretation of standards.
Fuel cell
A technology that uses an electrochemical process to convert energy into electrical power. Often powered by natural gas, fuel cell power is cleaner than grid-connected power sources. In addition, hot water is produced as a by-product that can be utilized as a thermal resource for the building.
Full spectrum lights
These lights come closer to the natural light spectrum and are considered healthier.
Geothermal heat exchange technology
In winter, geothermal heat exchange technology utilizes heat from subsurface water and soils to heat buildings; in summer, this technology extracts heat from the building into subsurface water and soils for cooling.
Green building:
The practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better site selection, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal. Also, known as sustainable or environmental building.
Greywater
Wastewater that does not contain sewage or fecal contamination and can be reused for irrigation after simple filtration.
The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors such as soil, moisture, range of temperature, and availability of light as well as biotic factors such as the availability of food and the presence of predators.
Harvested rainwater
The rain that falls on a roof and is channeled by gutters to a storage tank or cistern. The uses of this water are dependent on any pollutants that may be picked up from the roof surface.
Hazardous Waste
A substance, such as industrial byproduct, that is potentially damaging to the environment and harmful to humans and other living organisms.
Heat recovery systems
Building mechanical systems that capture waste heat from another system and use it to replace heat that would otherwise come from a primary energy source.
Herbicide
A chemical substance used to destroy or inhibit the growth of plants, especially weeds.
High quality duct system
This option avoids the potential of significant heating and cooling losses, as well as avoiding potential health threats caused by depressurizing or pressurizing a house. All ducts are sealed using a fibrated latex mastic and fiberglass tape. Inner and outer linings of the duct are both sealed. The air handler, support platform and return plenum are sealed air tight at the joints. Duct tape is not used in any part of the system. No ductwork is run inside of the building envelope walls. The system can be performance tested to ensure proper installation.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
HCFCs are generally less detrimental to depletion of stratospheric ozone than chlorofluorocarbons. HCFCs are generally used to replace CFC’s where mandates require CFC’s to be eliminated. A total ban on all CFC’s and HCFCs is scheduled effective 2030.
To reduce transportation cost and increase viability of the local economy, building materials that are mined, manufactured or fabricated in an area close to where building will take place is always preferred.
Indoor Air
The breathable air inside a habitable structure or conveyance.
Integrated pest management
A coordinated approach to pest control that is intended to prevent unacceptable levels of pests by the most cost-effective means with the least possible hazard to building occupants, workers and the environment.
A measure of electric usage equivalent to the use of 1,000 watts for one hour.
Kitchen recycling center
A built-in section of the kitchen cabinetry that allows convenient separation of recyclable materials.
A harmful environmental pollutant that is typically in the home in lead-based paints and in lead solder used in plumbing before l978. Lead is toxic to many organs and can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys and nervous system.
Life cycle assessment
The comprehensive examination of a product’s environmental and economic aspects and potential impacts throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use and disposal.
Life cycle cost
The amortized annual cost of a product, including capital costs, installation costs, operating costs, maintenance costs, and disposal costs discounted over the lifetime of a product.
Locovore
A person who eats food grown or raised locally. In "real life", one who pays attention to where food comes from and procures local food whenever possible.
Low biocide
Many paints have added fungicides and pesticides. A low-biocide paint does not include such additives.
Low-E windows
“Low-E” (low emissive) windows reflect heat, not light, and therefore keep spaces warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Low pressure drop high efficiency air filters
Extended surface pleated air filters that allow greater air filtration without a significant increase in horsepower requirements.
Material safety data sheet (MSDS)
Forms that contain brief information regarding chemical and physical hazards, health effects, proper handling, storage, and personal protection appropriate for use of a particular chemical in an occupational environment.
Methane: (CH4)
An odorless, colorless, flammable gas that is a major component of natural gas; it is a more powerful global warming agent than carbon dioxide.
A colorless, poisonous gas. It is a by-product of gas combustion.
In the U.S., organic food is produced according to certain legally regulated standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were raised without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. At all levels, organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified organisms.
Outgas
The emitting of fumes into the air; there are numerous building materials that have chemicals in them which outgas, when exposed to high temperatures, moisture and/or ozone levels.
Ozone
1) stratospheric ozone: in the stratosphere (the atmosphere layer beginning 7-10 miles above the earth), ozone is a form of oxygen found naturally which provides a protective layer shielding the earth from ultraviolet radiation’s harmful effects on humans and the environment. 2) ground level ozone: ozone produced near the earth’s surface through complex chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and sunlight. Ground level ozone is the primary component of smog and is harmful to humans and the environment.
Solid material that escapes from combustion processes and which can be inhaled causing potential health problems.
Passive design
In home construction, the building design and placement permits the use of natural processes such as radiation, convection, absorption, and conduction to support comfort levels.
Passive cooling
The building's structure (or an element of it) is designed to permit increased ventilation and retention of coolness within the building components. The intention is to minimize or eliminate the need for mechanical means of cooling.
Passive heating
The building's structure (or an element of it) is designed to allow natural thermal energy flows such as radiation, conduction, and natural convection generated by the sun to provide heat. The home relies solely or primarily on non-mechanical means of heating.
Passive ventilation
Passive ventilation relies typically on using both convective air flows that result from the tendency of warm air to rise and cool air to sink and taking advantage of prevailing winds. Many passive ventilation systems rely on the building users to control window and vents as indicated by site conditions and conditions within the building.
Passive solar water heater
A water heating system that does not require mechanical pumps or controls to create hot water for domestic use.
Pervious paving
Paving material that allows water to penetrate to the soil below; this reduces the amount of water that needs to be treated by the water system and increases the water in the aquifer.
Photovoltaic panels (PVs)
Photovoltaic devices use semiconductor material to directly convert sunlight into electricity. Power is produced when sunlight strikes the semiconductor material and creates an electrical current.
Post-consumer recycled content
Post-consumer material is a material or finished product that has served its intended use and has been discarded for disposal or recovery, having completed its life as a consumer item.
Pre-consumer recycled content
Pre-consumer material is material diverted from the waste stream following an industrial process, excluding reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process. Synonyms include post-industrial and secondary material.
A radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally. When trapped in buildings, concentration build up, and it can cause health hazards such as lung cancer.
R-value
A measure of the thermal resistance of material, especially insulation.
Recycling
The series of activities, including collection, separation and processing, by which products or other materials are recovered from the solid waste stream for use in the form of raw materials in the manufacture of new products other than fuel for producing heat or power by combustion.
Renewable energy
Energy resources such as wind power or solar power that can keep producing indefinitely without being depleted.
Gases and vapors often adsorb, and particles deposit, on surfaces such as carpet, drywall, etc. These surfaces are known as “sinks”—contaminants can be re-emitted from the sinks at a later time.
Smart house
Consists of programmable electronic controls and sensors that can regulate heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, appliance and equipment operation in an energy conserving and climatically responsive manner.
Stack-effect
The phenomenon in a building or building component caused by wind pressure and temperature differentials which results in air being drawn through some components of a building and out others creating a continuous pattern of air flow.
Sulfur dioxide
A colorless, extremely irritating gas that is a primary cause of acid rain.
"Sustainability", according to Webster's American Heritage Dictionary, is to "keep in existence; maintain." As it relates to the world we live in, sustainability means meeting our present needs without compromising the needs of future generations. The sustainable approach recognizes the interaction of natural and technological systems on our planet, and seeks to minimize the adverse impacts of our everyday lives on the systems that support all life. Sustainability implies that we look at and understand our local environment in terms of climate, natural resources, and human resources and improve our relationship with them without jeopardizing their future usefulness. Recognizing the nature of the interdependence of the human and natural environment is a key concept toward understanding sustainability. A sustainable approach encourages people to become a part of the natural flows and cycles of our world and not seeking to overpower them
Technical nutrient
A technical nutrient is a material or product that is designed to go back into the technical cycle, into the industrial metabolism from which it came. A product designed as a true technical nutrient would be made of safe materials designed to be truly recycled as a raw material for fresh product, and the delivery system for its service would cost the same or less than buying it. (See Cradle To Cradle, by McDonough and Braungart).
Thermal bridge
A highly conductive element such as a metal channel in the building envelope that penetrates or bypasses the less conductive element such as insulation, and acts as a thermal short circuit through the insulation system.
Thermal buffer
A space or other element that reduces the heating and cooling load on another space located between the space and the exterior.
Thermal by-pass
An opening between a conditioned and unconditioned space that heated or cooled air can move through, therefore violating the air tightness of the building envelope.
Thermal envelope
The shell of a building that essentially creates a barrier from the elements. A highly insulated thermal envelope allows maximum control of interior temperatures without outdoor influence.
Thermal flywheel
A space or other element such as a solid masonry wall that collects heat during one period and releases it during another in a repetitive pattern.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are chemicals that contain carbon molecules and are volatile enough to evaporate from material surfaces into indoor air at normal room temperatures (referred to as off-gassing). Examples of building materials that may contain VOCs include, but are not limited to: solvents, paints, adhesives, carpeting and particleboard. Signs or symptoms of VOC exposure may include eye and upper respiratory irritation, nasal congestion, headache and dizziness.
Wind power systems convert the energy of the wind into electricity. Surplus electricity is often stored in a battery storage system for later use, or the power is passed back to the utility essentially making the meter go in reverse.
Creative landscaping for water and energy efficiency and lower maintenance. The seven xeriscape principles are: good planning and design; practical lawn areas; efficient irrigation; soil improvement; use of mulches; low water demand plants; good maintenance
