Common Green Terms

B

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

C

CertifiedWood
Under the guidance of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),
wood-basedmaterials used in building construction that are
supplied fromsources that comply with sustainable forestry
practices, protecting trees, wildlife habitat, streams and soil.

D

Daylighting
Natural daylight introduced into interior spaces and controlled
specifically to reduce levels of electric lighting,minimize glare
and optimize lighting quality.

E

Embodied Energy
All the energy used to grow, extract andmanufacture a product
including the amount of energy needed to transport it to the
jobsite and complete the installation.

Energy Efficient
Products and systems that use less energy to performas well or
better than standard products.While some have higher up-front
costs, energy-efficient products cost less to operate over their
lifetime.

Energy Star® Rating
The label given by the EPA and the US Department of Energy
(DOE) to appliances and products that exceed federal energy
efficiency standards. This label helps consumers identify products
that will save energy andmoney.

Environmentally Friendly
A termthat refers to the degree to which a productmay harmthe
environment, including the biosphere, soil, water and air.

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G

GreenGuard™
Established performance-based standards to define goods such
as buildingmaterials, interior furnishings, furniture, cleaning and
maintenance products, electronic equipment and personal care
products with low chemical and particle emissions for use indoors.

H

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.

Hydro Chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
Though not without some negative environmental impacts, these
substances are used to replace CFCs because they are less
damaging to the ozone layer.

I

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The supply and introduction of adequate air for ventilation and
control of airborne contaminants, acceptable temperatures and
relative humidity.

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L

LEED™
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
Building Rating Systemsets industry standards for green
building design.

O

Ozone Layer
Defined by the EPA as the protective layer of atmosphere, 15
miles above the ground, that absorbs some of the sun’s
ultraviolet rays and reduces the amount of potentially harmful
radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.

P

Photovoltaic (PV)
The capacity of photocells to generate electricity fromthe sun’s
energy. PV panels are incorporated into building design.

R

Rapidly Renewable
Materials that are not depleted when used, but are typically
harvested fromfast growing sources and do not require
unnecessary chemical support (example: bamboo, flax, wool).

Recyclability
The ability of a product ormaterial to be recovered or diverted
fromthe solid waste stream.

Renewable Energy
Energy harvested fromsources that are not depleted when used,
typically causing very low environmental impact (example: solar
energy, hydroelectric power).