Download “GREEN” Truly Mean?

What Does “GREEN” Truly Mean?
A Glossary of Green Terms1
Air Pollution: The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air
that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful
environmental effects.
Alternative Energy: Energy from a source other than the conventional fossil-fuel
sources of oil, natural gas and coal (i.e., wind, the sun). Also see “renewable
energy”.
Biodegradable: Waste material composed primarily of constituent parts that
occur naturally, are able to be decomposed by bacteria or fungi, and are
absorbed into the ecosystem.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
However the amount emissions increase with the burning of fossil fuels, leading
to climate change.
Climate Change: A long-term change in temperature and weather patterns due
to increased greenhouse gas emissions, largely caused by human activity.
Compost: Process whereby organic wastes, including food wastes, paper and
yard wastes, decompose naturally, resulting in a product rich in minerals and
ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioner, mulch, resurfacing material
or landfill cover.
Conservation: Preserving and renewing, when possible, human and natural
resources. Leads to environmental and economic benefits through the use and
protection of natural resources.
Eco Label: Found on products with environmental certification from a third party
organization. Eco Label Index is a great tool to find reliable certifications:
http://www.ecolabelindex.com/
Emissions: The release of gases, liquids and/or solids from any process or
industry.
Carbon Footprint: A measure of impact on the environment in terms of the
amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. For
an industrial setting, an environmental footprint is a company's environmental
impact determined by the amount of raw materials and nonrenewable resources
it consumes to make its products, and the quantity of waste and emissions that
are generated in the process.
Environmentally Responsible: Products that have received environmental
certification(s) from a third-party organization (i.e. Eco Logo certified).
Eco Friendly: Products or behaviour that are either not harmful/toxic to the
environment, or contribute to the conservation of resources and the prevention of
air, land and water pollution. Ensure third party guarantee of certification as the
label “eco friendly” is self regulated.
Energy Star: An international standard used to measure the energy efficiency of
consumer goods. The Energy Star symbol is used to identify the most energy
efficient appliances and electronics.
Fair Trade: Trade partnerships between producers and consumers that ensure
social and environmental standards. Guarantees that producers receive a
minimum set price for goods, financial and technical support, healthy and safe
working conditions, and community economic development. For a product to be
Fair Trade Certified it must receive third party certification. (see
www.ecolabelindex.com)
Fossil Fuel: Fuel, such as oil, gas, or coal, extracted from the earth.
Global Warming: An increase in the average temperature of the earth, attributed
to the burning of fossil fuels. The term is outdated and now more commonly
referred to as climate change.
Gray water: Residential wastewater — from household processes such as dish
washing, bathing, and laundry — that does not contain serious pollutants and
can be recycled to water plants or wash cars.
Greenhouse Gasses: Atmospheric gasses that trap heat from escaping the
Earth. Greenhouse gasses are a natural part of the atmosphere, but due to
human activity the amount emissions have increased, therefore causing climate
change.
Green Power/Energy: Electricity produced from renewable and non-polluting
energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and lowimpact small hydroelectric sources. Green Energy does not produce greenhouse
gases.
Green Procurement: The purchase of environmentally friendly products and
services.
Hybrid Cars: Vehicles that use more than one fuel source (i.e. gasoline engine
and electric motor), therefore creating fewer emissions.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs): Small light sources that become illuminated by
the movement of electrons through a semiconductor material. LED lighting is
more energy efficient, durable, versatile and longer lasting than incandescent
and fluorescent lighting.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): A self-assessing
system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and
residential buildings. It evaluates environmental performance from a "whole
building" perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard
for what constitutes a green building.
Life-cycle assessment: A technique to assess environmental impacts
associated with all the stages of a product's life (from production to disposal).
Using life-cycle assessment evaluates total potential environmental impact,
provides assistance in informed purchasing decisions through the comparison of
products and allows the inventory of a product’s flows to and from nature.
Organic Products: Agriculture produced or involving production without the use
of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial chemicals.
Phantom power (also "vampire power" or "phantom load"): Refers to the power
drawn by appliances and electronics even when switched off or not in use.
Post-Consumer Content: Material from products that were used by consumers
and would otherwise get discarded as waste. These materials are recovered
through consumer recycling, and include items such as newspapers, cardboard,
aluminum, glass and plastics.
Non-Renewable Energy: Energy derived from depletable fuels (oil, gas, coal)
created through lengthy geological processes and existing in limited quantities on
the earth.
PVC: Polyvinyl chloride, a commonly used plastic found in many products.
Commonly used because of durability, PVC is neither biodegradable nor
degradable and is extremely difficult to recycle.
Rain barrel: Mosquito-proof container used to collect and store rainwater that
would otherwise wind up in storm drains and streams. The rain collected
provides free "soft water" to homeowners-containing no chlorine, lime, or
calcium-that can be used to water gardens and houseplants, or for car and
window washing.
Recycled Material: Waste material that has been reconditioned for a new
function /use.
Renewable Energy: Electricity that has been produced using renewable
resources such as wind, solar, etc. These are considered clean energy sources
as they do not consume depletable resources or create greenhouse gas
emissions.
Sustainable: Practices that ensure the continued viability of a product or practice
into the future. Sustainable development is an approach that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
Total Cost of Ownership: A process of estimating the total costs of ownership,
operation, maintenance and disposal of an item during its projected life. Typically
used in comparing alternative equipment design or purchase options in order to
select the most appropriate design.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a variety of chemicals that are
emitted as gases from certain solids and liquids. VOCs may have adverse shortand long-term health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently
higher indoors than outdoors and can be emitted from a wide array of products.
1
References:
http://houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/green_terms_glossary.aspx
http://lifegoggles.com/652/the-green-glossary-environmental-terms-explained/
http://www.carbondiet.ca/green-living/green-terms.html
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/TopGreenHomeTerms.htm