A l B l C l D l E l F l G l H l I l J l K l L l M
l N l O l P l Q l R l S l T l U l V l W l X l Y l Z
Adobe: Mud bricks reinforced with straw. Used particularly in Latin America and southwestern USA, adobe produces a distinctive architectural style based on organic forms, a smooth finish, and a minimum of window openings. Back to Top
Advanced framing: Refers to a variety of framing techniques designed to reduce the amount of lumber used and waste generated in the construction of a wood-framed structure while increasing space available for insulation. Back to Top
Aerator: A faucet aerator mixes air with a flow of water and is used to oxygenate water, to smooth the flow of water and to reduce splashing. Back to Top
Affordable housing: Housing that is affordable for its target market. This means what the householder pays. Housing quality and housing affordability must continue over the housing’s expected useful life (typically 30-50+ years). This implies that the housing must take in enough cash flow to cover its expenditures, including capital expenditures. The housing must be market-competitive quality that can blend in to its neighborhood. This excludes substandard locations, configurations, construction, and maintenance. Back to Top
AFUE: Annual fuel utilization efficiency: ratio of annual output energy to annual input energy. Measure of efficiency of gas furnaces and boilers. The higher the percentage the greater the efficiency of the appliance. Standard efficiencies run in the mid-70% to 82% ranges. Higher efficiency furnaces run 90+ %AFUE.Back to Top
AFV: Alternative fuel vehicle: a vehicle powered by a fuel other than gasoline. Back to Top
Alternative energy: Energy from a source other than the conventional fossil-fuel sources of oil, natural gas and coal (i.e. wind, running water, the sun). Also referred to as "alternative fuel."
Back to Top
Alternative fuels: Substitutes for traditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehicle fuels like gasoline and diesel. Includes mixtures of alcohol-based fuels with gasoline, methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, and others.
Back to Top
Biodegradable A product or material made from plant or animal material that, after usage, is broken down quickly by other living organisms. Eco-tip: Biodegradable products are better for the environment compared to their plastic counterparts, and many biodegradable alternatives are now available such as plastic bags, servingware, etc. Back to Top
Bioswale A pocket or indentation in the ground used to collect water that would otherwise run off into nearby streams, rivers and lakes.
Back to Top
Carbon Footprint The environmental impact we have depending on thechoices we make such as raw-material selection, energy selection, transportation,etc.
Back to Top
CFL Compact fluorescent light bulb.Eco-tip: In CFL bulbs, gas inside the bulbemits light when a chemical reactiontakes place. CFLs use 75 percent lessenergy than traditional (incandescent) bulbs and CFLs last up to 10 times longer.
Back to Top
Compost The act of recycling organic materials for fertilizer. Eco-tip: Instead of throwing away vegetable peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells and paper, these scraps can be composted along with lawn clippings, fall leaves, etc. into a rich soil supplement. Visit www.compostguide.com for more information.
Back to Top
Cradle-to-Cradle A term used to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new or similar product at the end of its intended life.
Back to Top
Cradle-to-Grave A term used to describe a material or product that isdumped in a landfill or burned at the end of its intended life. Back to Top
Dual-flush commode: Water-saving toilets with two water-saving options – 0.8 gallon/flush for liquids, and 1.6 gallons/flush for solids. These are available in flush valve (tankless) (commercial), and tanks (residential) models. Back to Top
Emission The release of any gas, particle or vapor into the environment. Energy Sta r A U.S. government sponsored program designed to help consumers save money and energy. Eco-tip: Energy Star appliances, products and materials meet strict energy efficiency guidelines and sav e you money. Look for the Energy Star label next time you buy an appliance! Back to Top
Environmentally-friendly A term often used to designate a product or process that has a reduced carbon footprint when compared to other products or processes. Back to Top
Fly Ash The leftover particles resulting from burning coal; often used as a filler material in concrete to cut down on raw material usage.
Back to Top
FSC Forest Stewardship Council is an international not-for-profit organization that seeks to find solutions to problems created by irresponsible forestry practices and to reward responsible forest management. Eco-tip: To become FSC certified, companies must comply with the 10 Forest Management Principles. Log onto www.fsc.org to find out more about the FSC principles.
Back to Top
Greenhouse Effect Rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun. Back to Top
Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20). Back to Top
Grey-water Post-bath or sink water used to flush toilets and for landscape watering.
Back to Top
Halogen: A type of incandescent lamp with higher energy-efficiency than standard incandescents.
HCFC’s: Hydrogen chlorofluorocarbons: considered to be a contributor to ozone layer destruction. 1/20th as potent as CFC’s.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (Cooling): general term for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in a building. System efficiency and design impact the overall energy performance of a home and its indoor environmental quality.
Hybrid vehicle: This vehicle uses a gasoline engine to drive an electric generator and use the electric generator and/or storage batteries to power electric motors that drive the vehicle’s wheels.
Hydrogen: A nonmetallic element that is the simplest, lightest and most abundant of the elements; it is normally a colorless, odorless, flammable gas.
Hydronic heating: A space heating system that uses water circulated through a radiant floor or baseboard system or a convection or fan coil system.
IAQ (Indoor air quality): the cleanliness or health effects of air in a building are affected by the amount of compounds released into the space by various materials, particulates, combustion gases, outdoor pollution, mold, and microbial contaminants. IAQ is heavily influenced by both choice of building materials (and cleaning procedures) and ventilation rates. Back to Top
ICF (Insulated Concrete Form): expanded polystyrene or wood forms that are left in place after the concrete is poured for a foundation or wall. The foam increases the thermal performance of the structure over non-insulated concrete.
Back to Top
IEQ (Indoor environmental quality): encompasses all aspects of the indoor setting including air quality, ventilation, thermal comfort, lighting, and noise.Back to Top
LED Light emitting diode. Eco-tip: Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDs are incredibly energy efficient and can last up to a million hours. Back to Top
Modular An architectural system in which separate components (like rooms) can be easily added or removed from the overall structure.
Back to Top
Net metering Programs that providean incentive for customers to invest in renewable energy. Customers can generate their own energy to offset consumption; meters turn backwards when energy generated exceeds electricity used. Visit www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/resources/maps/ for more information and state-by-state availability.
Back to Top
Off-gas The evaporation and release of chemicals from materials (often building and home furnishing materials) that lead to unhealthy indoor living environments. For example, traditional paints, stains, carpets and flooring release toxic chemicals long after they are installed. Back to Top
Organic Products that are commonly produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides and other harmful chemicals. Back to Top
Photovoltaic (PV) Cell or devices that directly convert sunlight into electricity. Back to Top
Real-time pricing A utility monitoring and billing structure whereby consumers are billed for the power they use on hourly market prices. This structure enables consumers to use power during non-peak times to save money. ComEd currently offers this program to consumers. Visit www.exeloncorp.com/Comed-Care_Main/ComedCare/learn/RealTime-PricingPrg/ for more information.
Back to Top
Renewable energy energy from sources that regenerate or reoccur such as wind or sunlight. Back to Top
Sustainability Practice of making products or materials using resources that can be quickly replaced or replenished. Back to Top
Tankless water heater Hot water heaters designed to provide instantaneous hot water, rather than storing preheated hot water in a tank. Such devices can serve an entire home, or be "point-of-use", serving an individual fixture (like a shower or sink). Benefits include elimination of "standby losses", or energy wasted keeping stored water warm, and with point of use devices, reduction or elimination of water wasted waiting for water to get warm, as well as conductive losses as water travels through pipes. Electric demand systems tend to use a large amount of energy; gas-fired units with standing pilot lights lose much of their efficiency due to the ongoing pilot light.
Back to Top
Task lighting Lighting to provide illumination for a specific activity in a specific place.
Back to Top
Tax credit A state or federal benefit paid through the tax system, which has the effect of increasing (rather than reducing) net income. A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction, or tax allowance, because a tax credit reduces tax directly, while a deduction or allowance only reduces taxable income and so the reduction in tax is only a fraction (the marginal tax rate) of the deduction or allowance.
Back to Top
Urban Heat Island Effect The phenomenon whereby metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than surrounding areas. This temperature increase currently offers this program to consumers. Visit www.exeloncorp.com/Comed-Care_Main/ComedCare/learn/RealTime-PricingPrg/ for more information. Renewable energy energy from sources that regenerate or reoccur such as wind or sunlight. Sustainability Practice of making products or materials using resources that can be quickly replaced or replenished. Urban Heat Island Effect The phenomenon whereby metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than surrounding areas. This temperature increase occurs because cities are composed of more artificial surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, and these materials easily absorb the sun’s heat, causing the temperature of the area to rise.
Back to Top
VOCs Volatile organic compounds (found in paints and carpet glue) are the leading cause of indoor air pollution. Eco-tip: Look for no-VOC or low-VOC paints and other home products to decrease the amount of pollution inside your home. Go to www.epa.gov/iaq/voc. html to learn more about VOCs.occurs because cities are composed of more artificial surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, and these materials easily absorb the sun’s heat, causing the temperature of the area to rise. VOCs Volatile organic compounds (found in paints and carpet glue) are the leading cause of indoor air pollution. Eco-tip: Look for no-VOC or low-VOC paints and other home products to decrease the amount of pollution insideyour home. Go to www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html to learn more about VOCs. Back to Top
Watt: a unit of power, power being the rate at which energy is used to do work. The unit rate at which work is done in an electrical circuit. One watt equals one joule of work per second. Also equal to one ampere (amp) under a pressure of one volt. Equal to 1/746 horsepower. Named after the Scottish inventor James Watt.
Back to Top
Walk-off mat A design strategy for reducing the amount of contaminants introduced into an interior space by providing grating or other material to remove contaminants from shoes. A significant portion of contaminants in a building are brought in this way, impacting indoor environmental quality.
Back to Top
Warm-edge technology Use of low-conductance spacers to reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glazing.
Back to Top
Waste heat recovery The reclaiming of waste heat in a building to preheat cold water, or air, before it is fed into a water heater, or heating system.
Back to Top
Wastewater The spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter.
Back to Top
Waterfree urinal A urinal with no water line. Most designs use a specialized fluid that allows fluid to drain one-way into the sewer system.
Back to Top
Water-source heat pump A heat pump that uses wells or heat exchangers to transfer heat from water to the inside of a building. Most such units use ground water (see Ground source heat pump).
Back to Top
Watts per square foot A shorthand measure of the energy use of a building, often applied to indoor lighting. Energy codes often limit the watts per square foot based on building type and function.
Back to Top
Wavelength The distance between two similar points of a given wave. Wavelengths of light are measured in nanometers (1 nm = 1 billionth of a meter).
Back to Top
Wetland Land that is transitional between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and is covered with water for at least part of the year. These lands are important as buffer zones to help control flooding and also provide an ecosystem for many diverse species.
Back to Top
Wet-spray cellulose insulation Insulation made from recycled newspaper and plant fiber is mixed with low-toxic binders and sprayed in wall cavities with water to adhere to joist or cavity surfaces. It is formaldehyde-free. This type of insulation is not advisable for high-moisture areas where mold could be an issue. Blown-in cellulose is loose-fill, or blown in with air (used in attic ceilings).
Back to Top
Whole-house fan A fan typically centrally located in the ceiling of a house that draws fresh outside air into the living space, flushes hot air up to the attic and exhausts it to the outside. Windows must be open and adequate venting area must be present in the attic. An inexpensive way to cool a house when outside air is cooler than inside air, and not excessively humid. Must be well sealed and insulated during cold weather.
Back to Top
Whole-systems thinking A process through which the interconnections of systems are actively considered, and solutions are sought that address multiple problems at the same time.
Back to Top
Wind power Wind power systems convert the energy of the wind into electricity. Surplus electricity is often stored in a battery storage system for later use, or the power is passed back to the utility essentially making the meter go in reverse.
Back to Top
Window Shading Any interior or exterior device for reducing unwanted heat gain from a window.
Back to Top
Wind turbine A device for generating electricity from wind; a windmill.
Back to Top
Wingwall Outside walls attached perpendicularly to exterior walls properly placed near windows to direct air into the windows for ventilation purposes. A negative pressure zone is created by the wingwall which stimulates air movement.
Back to Top
WMP Waste Management Plan: a document detailing and recording amounts of construction debris to be sorted, collected, recycled, salvaged and disposed of on a job site.
Back to Top
Work The application of a force through a distance. Energy is stored work. Power is the rate at which work is done, or the rate of flow of energy. The joule is exactly the amount of work done in exerting the basic metric unit of force (1 newton [N]) over the basic metric unit of distance (1 meter) (see Joule).
Back to Top
Worm Bin System for on-site management of food scraps and other organic materials. Similar to a compost bin, a worm bin uses live worms to digest organic wastes, in a process known as "vermicomposting".
Back to Top
Zero waste The goal of developing products and services, managing their use and deployment, and creating recycling systems and markets in order to eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials and conserve and recover all resources. Implementing zero waste eliminates all discharges to land, water, or air that may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.
Back to Top
Zone The occupied space or group of spaces within a building which has its heating or cooling controlled by a single thermostat (see Zoning for definition used in planning).
Back to Top
Zoning A legal mechanism for local governments to prevent conflicting land use and promote orderly development by regulating the use of privately owned land through enforcement.
Back to Top
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)
.gif)
