Green Terms

• Adapted Plants - This refers to plants that will grow well in an environment without a lot
  of attention in terms of pest and winter protection as well as fertilization or water
  irrigation. These plants are considered to be low in terms of maintenance without
  invading the local habitat.
  
• Aerator - Refers to a device that is installed on the faucet of a sink for the purpose of
  reducing water waste as well as the amount of energy that is required to heat the water. A
  faucet aerator when combined with a low-flow shower head can actually reduce water
  use in a home by 50%. An efficient aerator should have a 2.75 gpm, or gallons per minute,
  reading or even lower.
  
• Biodegradable - Refers to a material that will break down through the help of
  microorganisms.
  
• Biodiversity - Refers to the entire scope of living things within a location including
  animals, plants, microorganisms and fungi.
  
• Biomass - Refers to any plant material that can be converted to heat energy in order to
  produce electricity. May include crops, grasses and trees.
  
• Blackwater - Refers to the wastewater that is generated from kitchen sinks and toilets and
  which contains elevated levels of bacterial pollutant.
  
• Borate - Refers to a wood preservative which is non-toxic for humans but which can be
  very toxic for termites and other wood-boring insects.
  
• Built Environment - Refers to alterations of an area which are man-made.
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• Buildable Land - Refers to the part of a location where construction can take place. This
  area does not include public rights of way such as public streets.
  
• Carbon Footprint - Refers to the measure that an individual, family, company or
  community contributes to greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Includes transportation
  methods, energy use and anything else that emits carbon.
  
• Carbon Neutral - Refers to the goal of achieving a total carbon release of zero. This goal
  is accomplished by balancing the amount of carbon that is ultimately released with the
  amount that is reduced. Common methods include using energy through renewable
  sources and reducing energy use.
  
• Carbon Offset - Refers to the mitigation of carbon emissions, commonly through the
  purchase of a carbon offset that utilizes money for activities that sequester carbon. May
  include energy conservation, renewable energy, tree planting, etc.
  
• Catchment Area - Refers to the surface area of a roof that is capable of capturing
  rainwater and directing it into a system that harvests rainwater.
  
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - Refers to hydrocarbons that reduce the stratospheric ozone
  layer.
  
• Climate Change - Refers to the change in average temperatures as well as rainfall when
  measuring climate over a period of time.
  
• Composite Wood - Refers to a product that is comprised of plant fibers or particles or
  wood which are bonded together using a synthetic binder or resin. Common examples
  include particle-board, plywood, MDF and OSB.
  
• Compostable - Refers to a material that will break down to dirt and contains no toxins.
  Capable of supporting plant life.
  
• Cool Pavements - Refers to construction methods and materials that are used in the
  construction of driveways, roads, sidewalks, parking lots and other hard surfaces for the
  purpose of retaining solar heat in order to minimize the effect known as urban heat island.
  
• Daylighting - Refers to controlling natural light in a space through the use of reducing or
  even completely eliminating electric lighting.
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• Degradable - Refers to a material that can be broken down through the process of
  chemical reactions instead of through microorganism activity.
  
• Drip Irrigation System - Refers to an irrigation system that will slowly apply water to
  plant root systems in order to minimize the waste of water and the runoff of topsoil.
  
• Dual Flush Toilet - Refers to a toilet that contains two flush volumes. The normal rate is
  to be used for solid waste while the reduced rate is to be used for liquid waste.
  
• Embodied Energy - Refers to the amount of energy that is required in order to
  manufacture as well as transport materials, products or services.
  
• Emission - Refers to the output of greenhouse gases as well as other pollutants from
  industrial, mechanical and other forms of processes.
  
• Energy Efficient - Refers to the process of maximizing the ratio between energy use and
  product output.
  
• Fossil Fuel - Refers to any type of hydrocarbon deposit which is used for fuel. May
  include coal, oil and natural gas.
  
• Geothermal - Referring to earth heat. This term is commonly used to describe alternative
  energy sources.
  
• Green - Refers to anything that is friendly to the environment.
  
• Greenhouse Gas - Refers to gas that is present in the atmosphere and which is responsible
  for trapping heat from the sun and making it impossible for it to escape. Increasing levels
  of greenhouses gases are thought to be linked to climate change. Common greenhouse
  gases include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, methane and water vapor.
  
• Greywater - Refers to wastewater that is generated as the result of processes such as
  bathing, laundry and washing dishes. It is estimate that greywater comprises as much as
  80% of wastewater from residential sources. A common practice is to use greywater for
  irrigation in order to reduce water waste.
  
• Heat Island Effect - Refers to a phenomenon of higher surface and air temperatures that is
  believed to be caused by absorption of solar heat.
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• HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing; referring to an air filter which is effective
  in removing air particulates.
  
• Hydronic System - Refers to a cooling or heating system that uses the circulation of water
  as a heat transferring medium.
  
• Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) - Refers to refrigerants that are utilized in
  construction equipment which affects the ozone layer.
  
• Infill Site - Refers to a site that is located within a community that is already in existence.
  In relation to LEED home credits, the infill site will have a minimum of the perimeter
  bordering land that has been developed previously.
  
• LEED - Refers to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
  
• Environmental Design. The Green Building Rating System™ has become an accepted
  benchmark for the design as well as the construction and operation of green buildings and
  homes. The system contains five critical areas; which are water savings, sustainable site
  development, materials selection, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
  
• Micro-Irrigation - Refers to an irrigation system that contains small sprinklers which
  apply only small amounts of water.
  
• Photovoltaics - Refers to a type of technology that is used for solar power through solar
  cells which convert sunlight into electricity.
  
• Post - consumer Recycled Content-Refers to any type of material that is used and
  subsequently recycled.
  
• Potable Water - Refers to water which is suitable for human consumption.
  
• Rain Garden - Refers to a tract of land which is low lying and which water flows into.
  
• Vegetation is planted in the land which will absorb the water in an effort to reduce the
  strain on storm drains and thus replenish ground water.
  Recycling - Refers to the process of collecting and then reprocessing materials which
  have been recovered.
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• Renewable Energy - Refers to the use of natural resources such as wind, sunlight, earth
  heat and tides in order to create a separate form of energy like electricity.
  
• R-Values - Refers to a measure of the number of watts that will be depleted per square
  meter, also known as thermal resistance.
  
• Solar Panel - Refers to a device that is used for the collection of energy from sunlight that
  is then converted into heat or electricity.
  
• Solar Window Screens - Refers to a mesh screen that can be used in order to block out
  insects, heat and light.
  
• Sustainable Forestry - Refers to the process of managing forest resources in order to meet
  human product needs while also maintaining forest landscape biodiversity.
  
• Tankless Water Heater - Refers to a type of water heat that heats water as it actually
  flows through the unit. No water is retained internally with the exception of the amount
  that is inside the heat exchanger coil.
  
• Thermal Envelope - Refers to an enclosure that is established by the exterior of the
  building and insulation. This is an extremely important part of creating a home that is
  energy efficient.
  
• Vegetated Roof - Refers to a roof that is either fully or partially with vegetation. In order
  to counteract heating effects as well as offering cooling and insulation in the summer.
  
• Walk Off Mats - Refers to mats which are designed to be used inside in order to reduce
  debris and dust. Typically placed at entrances.