Green TermsTERMS USED IN THE

GREEN INDUSTRY

Green TermsNOTE: THIS IS NOT AN

EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT DOES COVER A LOT OF TERMS USED

IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD

YOUR OWN DEFINITIONS TO IT!

Green TermsAIR BARRIER: A MATERIAL OFTEN

INSTALLED AROUND THE FRAME OF A BUILDING TO PREVENT OR

REDUCE THE INFILTRATION OF AIR INTO THE INTERIOR WHICH COULD BE TOO HOT, TOO COLD OR TOO

HUMID FOR COMFORT.

Green TermsAIR POLLUTION: AIR POLLUTION OCCURS WHEN THE AIR CONTAINS GASES, DUST, OR

FUMES IN AMOUNTS THAT COULD BE HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND ANIMALS, OR

PLANTS AND MATERIALS. THE SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE AIR POLLUTION ARE CALLED PRIMARY POLLUTANTS WHICH ARE PUMPED INTO OUR

ATMOSPHERE AND DIRECTLY POLLUTE THE AIR. PRIMARY POLLUTANT EXAMPLES INCLUDE CARBON

MONOXIDE FROM CAR EXHAUSTS AND SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM THE COMBUSTION OF COAL. WORSE POLLUTION CAN ARISE IF PRIMARY

POLLUTANTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE IN COMPOUNDS CALLED SECONDARY POLLUTANTS.

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG IS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.

Green TermsALTERNATE ENERGY: A NATURALLY GENERATED ENERGY SOURCE. ANY FORM OF ENERGY OBTAINED FROM

THE SUN, WIND, WAVES, OR ANOTHER NATURAL RENEWABLE

SOURCE; IN CONTRAST TO ENERGY GENERATED FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

Green TermsBIODEGRADABLE: MATERIAL THAT

CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO SIMPLER SUBSTANCES (ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS) BY BACTERIA

OR OTHER DECOMPOSERS. PAPER AND MOST ORGANIC WASTES

SUCH AS ANIMAL MANURE ARE BIODEGRADABLE.

Green Terms

BIOSPHERE: IN ESSENCE THE BIOSPHERE IS ALL THE

ECOSYSTEMS THAT EXIST IN A PLANET. INCLUDING HOW THEY

INTERACT, EVOLVE AND CHANGE OVER TIME.

Green TermsBIOSWALE:: BIOSWALES ARE LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS DESIGNED TO REMOVE SILT

AND POLLUTION FROM SURFACE RUNOFF WATER. THEY CONSIST OF A SWALED

DRAINAGE COURSE WITH GENTLY SLOPED SIDES, FILLED WITH

VEGETATION, COMPOST AND STONES. THE WATER'S FLOW PATH IS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE THE TIME WATER SPENDS

IN THE SWALE, WHICH AIDS THE TRAPPING OF POLLUTANTS AND SILT.

Green Terms

BLACKWATER: WASTEWATER GENERATED BY TOILETS. TOXIC TO LIFE AND MUST BE DISPOSED AND TREATED BY APPROVED METHODS.

Green TermsBUILDING ENVELOPE: THE ENTIRE

PERIMETER OF A BUILDING ENCLOSED BY ITS ROOF, WALLS AND FOUNDATION. PROPERLY

DESIGNED, THE ENVELOPE CAN MINIMIZE TEMPERATURE GAIN OR

LOSS AND MOISTURE INFILTRATION.

Green TermsCARBON FOOTPRINT: CARBON FOOTPRINT

REFERS TO THE TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT RESULT FROM A PERSON,

ORGANIZATION, PRODUCT OR SERVICE OVER A GIVEN TIME. IT TENDS TO ACT AS AN UMBRELLA

TERM FOR ANY ATTEMPT TO MEASURE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND AS A RESULT

CAN REFER TO SIMPLY THE EMISSIONS THAT RESULT FROM A SINGLE ACTIVITY, SUCH AS FLYING; THE

EMISSIONS THAT RESULT FROM AN ORGANIZATION OR BUILDING OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR; OR

THE FULL LIFETIME EMISSIONS OF A PRODUCT OR ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING EMISSIONS FROM THE

SUPPLY CHAIN OR DISPOSAL OF RESOURCES.

Green TermsCARBON NEUTRAL: A TERM WHICH

DESCRIBES THE PROCESS BY WHICH A MANUFACTURER CAN OFFSET THEIR UN-

REDUCABLE EMISSIONS BY BUYING A “CREDIT” FROM A PRODUCER OF

PLANTS OR MATERIALS WHICH ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT TO

BE USED AGAINST THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE EMISSIONS. THIS OFFSET

BRINGS THE CARBON COUNT OF THE EMISSIONS TO AN EFFECTIVE ZERO..

Green TermsCERTIFIED: DEFINES THE PROCESS BY WHICH A FARMER, SUPPLIER,

MANUFACTURER, OR OTHERS ARE INSPECTED BY A THIRD-PARTY TO SEE IF THEY ARE MEETING THE

STANDARDS SET OUT BY THE GROUP FROM WHICH THEY ARE SEEKING

CERTIFICATION. THIS HELPS IN MARKETING THE PRODUCT AS IT

CONNOTES A CERTAIN QUALITY TO THE CONSUMER.

Green TermsC.F.C’S:

(CLOROFLOUROCARBONS)DESTRUCTIVE CHEMICAL WHICH IS THE PRIMARY

PROPONENT OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OZONE LAYER. IT DOES THIS BY RELEASING THE CHLORINE ATOMS IN

THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE WHICH TEND TO DESTROY OZONE ATOMS OVER AND OVER, THUS CREATING HOLES IN THE

OZONE LAYER AND EXPOSING THE EARTH TO HARMFUL SOLAR RADIATION.

Green TermsCOMPOSTABLE: ITEMS WHICH CAN BE ALLOWED TO DECOMPOSE NATURALLY INTO A MORE BASIC STATE WHICH IS

NOT HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

COMPOSTING: THE ACT OF ALLOWING ORGANIC MATERIALS TO DECOMPOSE

TO BECOME FERTILIZER.

Green TermsDAYLIGHTING: USING VARIOUS DESIGN METHODS, SUCH AS

WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS, TO REDUCE THE BUILDING’S RELIANCE

ON ELECTRIC LIGHTING. NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE

HIGHLIGHTED THE PRODUCTIVITY BENEFITS OF NATURAL LIGHTING

FOR BUILDING OCCUPANTS.

Green TermsE-WASTE: E-WASTE IS MILLIONS OF TONS OF

ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, COMPUTERS, CELL PHONES, AND THE LIKE THAT ENTER THE WASTE STREAM WORLDWIDE EACH YEAR. ASIDE FROM

THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO LANDFILLS, MANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONTAIN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, SUCH AS MERCURY; MANY ALSO

CONTAIN VALUABLE, REUSABLE MATERIALS THAT CAN BE RECYCLED. TO LIMIT E-WASTE, BUY

QUALITY PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE UPGRADED INSTEAD OF REPLACED; DONATE OLD EQUIPMENT

(TO A SCHOOL FOR INSTANCE); AND SEEK OUT RECYCLING PROGRAMS WHEN YOU’RE READY

TO DISPOSE OF AN ITEM. 

Green TermsECODESIGN: ECODESIGN IS AN

APPROACH TO DESIGN OF A PRODUCT WITH SPECIAL

CONSIDERATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PRODUCT DURING ITS WHOLE LIFE

CYCLE, USUALLY DIVIDED INTO PROCUREMENT, MANUFACTURE,

USE AND DISPOSAL. 

Green TermsECOSYSTEM: AN ECOSYSTEM IS A

NATURAL UNIT CONSISTING OF ALL PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MICRO-

ORGANISMS IN AN AREA FUNCTIONING TOGETHER WITH ALL

THE NON-LIVING PHYSICAL FACTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

Green TermsFOSSIL FUEL: A HYDROCARBON DEPOSIT, SUCH AS PETROLEUM,

COAL, OR NATURAL GAS, DERIVED FROM LIVING MATTER OF A

PREVIOUS GEOLOGIC TIME AND USED FOR FUEL.

Green TermsFRACKING: HYDRAULIC FRACTURING,

OFTEN CALLED FRACKING, IS THE PROCESS OF INITIATING AND

SUBSEQUENTLY PROPAGATING A FRACTURE IN A ROCK LAYER,

EMPLOYING THE PRESSURE OF A FLUID AS THE SOURCE OF ENERGY. THE

FRACTURING IS DONE FROM A WELLBORE DRILLED INTO RESERVOIR

ROCK FORMATIONS, IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE EXTRACTION RATES AND

ULTIMATE RECOVERY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS.

Green TermsGEOTHERMAL ENERGY: HEAT

ENERGY FROM WITHIN THE EARTH. OFTEN EXTRACTED AS STEAM TO EITHER PRODUCE ELECTRICITY OR

HEAT BUILDINGS.

Green TermsGLOBAL WARMING: GLOBAL

WARMING IS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE THEORY THAT THERE IS INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE

TEMPERATURE OF THE EARTH SURFACE AIR AND OCEANS SINCE THE MID-20TH CENTURY AND ITS

PROJECTED CONTINUATION.

Green Terms GOING GREEN: GOING GREEN

REFERS TO ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO CONSCIOUSLY CURB

HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH

CONSUMER HABITS, BEHAVIOR, AND LIFESTYLE.

Green TermsGREEN BUILDING: GREEN BUILDING

(ALSO KNOWN AS SUSTAINABLE BUILDING) IS THE PRACTICE OF

CREATING STRUCTURES AND USING PROCESSES THAT ARE ENVIRON-

MENTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND RESOURCE- EFFICIENT THROUGHOUT A BUILDING'S LIFE-CYCLE: FROM SITING

TO DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE,

RENOVATION, AND FINAL DECONSTRUCTION.

Green TermsGREENHOUSE GAS: GREENHOUSE GASES EXIST NATURALLY IN THE

ATMOSPHERE AND ARE NOT BAD. WHEN TOO MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE BUILDS

UP, HOWEVER, THEY TRAP HEAT COMING FROM THE EARTH’S SURFACE.

THIS CAUSES THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT.

GREENHOUSE GASES ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING THE CURRENT

TEMPERATURE OF THE EARTH; WITHOUT THEM THE PLANET WOULD BE

UNINHABITABLE.

Green TermsGREYWATER SYSTEM: A GREY WATER

SYSTEM IS A WATER PROCESSING SYSTEM THAT USES SLIGHTLY DIRTY

WATER (AS FROM A SHOWER OR BASIN) TO THEN BE REUSED FOR

IRRIGATION PURPOSES IN A GARDEN OR WATER FEATURE OUTSIDE.

Green Terms

INDOOR AIR QUALITY: THE SUPPLY AND INTRODUCTION OF ADEQUATE

AIR FOR VENTILATION AND CONTROL OF AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS,

ACCEPTABLE TEMPERATURES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

Green TermsJET STREAM: RIVERS OF HIGH-SPEED AIR IN

THE ATMOSPHERE. JET STREAMS FORM ALONG THE BOUNDARIES OF GLOBAL AIR MASSES

WHERE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE. THE JET

STREAMS MAY BE SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES ACROSS AND 1-2 MILES DEEP AT AN ALTITUDE OF 8-12 MILES. THEY GENERALLY MOVE WEST

TO EAST, AND ARE STRONGEST IN THE WINTER WITH CORE WIND SPEEDS AS HIGH AS 250 MPH. CHANGES IN THE JET STREAM INDICATE CHANGES IN THE MOTION OF THE

ATMOSPHERE AND WEATHER.

Green TermsKILOWATT: (KWH) 1,000 THOUSAND WATTS ACTING OVER A PERIOD OF 1

HOUR. THE KWH IS A UNIT OF ENERGY.

Green TermsLIFE-CYCLE COST: THE ESTIMATED COST OF OWNING AND OPERATING A SYSTEM FOR THE PERIOD OF ITS USEFUL LIFE. USUALLY APPLIED TO

PHOTO VOLTAIC SYSTEMS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.

Green TermsLOW-FLOW: LOW FLOW PLUMBING

FIXTURES INCLUDE FAUCETS, TOILETS AND SHOWER HEADS. INSTALLING LOW-FLOW TOILETS

AND SHOWERHEADS, ANDAERATORS FOR FAUCETS IS A

SIMPLE STRATEGY TO CUT WATER USE.

Green TermsMETHANE: A HYDROCARBON THAT IS A

GREENHOUSE GAS WITH A GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL. METHANE IS PRODUCED THROUGH ANAEROBIC

(WITHOUT OXYGEN) DECOMPOSITION OF WASTE IN LANDFILLS, ANIMAL

DIGESTION, DECOMPOSITION OF ANIMAL WASTES, PRODUCTION AND

DISTRIBUTION OF NATURAL GAS AND PETROLEUM, COAL PRODUCTION, AND

INCOMPLETE FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION.

Green TermsNET METERING: NET METERING IS A METHOD OF CREDITING CUSTOMERS

FOR ELECTRICITY THAT THEY GENERATE ON-SITE IN EXCESS OF THEIR OWN

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION. CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR OWN

GENERATION OFFSET THE ELECTRICITY THEY WOULD HAVE PURCHASED FROM

THEIR UTILITY. IF SUCH CUSTOMERS GENERATE MORE THAN THEY USE IN A

BILLING PERIOD, THEIR ELECTRIC METER TURNS BACKWARDS TO INDICATE THEIR

NET EXCESS GENERATION.

Green TermsOFF GRID: AN OFF GRID SYSTEM IS A

SOLAR PANEL ELECTRICITY GENERATION SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE MAIN POWER DISTRIBUTION GRID.

IT IS COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF THE MAIN GRID, SO TO PROVIDE POWER

DURING DARKNESS SUCH SOLAR PANEL SYSTEMS NEED A SECONDARY POWER

STORAGE SYSTEM, (SUCH AS BATTERIES) OR A GENERATOR.

Green TermsOFF-GASSING: THE DESCRIPTION OF

MATERIALS GIVING OFF GASES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, SOME OF

WHICH ARE TOXIC. IMPLICATED IN A VARIETY OF AILMENTS, SOME

PEOPLE ARE MORE SENSITIVE THAN OTHERS TO THESE GASES.

Green TermsORGANIC FOOD: ORGANIC FOODS ARE

MADE IN A WAY THAT LIMITS OR EXCLUDES THE USE OF SYNTHETIC MATERIALS DURING

PRODUCTION. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF HUMAN HISTORY, AGRICULTURE CAN BE

DESCRIBED AS ORGANIC; ONLY DURING THE 20TH CENTURY WAS A LARGE SUPPLY OF NEW

SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS INTRODUCED TO THE FOOD SUPPLY. THIS MORE RECENT STYLE OF

PRODUCTION IS REFERRED TO AS "CONVENTIONAL." UNDER ORGANIC PRODUCTION,

THE USE OF CONVENTIONAL NON-ORGANIC PESTICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND HERBICIDES IS GREATLY RESTRICTED AND SAVED AS A LAST

RESORT.

Green TermsOZONE: OZONE IS A COLORLESS,

ODORLESS REACTIVE GAS COMPRISED OF THREE OXYGEN ATOMS. IT IS FOUND

NATURALLY IN THE EARTH’S STRATOSPHERE, WHERE IT ABSORBS THE ULTRAVIOLET COMPONENT OF INCOMING SOLAR RADIATION THAT

COULD BE HARMFUL TO LIFE ON EARTH.  OZONE IS ALSO FOUND NEAR THE

EARTH’S SURFACE, WHERE POLLUTANTS EMITTED FROM SOCIETY’S ACTIVITIES

REACT IN THE PRESENCE OF SUNLIGHT TO FORM THE GAS.

Green TermsPASSIVE SOLAR: PASSIVE SOLAR

DESIGN REFERS TO THE USE OF THE SUN'S ENERGY FOR THE HEATING AND COOLING OF LIVING SPACES. PASSIVE

SYSTEMS ARE SIMPLE, HAVE FEW MOVING PARTS, AND REQUIRE

MINIMAL MAINTENANCE AND REQUIRE NO MECHANICAL SYSTEMS. OFTEN

THE THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALS ARE EXTENSIVELY USED, OFTEN TERMED AS THERMAL MASS

DESIGN.

Green TermsR-VALUE: THE R-VALUE IS A MEASURE

OF THERMAL RESISTANCE USED IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

INDUSTRY. THE BIGGER THE NUMBER, THE BETTER THE BUILDING

INSULATION'S EFFECTIVENESS. R- VALUE IS THE RECIPROCAL OF U-

VALUE. OFTEN USED AS A MEASURE OF BULK INSULATION PRODUCTS, SUCH AS BATT INSULATION. THUS

R=1/U.

Green TermsRADIANT BARRIER: A DEVICE

DESIGNED TO REDUCE OR STOP THE FLOW OF RADIANT ENERGY

(HEAT). USUALLY, IN CONSTRUCTION, THE RADIANT BARRIER IS A FILM OR SHEET

MATERIAL WHICH REFLECTS HEAT EITHER OUT OF THE BUILDING IN

HOT CLIMATES, OR BACK INTO THE BUILDING IN COLD CLIMATES.

Green TermsRADIANT FLOOR HEATING: A

HEATING SYSTEM THAT WARMS THE FLOOR, WHICH RADIATES HEAT TO THE WHOLE HOUSE. IT IS USUALLY SET INTO A THIN LAYER OF CEMENT ON TOP OF THE FLOOR STRUCTURE

AND FUELED WITH GAS-FIRED BOILERS OR GEOTHERMAL

SOURCES. SMALL AREAS CAN BE HEATED WITH ELECTRICAL

“BLANKETS” SET UNDER THE FLOORING.

Green TermsRAINWATER HARVESTING: RAINWATER HARVESTING REFERS TO THE ACT OF

“KEEPING” RAINWATER THAT FALLS ON YOUR ROOF FOR USE LATER. IT IS COLLECTED IN A CENTRAL TANK,

THEN PIPING IS INSTALLED TO GET WATER WHERE NEEDED. THIS IS

OFTEN DONE TO REDUCE A BUILDING'S DEPENDENCE ON PIPED

'TOWN WATER' OR TO PROVIDE FRESH WATER WHERE TOWN WATER IS NOT

AVAILABLE.

Green TermsRECYCLING: RECYCLING INVOLVES PROCESSING

USED MATERIALS INTO NEW PRODUCTS TO: PREVENT THE WASTE OF POTENTIALLY USEFUL

MATERIALS, REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OF FRESH RAW MATERIALS, REDUCE ENERGY USAGE, REDUCE AIR POLLUTION (FROM INCINERATION),

WATER POLLUTION (FROM LANDFILLING) BY REDUCING THE NEED FOR "CONVENTIONAL"

WASTE DISPOSAL, AND, LOWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AS COMPARED TO VIRGIN

PRODUCTION. RECYCLING IS A KEY COMPONENT OF MODERN WASTE MANAGEMENT AND IS THE THIRD COMPONENT OF THE "REDUCE, REUSE,

RECYCLE" WASTE HIERARCHY.

Green TermsRENEWABLE ENERGY: ENERGY

OBTAINED FROM SOURCES THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY INEXHAUSTIBLE, UNLIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOSSIL FUELS, OF

WHICH THERE IS A FINITE SUPPLY. RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

INCLUDE WOOD, WASTE, GEOTHERMAL, WIND, PHOTOVOLTAIC,

AND SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY.

Green TermsSICK BUILDING SYNDROME: BUILDING

WHOSE OCCUPANTS EXPERIENCE ACUTE HEALTH AND/OR COMFORT

EFFECTS THAT APPEAR TO BE LINKED TO TIME SPENT THEREIN, BUT WHERE NO SPECIFIC ILLNESS OR CAUSE CAN BE IDENTIFIED. COMPLAINTS MAY BE LOCALIZED IN A PARTICULAR ROOM

OR ZONE, OR MAY BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

Green TermsSMART METER: A SMART METER IS A

FORM OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION METER THAT IS ABLE TO MEASURE

YOUR ELECTRICITY USAGE IN MULTIPLE TIME BANDS AND IS COMPUTER

BASED. ALSO THEY WILL USUALLY SUPPORT 'FEED IN' MEASUREMENT OF

LOCALLY GENERATED ELECTRICITY BACK INTO THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY GRID; I.E. ANY SPARE ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY SOLAR PANELS.

Green TermsSOLAR ENERGY: ELECTROMAGNETIC

ENERGY TRANSMITTED FROM THE SUN (SOLAR RADIATION). THE AMOUNT

THAT REACHES THE EARTH IS EQUAL TO ONE BILLIONTH OF TOTAL SOLAR

ENERGY GENERATED, OR THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 420 TRILLION

KILOWATT-HOURS.

Green TermsSOLAR GAIN: SOLAR GAIN (ALSO KNOWN AS

SOLAR HEAT GAIN OR PASSIVE SOLAR GAIN) REFERS TO THE INCREASE IN TEMPERATURE IN A SPACE, OBJECT, OR STRUCTURE THAT RESULTS FROM SOLAR RADIATION. THE

AMOUNT OF SOLAR GAIN INCREASES WITH THE STRENGTH OF THE SUN, AND WITH THE ABILITY OF ANY INTERVENING MATERIAL TO TRANSMIT OR RESIST THE

RADIATION.OBJECTS STRUCK BY SUNLIGHT ABSORB THE SHORT-WAVE RADIATION FROM THE LIGHT AND RE-RADIATE THE HEAT

AT LONGER INFRARED WAVELENGTHS. WHERE THERE IS A MATERIAL OR SUBSTANCE BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE OBJECTS STRUCK THAT IS MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE

SHORTER WAVELENGTHS THAN THE LONGER, THEN WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING THE NET RESULT IS AN INCREASE IN

TEMPERATURE - SOLAR GAIN.

Green TermsSOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM: A SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A

COLLECTOR, HEAT TRANSFER CIRCUIT AND HOT WATER STORAGE SYSTEM. THESE CAN EITHER BE COMBINED

INTO ONE SYSTEM OR INTO 3 SEPARATE COMPONENTS DEPENDING ON YOUR EXACT NEEDS. THERE ARE

MANY DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL SUPPLIERS.

Green Terms

SOLAR PANEL: ELECTRICAL DEVICE CONSISTING OF A LARGE ARRAY OF

CONNECTED SOLAR CELLS.SOLAR POWER: SOLAR POWER

REFERS TO THE ACT OF USING THE SUN'S ENERGY TO PRODUCE A POWER

SOURCE, USUALLY IN THE FORM OF ELECTRICITY.

Green TermsSTEWARDSHIP: THE ACT OF CARING

FOR SOMETHING, THE ENVIRONMENT IN THIS CASE, SO

THAT IT CONTINUES TO EXIST FOREVER IN ITS BALANCED

NATURAL STATE. THIS INCLUDES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF

THE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLITY.

Green TermsSUSTAINABILITY: THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO EXIST FOREVER IN

THE STATE DESIRED BY MANAGEMENT, DESIGN, CONTROL

OF SYSTEMS, OR NATURALLY.

Green TermsSUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE: DESCRIBES

ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS DESIGN TECHNIQUES IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE. SUSTAINABLE

ARCHITECTURE SEEKS TO MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BUILDINGS BY

ENHANCING EFFICIENCY AND MODERATION IN THE USE OF MATERIALS, ENERGY, AND DEVELOPMENT

SPACE. MOST SIMPLY, THE IDEA OF SUSTAINABILITY IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR ACTIONS AND DECISIONS TODAY DO NOT INHIBIT THE OPPORTUNITIES OF

FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS TERM CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE AN ENERGY AND ECOLOGICALLY

CONSCIOUS APPROACH TO THE DESIGN OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

Green TermsSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS THE ACT OF DEVELOPMENT (AS IN FARMING,

MANUFACTURING, COMMERCE, ETC.) PERFORMED IN SUCH A WAY IT IS: GREEN,

CLEAN, SUSTAINABLE, AND BALANCED. THIS MEANS THAT MAN IS SEEN AS AN INTEGRAL

PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY OF THE WORLD, AND THEREFORE HAS JUST AS

MUCH RIGHT AS ANYTHING ELSE TO INTERACTION WITH AND UTILIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THROUGH OUR INTELLIGENCE AND SCIENCE WE CAN CHOOSE TO INTERACT IN A WAY WHICH CREATES NET GAINS FOR ALL

PARTIES, INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT.

Green TermsSUSTAINABLE ENERGY:

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REFERS TO ENERGY SOURCES WHICH ARE IN THEMSELVES SUSTAINABLE; E.G.

THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED FINITE. TYPICALLY THESE CONSIST

OF: HYDRO (WATER), SOLAR, WIND, BIOMASS, GEOTHERMAL AND

TIDAL.

Green Terms

THERMAL BREAK: A MATERIAL OF LOW HEAT CONDUCTANCE USED TO

REDUCE THE FLOW OF HEAT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE VINYL SEPARATING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FRAMES IN

SOME METAL WINDOWS.

Green TermsTHERMAL MASS: A THERMAL MASS IS A MATERIAL THAT ABSORBS HEAT FROM A HEAT SOURCE, AND THEN RELEASES IT SLOWLY. THIS CAN BE USED TO HELP REGULATE THE HEAT IN A SPACE BY

INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY REQUIRED TO CHANGE ITS

TEMPERATURE. CONCRETE AND BRICKS ARE OFTEN EMPLOYED AS THERMAL

MASSES IN A STRUCTURE. THIS IS OFTEN USED AS PART OF A PASSIVE- SOLAR-

DESIGNED BUILDING.

Green TermsU-VALUE: U-VALUE APPLIES THE

FACTOR OF TIME TO THE HEAT-LOSS MEASUREMENT. U-VALUES MEASURE

HEAT THAT ESCAPES PER HOUR THROUGH A WINDOW. WINDOWS

TYPICALLY HAVE TWO U-VALUES: ONE FOR THE GLASS AND ONE FOR THE WINDOW, INCLUDING THE FRAME.

THIS IS THE RECIPROCAL OF R-VALUE. U=1/R.

Green TermsVENTILATION: THE ACT OF REPLACING STALE AIR WITH FRESH AIR. PASSIVE

VENTILATION IS WHERE NO ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL OR

MECHANICAL ENERGY IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE VENTILATION WORK.

ACTIVE VENTILATION ON THE OTHER HAND WON'T WORK WITHOUT USING

ADDITIONAL ENERGY, RUNNING MOTORS AND FANS.

Green TermsVERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINE: A WIND TURBINE WITH THE AXIS OR

MAIN SHAFT MOUNTED VERTICALLY, OR PERPENDICULAR TO THE EARTH'S

SURFACE. THIS TYPE OF TURBINE DOES NOT NEED TO BE TURNED TO FACE THE WIND - THE WIND ALWAYS BLOWS ACROSS IT. TYPES INCLUDE

SAVONIUS AND DARRIUS.

Green TermsVOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS:

(VOCS) , ARE CARCINOGENS FOUND IN PAINT, FINISHES, SYNTHETIC FOAMS, FABRICS AND STAINS. MOST LABELS

SHOULD INDICATE IF SOMETHING HAS LOW OR ZERO VOCS. THE FUMES ARE TOXIC TO HUMANS AND ARE SLOWLY

BEING OUTLAWED.

Green TermsWASTE REDUCTION: THIS IS A

PROCESS TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE GENERATED AT ITS SOURCE OR TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TOXICITY FROM WASTE OR THE REUSE OF MATERIALS. THE

BEST WAY TO REDUCE WASTE IS NOT TO CREATE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Green TermsWATER FOOTPRINT: A WATER FOOTPRINT IS AN INDICATOR OF THE AMOUNT OF FRESH WATER

USED BY AN ORGANIZATION, INDIVIDUAL OR PRODUCT.

LIKE CARBON FOOT-PRINTING, WATER FOOTPRINTS ARE MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT IS CONSUMED OVER A

GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME. AS WITH CARBON FOOTPRINTS THEY CAN EITHER BE USED NARROWLY TO CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED BY AN INDIVIDUAL COMPANY OR

BUILDING, OR EXTENDED TO COVER THE AMOUNT OF WATER USED THROUGH THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN OF AN ORGANIZATION OR LIFETIME

OF A PRODUCT.

Green Terms

WATER TABLE: THE LEVEL BELOW THE LAND SURFACE AT WHICH THE

SUBSURFACE MATERIAL IS FULLY SATURATED WITH WATER. THE DEPTH OF THE WATER TABLE REFLECTS THE

MINIMUM LEVEL TO WHICH WELLS MUST BE DRILLED FOR WATER

EXTRACTION.

Green Terms

WEATHERIZATION: THE PROCESS OF REDUCING THE LEAKS OF HEAT FROM OR INTO A BUILDING. IT MAY INVOLVE

CAULKING, WEATHERSTRIPPING, ADDING INSULATION, AND OTHER SIMILAR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE

BUILDING SHELL.

Green TermsWIND FARM: A GROUP OF WIND

TURBINE GENERATORS THAT USUALLY FEEDS POWER INTO THE MAIN GRID. OFTEN SITED WHERE THE WINDS ARE STRONGEST AND

MOST CONSISTENT. USUALLY GROUPED TOGETHER IN A

SEEMINGLY RANDOM PATTERN OVER HILLS OR NEAR OCEANS.

Green TermsWIND POWER: THIS REFERS TO USING THE WIND TO GENERATE

POWER, EITHER DIRECTLY IN THE FORM OF MECHANICAL ENERGY (I.E.

FOR PUMPING WATER) OR VIA GENERATORS TO PRODUCE

ELECTRICITY.

Green TermsXERISCAPE: THE CONSERVATION OF

WATER AND ENERGY THROUGH CREATIVE LANDSCAPING USING

NATIVE DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS AND THOUGHT TOWARDS WINDS AND SOLAR ORIENTATION.

Green Terms

YARD WASTE: THE PART OF SOLID WASTE COMPOSED OF GRASS CLIPPINGS, LEAVES, TWIGS,

BRANCHES, AND OTHER GARDEN REFUSE.