Do you speak GREEN?

By Patricia Belser

Alternative Energy – Alternative energy refers to energy sources which are not based on the burning of fossil fuels or the splitting of atoms. Some alternatives include: solar, wind power, geothermal, tides, and geothermal energy.

Biodegradable – A material or substance which, when left exposed to nature, will decompose without harmful effects to the environment.

Biofuel – Fuel (like methane) produced from renewable biological resources such as plant biomass and treated municipal and industrial waste.

Biomass – Plant materials and animal waste used as a source of fuel.

Building 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. 

Building Integrated Photovoltaic’s (BIPV) – Solar panels that have been integrated into the design of the building or structure.

Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) – Created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CREBs are “tax credit bonds” in which interest is paid for by the Federal Government in the form of tax credit.

Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP) – A plan that diverts construction debris from landfills through conscientious plans to recycle, salvage and reuse.

Eco – Anything pertaining to the positive interaction between manmade processes and the delicate organic balance found in our environment.

Eco Footprint – The total measurable effect that human related activities have had on the organic life in Earth’s environment:

Eco-Friendly – Having minimal to no harmful or threatening impact on the natural environment

Environmentalism – a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the environment.

Energy Efficient – Products and systems that use less energy to perform as well or better than standard products.

“Energy Star¨ Rating – The label given by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to appliances and products that exceed federal energy efficiency standards. This label helps consumers identify products that will save energy and money.

Environmentally Friendly – A term that refers to the degree to which a product may harm the environment, including the biosphere, soil, water and air.

Geothermal – Utilizing the heat of earth’s interior.

Green - A philosophy of creating eco-friendly products, using sustainable technologies that will not deplete our planet of its remaining resources.

Green Architecture – Green Architecture is a term used to describe economical, energy-saving, environmentally-friendly, sustainable development. These resources explore the relationship between architecture and ecology.

Green Building – is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better site placement, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

Green Business – Green businesses operate in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social problems. These businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their customers, their employees, communities, and the environment.

Green-e – The nation’s leading program that verifies and certifies renewable energy products that reduce the emissions contributing to global warming and air pollution.

GreenGuard® – Established performance-based standards to define goods such as building materials, interior furnishings, furniture, cleaning and maintenance products, electronic equipment and personal care products with low chemical and particle emissions for use indoors. The standards establish certification procedures including test methods, allowable emissions levels, product sample collection and handling, testing type and frequency, and program application processes and acceptance.

High Performance Green Building – These buildings include design features that conserve water and energy; use space, materials and resources efficiently; minimize construction waste; and create healthy indoor environments.

Hydroelectricity – Comes from the damming of rivers and utilizing the potential energy stored in the water.

Inorganic – Being, or composed of matter other than plant or animal.

LEED® – The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Rating System sets industry standards for green building design. It is a program created by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Life-Cycle Assessment – The comprehensive examination of a product’s environmental and economic effects throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use and disposal.

Life-Cycle Cost – The amortized annual cost of a product that includes first costs, but also extends to include installation, operating, maintenance and disposal costs over the product’s lifetime.

Post-Consumer – A material or finished product that served its intended use as a consumer item. It may be recycled and incorporated into building materials and identified as containing post-consumer recycled content or recovered material.

Post-Consumer Waste – Waste produced by the end consumer, and following use is separated from other waste with the intent of recycling or re-use.

Recycled – Manufactured from used or waste materials that have been reprocessed for further use.

Renewable Energy – Energy that is generated from regenerative resources; or energy that cannot be exhausted, such as wind, water and sunlight.

Smart growth – an urban planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in the center of a city to avoid urban sprawl; and advocates compact, transit – oriented, walkable, bicycle – friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, complete streets, mixed – use development with a range of housing choices.

Sustainable Material – Materials that are generated from resources that are managed in a way that they are, for all practical purposes, sustainable over an extended period of time (i.e., the resource is not depleted).

USGBC, the U. S. Green Building Council – a nonprofit environmental organization with more than 14,000 member organizations dedicated to sustainability in building design and construction.

Xeriscaping – The basic ideas of Xeriscaping are the use of efficient irrigation systems, low-water use plants, reducing turf grass, and creating water-wise garden designs.