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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A Agenda 21—A comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans have an impact on the environment. The Program for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 was strongly reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002. Air pollution—Contaminants or substances in the air that interfere with human health or produce other harmful environmental effects. Alternative Energy—Usually environmentally friendly, this is energy from uncommon sources that are renewable such as wind power or solar energy, but not fossil fuels. Alternative Fuels—Transportation fuels like natural gas, methanol, bio fuels, and electricity.
B Displacement Ventilation—A method of space conditioning where conditioned air is supplied at or near the floor. Since the air is supplied at very low velocities, a cool layer of air collects in the occupied zone resulting in comfortable conditions for the occupants. Buoyant forces remove heat generated by occupants and equipment, as well as odors and pollutants, all of which stratify under the ceiling and are extracted from the space by return or exhaust fans. Displacement ventilation systems were originally used in industrial facilities and subsequently in office buildings, auditoria, performing arts centers and spaces with large interior volumes. These systems are effective in improving indoor air quality as well as providing energy savings when compared to a conventional fully mixed system.
Eco-Bag—An ethically, organically made bag to use instead of plastic carrier bags. Use a canvas or reusable bag instead of taking a plastic bag and continuing to rely on petroleum products. Eco-Bus—A bus that uses a combination of diesel and electric power. Eco-Friendly—Little or no impact on the native eco-system. Ecological Footprint—The area of land and water needed to produce the resources to entirely sustain a human population and absorb its waste products with prevailing technology. The concept of an ecological footprint is used as a resource management and community-planning tool. Embodied Energy—Total energy used to create a product, including the energy used in mining or harvesting, processing, fabricating, and transporting the product. Emissions Cap—A limit placed on companies regarding the amount of greenhouse gases they can emit. Energy Efficiency—Ratio of energy output of a conversion process or of a system to its energy input. Ways and technology that can reduce the amount of electricity or fuel used to do the same work, such as keeping a house warm by using less energy. Energy Saving Grant—Money awarded to you to help improve the efficiency of your home and use less energy. Energy Saving Lightbulbs—Lightbulbs, like CFLs or LEDs, that use far less energy than conventional bulbs, like CFLs or LEDs. Environmentally Preferable—Products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on the environment.
F Fly Ash—The fine ash waste collected from flue gases from coal burning power plants, smelters, and waste incinerators. Fly ash can be used as a cement substitute in concrete, thereby reducing embodied energy of the concrete. Fossil Fuels—Fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas, found in the earth’s strata that are derived from the fossilized remains of animal and plant matter over millions of years. Fossil fuels include oil, natural gas, shale, and coal. Fossil fuels are considered to be non-renewable since they are consumed faster than their natural production. Fritted Glass—A special type of glass that utilizes ceramic-enamel coatings in a visible pattern (dots, lines, etc.) to control solar heat gain. The pattern is created by opaque or transparent glass fused to the substrate glass material under high temperatures. The substrate is heat strengthened or tempered to prevent breakage due to thermal stresses. Fuel Cell—An electrochemical device in which hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity with heat and water vapor as by products. Natural gas is often used as the source of hydrogen with air as the source of oxygen. Since electricity is produced by a chemical reaction and not by combustion, fuel cells are considered to be green power producers.
G Geothermal Energy—Heat from the Earth. Glass Recycling—Glass bottles and jars can be recycled endlessly. Global Warming—An increase in the global mean temperature of the Earth that is (or is thought to be) a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases that are trapped within the earth’s atmosphere. Global warming is believed to have adverse consequences such as climate change and a rise in sea levels. The scientific community is in general agreement that the Earth’s surface has warmed by about 1°F in the past 140 years. Global warming has been attributed a natural cycle of the earth and to the burning of fossil fuels by humans. Gray Water—Wastewater from sinks, showers, kitchens, washers, etc. Unlike black water, gray water does not contain human waste. Typically gray water, after purification, is used for non-potable uses such as flushing, irrigation, etc. Green—A term widely used to describe issues that emphasize the conservation of resources, energy efficiency, sustainability, healthful interior spaces, building and construction with minimal impact to the environment.
Green Building—A building that minimizes impact on the environment through
resource Green Design—A design, usually architectural, conforming to environmentally sound principles of building, material and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights, and recycled building materials. Greenhouse Effect—Greenhouse gases in the Earth’s lower atmosphere permit solar radiation to pass through but prevent most of the reflected infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere from escaping into outer space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the Earth’s average surface temperature at approximately 60°F. Greenhouse Gases—Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the earth’s atmosphere. Common greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), hydrofluoro-carbons (HFCs), and Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6). Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides are of particular concern due to their long residence time in the atmosphere. Green Power—Electricity generated from renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric). Green Technology Initiative—A consortium of companies pioneering green computing to educate and inspire British businesses to become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible with their IT infrastructure. Green Wedding—Hosting a wedding with the least environmental impact possible. Grid—A network of power transmission and distribution facilities used to provide electricity to users (homes, businesses, industry). Large power plants, wind power generating facilities as well as small power producers (such as photovoltaic farms) feed electrical power into the grid for distribution to users. Electrical grids in the USA are both publicly and privately owned.
Hydroelectric Energy—Electric energy produced by moving water. Hydrofluorocarbons—Used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry, among others; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2.
I
Insolation—The amount of sunlight (direct, diffuse, and reflected) reaching an area exposed to the sky. Intelligent Materials—Materials that are able to adapt to their environment by altering their properties. Example of intelligent materials include liquid crystal glass, which changes from transparent to opaque upon application of a current, and thermochromic glazing that changes transparency in response to ambient temperatures. IPCC—The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a UN-commissioned international working group formed in 1988. It assesses climate change and its human causes.
K
L Lead—Harmful to the environment used in paints and in CFLs (which need to be properly disposed of–Home Depot accepts them). It’s also highly toxic to humans. LEED—An acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a point-based rating system developed by the US Green Building Council that evaluates the environmental performance from a “whole building” perspective over its life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building according to six categories:
Buildings evaluated by LEED are rated as certified, silver, gold, or platinum. There are a total of 69 LEED credits available in the six categories: 26 credits are required to attain the most basic level of LEED certification; 33 to 38 credits are needed for silver; 39 to 51 credits for gold; 52 to 69 credits for the platinum rating. Life Cycle Assessment—Methodology developed to assess a product’s full environmental costs, from raw material to final disposal. Life-Cycle Cost (LCC)—The total cost of acquiring, owning, operating, and disposing of a building or building system over its entire useful life. LCC includes the cost of land acquisition, construction costs, energy costs, the cost to maintain, service and repair of the building and its systems, costs of system replacement, financing costs, and residual or salvage value at the end of the building’s useful life. Light Pollution—Environmental pollution consisting of the excess of harmful or annoying light. Light Shelf—A horizontal device positioned (usually above eye level) to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and beyond. The light shelf may project into the room, beyond the exterior wall plane, or both. The upper surface of the shelf is highly reflective, i.e. having 80 percent or greater reflectance. Light shelves are also effective shading devices for windows located below them. Low-e Glass—Low-e (Low emissivity) glass has an invisible thin-film metallic or oxide coating which allows the passage of short-wave solar energy into a building but prevents long-wave energy produced by heating systems and lighting from escaping outside. Low-Emission Vehicles—Cars and other vehicles, which emit little pollution compared to conventional engines.
M
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)—Gases consisting of one molecule of nitrogen and varying numbers of oxygen molecules. Nitrogen oxides are by-products of combustion processes and are commonly found in the automobile exhaust and emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. NOx is a greenhouse gas and is an ingredient of acid rain and smog. Non-Renewable Energy Resources—Energy resources that cannot be restored or replenished by natural processes and, therefore, are depleted through use. Commonly used non-renewable energy resources include coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium. Non-Renewable Resources—Resources that are in limited supply, such as oil, coal, and natural gas.
O Ozone (O3)—Ozone is a greenhouse gas present in the stratosphere and the troposphere. In the stratosphere, ozone provides a protective layer shielding the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. In the lower atmosphere ozone is a pollutant that causes respiratory problems and is an ingredient of smog. Offsetting—The process of reducing carbon emissions by offsetting it. An example is by taking a flight and in compensation paying a company to plant trees to equal the carbon use out. Oil—Fossil fuel used to produce petrol or petroleum and other materials such as plastics. Organic—While it technically refers to molecules made up of two ore more atoms of carbon, it’s generally now used as a term for the growth of vegetables, etc. without the use or artificial pesticides and fertilizer. Ozone Layer—In the upper atmosphere about 15 miles above sea level. A protective layer that shields the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation and occurs naturally.
P Perceived Obsolescence—The art of making products that go out of fashion or date or are not in style, so you buy more, slightly different ones, for example the fashion industry. Also see Planned Obsolescence. Photovoltaic Cell—A device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are silicon-based semiconductors and are often referred to as solar cells. PV cells were developed in the mid-1950’s and have become cost effective where it is difficult to extend conventional power lines. PV cells are often used for remote motorist call aid boxes, irrigation systems, and navigational lights. Photovoltaic Panels—Solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. Power is produced when sunlight strikes the semiconductor material and creates an electrical current. Planned Obsolescence—The art of making a product break/fail after a certain amount of time, not so soon that you will blame the manufacturer, but soon enough for you to buy another one and make more profit for them. Also see Perceived Obsolescence.’ Plastic—Man-made durable and flexible synthetic-based product composed mainly of petroleum. Post Consumer Waste—Waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it.
R Rainwater Harvesting—The collection, storage, and reuse of rainwater. Recycle Symbol—The chasing arrow symbol used to show that a product or package can be recycled. The three arrows on the symbol represent different components of the recycling process. The top arrow represents the collection of recyclable materials. The second arrow (bottom right) represents the recyclables being processed into recycled products and the third arrow on the bottom left represents when the consumer actually buys a product with recycled content. Recycling—A series of processes that includes collection, separation, and processing by which products and raw materials are recovered and reused in lieu of disposal as solid or liquid wastes. Commonly recycled items include cans and bottles, paper and industrial solvents. Recycling also can apply to construction materials and even to buildings themselves. Reduce—Not using or buying products in the first place so less waste, less recycling, and less reusing. Regeneration—Renewal of sites or habitats that have become unfit for human, animal, or plant habitation, bringing them back into productive use. The term most commonly refers to urban and industrial land. Renewable Energy Sources—Energy sources that replenish themselves naturally within a short period of time. Sources of renewable energy include solar energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, wind power, ocean thermal energy, wave power, wind power, and fuel wood. Renewable Energy—Alternative energy sources such as wind power or solar energy that can keep producing energy indefinitely without being used up. Renewable Resources—Like renewable energy, resources such as wind, sunlight, and trees that regenerate. See nonrenewable resources. Return On Investment (ROI)—An economic indicator that is used to evaluate the effectiveness of an investment. It is calculated as the ratio of the amount gained or lost relative to the amount invested. Simple ROI analyses do not take the time value of money into account. On the other hand, dynamic ROI analyses recognize that the value of money does change over time. Reuse—Reusing a product rather than immediately recycling.
S Sick Building Syndrome—According to the Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Sick Building Syndrome is defined as “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be spread throughout the building.” Solar Collector—A device used to absorb heat from the sun. In the context of buildings, the absorbed energy typically heats water, which is then used for space heating and/or domestic hot water. Solar Energy—Energy from the sun. Solar Heating—Heat from the sun is absorbed by collectors and transferred by pumps or fans to a storage unit for later use or to the house interior directly. Or the heat can be transferred to water pumps for hot water. Controls regulating the operation are needed. Spectrally Selective Glazing—Glazing that has a high transmittance of visible light but low transmittance of solar heat gain. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)—A heavy, smelly gas that can be condensed into a clear liquid. It’s used to make sulfuric acid, bleaching agents, preservatives, and refrigerants. It's also considered a major source of air pollution. Superwindow—A window with a very low U-value achieved through the use of multiple glazings, low-e coatings, and gas fills. A gas fill is the use of an inert gas, usually Argon or Krypton, placed between sealed panes of glazing in order to provide resistance to heat flow. Sustainability—The concept of sustainability can be traced back to President Theodore Roosevelt who stated in 1910, “ I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.” In 1987, the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (The Brundtland Commission) defined a sustainable development as one that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainability has three interdependent dimensions relating to the environment, economics, and society—often referred to as the triple bottom line. Sustainability is measured in three interdependent dimensions: the environment, economics, and society.
Triple Bottom Line—According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, “Sustainable development involves the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. Companies aiming for sustainability need to perform not against a single, financial bottom line, but against [this] triple bottom line.”
V Ventilated Facade—A special type of curtain wall consisting of two glazed facades separated by a gap through which ambient air is allowed to flow. The flow of air removes a large amount of solar heat gain that would ordinarily enter the building, resulting in a reduction in space cooling needs and energy consumption. These facades are also known as double facades, double-skin facades, and ventilated cavity curtain walls. Vermicomposting—The process whereby worms feed on slowly decomposing materials (e.g., vegetable scraps) in a controlled environment to produce nutrient-rich soil. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)—Organic compounds that evaporate at room temperatures and are often hazardous to human health, causing poor indoor air quality. Sources of VOCs include solvents and paints. Many materials commonly used in building construction such as carpets, furniture, and paints emit VOCs.
W Wind Turbine—A device that converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy that can be used to drive equipment such as pumps. The addition of a generator allows the wind’s kinetic energy to be converted into electricity. There are two types of wind turbines, namely: horizontal axis turbines—blades rotate about a horizontal axis; and vertical axis turbines—blades rotate about a vertical axis. Windpower—Energy derived from the wind and often harnessed in turbines or windmills.
References Portions of this glossary are taken and in some cases revised from the book, Big & Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century, published in 2002 by Princeton Architectural Press in connection with a pioneering exhibition of the same name at the National Building Museum in Washington, D. C. |
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