Glossary of Green Terms

GreenRoads ™ Realty recommends becoming informed about green real estate including renewable energy sources, green building technologies, and leading edge developments in sustainability in order to make informed decisions about your real estate goals. The long term benefits of energy efficient homes include reduced energy costs, a healthier environment, and a clear conscience that you’re doing your part in reducing human impact on the environment. Recommended sources include:

Green Living New Mexico - Our free online magazine (published by GreenRoads Realty) focusing on green real estate technology, issues of sustainability in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico, and healthy living including food, arts and culture, and community.

Santa Fe Green – Blog written by Bob Taylor, Certified Ecobroker, instructor for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green Designation Course, green building specialist, and a pioneer in solar energy technology. Bob is a broker associate with GreenRoads Realty.

Ecoversity – a non-profit educational center which explores and demonstrates concepts of sustainable living, ecological design, and responsibility for the wise stewardship of the Earth.

GLOSSARY:

Alternative Energy
Renewable energy sources such as biomass, small hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal energy and photovoltaic conversion systems. It excludes fossil fuels.

Bio-based Material
A material made from substances derived from living matter. Strictly the definition could include many common materials such as wood and leather, but it typically refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. Bio-based materials are often biodegradable, but this is not always the case. Examples include bioplastics made from corn, paints made from plant resins, and Kirei Board, an engineered panel product constructed from the stalks of the sorghum plant.

Bioaccumulation (bioconcentration)
The accumulation of higher and higher concentrations of potentially toxic chemicals in individual organisms. It occurs in the case of chemicals that are ingested but cannot be broken down or excreted. Biomagnification is the bioaccumulation occurring through several levels of a food chain.

Biodegradable
Capable of decomposing rapidly by microorganisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). Most organic materials, such as food scraps and paper are biodegradable.

Bio-magnification
Similar to bioaccumulation with the distinction being that bioaccumulation occurs within a food chain (trophic level) and bio-magnification is the same process across different trophic levels. (reference)

Bio-diesel
A renewable fuel produced by a chemical reaction of alcohol and vegetable (or animal) oils, fats or greases. Through a refinery process called transesterification, the reaction removes the glycerin, a by-product that can harm the engines. The resulting biodiesel can be used in any normal petrodiesel engine, in pure form or in different blends. (reference)

Biodiversity
Biodiversity embraces the variety of genes, species and ecosystems that constitute life on Earth. Many believe that we are currently witnessing a steady loss of biodiversity, with profound consequences for the natural world and for human wellbeing.

Biofuel
This is fuel made by living things that is renewable, in contrast to fossil fuels, which is non-renewable and derived from previously living organisms.

Biomass
the weight of living and dead organic matter in an ecosystem usually measured per unit area over a particular time interval.

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community, society, and the environment at large.

Carbon Credits
Certificates that represent a reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Projects that prevent the generation of greenhouse gases or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere earn these credits, which can in turn then be “sold” to other businesses and individuals to “offset” the emissions they generate. One carbon credit is the equivalent to a saving of one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2). (reference)

Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced that directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). For example, if you burn wood at home it’s the total CO2 produced at home, when transporting the wood to your home, and accumulation of CO2 produced during the extraction and production process.

Catalyst
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, but which is left unchanged by the reaction.

Clean Production
Designing products and using manufacturing processes in harmony with natural ecological cycles. It aims to eliminate toxic wastes and inputs and promotes the sustainable use of renewable energy and materials.

Climate Change
The study of the variation in the Earth’s climate over a period of time. The changes can be due to the earth itself, forces outside the earth, or as is known more recently, by human (anthropogenic) activity.

Climate Neutral
The process of reducing and offsetting carbon emissions by an entity (human, business, naturally occurring) with activities that reduce, sequester, or offset carbon output sources. Offsetting refers to the process of purchasing carbon credits.

Closed Loop Supply Chain
This is when a supply chain process completely reuses, recycles or composts all material used. A supply chain is the system of organizations, people, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer.

Composting
A biological decomposition of solid organic materials by bacteria, fungi, and other organisms into a soil-like product that can be used to enrich garden soils. This enrichment not only nourishes the soil but also helps increase moisture retention and thus decrease the need for additional watering.

Cogeneration
The production of electrical and thermal energy simultaneously from the same fuel source. This could be the surplus heat energy from an electrical plant being used to heat water or used as a fuel for any other purpose.

Cradle to Cradle
Term made popular by William McDonough & Michael Braungart that maps out production techniques that are essentially waste free. In cradle to cradle production all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality and biological nutrients composted or consumed.

Downcycle
The practice of recycling a material in such a way that much of its inherent value is lost (for example, recycling plastic into park benches).

Eco-friendly Food
Food that’s been grown in a manner sensitive to its natural habitat for preserving wildlife and other plants, water supply, quality of soil, organically grown and raised, or local, and thus freshly harvested.

Eco-Labels
These distinguish a product or service in terms of environmental issues. ISO 14021-14025 sets out four types: Type I labels are product seals based on multiple criteria regarding lifecycle impact. Type II label are informative, self-declaration seals regarding the environmental qualities of a product. Type III labels offer quantified product information based on a life cycle assessment. Type IV labels are single-issue seals licenses by companies or organizations. There are a host of product certifications and eco-labels available. Contact us for more information.

Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, minimizes ecological or other damage, and improves the well being of local people.

Ecological Economics
A study of how the two fields (ecology and economics) interact, despite having always been considered very distinct. There are assumptions that the economy is a subsystem of the Earth’s ecological system and how we can learn and benefit from understanding that relationship.

Emissions Trading
The creation of economic incentives to help reduce pollution. A governing body sets a cap on the amount of a pollutant that can be emitted. Companies are given permits and credits to produce a specific amount of the pollutant. If any given company wants to exceed their pollution limit they must buy credits from those who pollute less.

Energy Conservation/Energy Efficiency
Reducing the amount of energy used, for example, through the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, turning off lights and appliances when not in use and using insulation and weather stripping. It is often possible to dramatically reduce energy consumption without major sacrifice, lessening our dependency on non-renewable resources and reducing costs.

Energy Star
A US government (EPA) program designed to help consumers make energy efficient and cost effective decisions since 1992. Energy Star endorses hundreds of products through its distinctive blue logo, from refrigerators and DVD’s to vending machines and exit signs.

Environmental Cleaning
Approaching housekeeping and laundry from the perspective of not using harsh or harmful (to people and the environment) chemicals or cleaning products, including not using perfumed or scented laundry supplies, carpet cleaners, cleaning supplies or air fresheners.

E-Waste
The waste generated from electronic devices ie computers, TV’s, and mobile phones. E-waste must be disposed of properly and not sent to landfill.

Fair Trade (Fairtrade)
An organized social movement and market-based seeking greater equity in international trade. Helps sustainable development by giving better trading conditions to, and helps secure the rights of, workers and producers (mainly from developing countries).

FloorScore
A program in created by Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), that tests and certifies flooring products in compliance with Californian indoor air quality emission requirements. Flooring products include vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring, wall base, and associated sundries.

Forest Stewardship Council
An international non-profit organization created in 1993, whose mission is “to promote environmentally viable management of the world’s forests”. Forestry operations that are sustainably certified by the FSC and have their timber tracked through the supply chain can then carry the FCS ecolabel. Thus consumers are better informed and have the choice to buy more sustainable timber products.

Global Warming
A term to define the recent gradual increase in average temperature of the earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Scientists believe that this is caused at least in part by the release of green house gases into the atmosphere by human activities.

Gray Water Recycling
Gray water is wastewater composed of wash water from the kitchen, bathrooms sinks and showers/tubs, laundry sinks and tubs, and washing machines (clothes and dish) where only non-polluting, biodegradable soaps are used. This water can be recycled to water gardens and landscaping, reducing the amount of fresh water needed.

Green
The common name given to the environmental movement, its products, associations and anything that maybe affiliated with it. The color is based on that of plants and trees.

Green Building
The sustainable sector of the building industry that uses methods to minimize environmental impact and reduce energy consumption of a structure. In turn this benefits the health and productivity of its occupants.

Green Building Initiative
A non-profit that seeks to encourage the building industry and consumers to adopt environmentally sustainable techniques. Green Building Initiative uses the Green Globes online environmental assessment system to rate buildings.

Green Design
The term given to the design of products, services, buildings, experiences or the environment in a manner that promotes economic, social and ecological sustainability.

Green-e
An independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the US retail market. It has three certification programs: Green-e Climate is a voluntary certification program launched in 2007 that sets consumer-protection and environmental standards for greenhouse gas emission reductions sold in the voluntary market. Green-e Energy is an independent certification and verification program for renewable energy. Green-e Marketplace is a program that allows companies to display the Green-e logo when they have purchased a certain amount of renewable energy and their verification standards.

GreenGuard Environmental Institute
An industry independent non-profit organization started in 2002 based in Atlanta, Georgia that manages the GreenGuard certification program. This is an indoor air quality test for low-emitting products. Over 100 manufacturers across various industries offer GreenGuard indoor air quality certified products. In 2006 GEI introduced the GreenGuard for building construction, which is a mold risk reduction program that certifies the design, construction and future operations of new multifamily and commercial properties.

Greenhouse Effect
The tern given to how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat emitted from the Earth’s surface. This creates an insulating and warming effect on the planet. Without this, the Earth’s climate would be about 59F cooler.However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have greatly intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming. Natural cycles of the Earth’s atmosphere also contribute to the warming (and cooling) of the planet, such as the recent period known as the Little Ice Age, a period of cooling that occurred after a warmer era known as the Medieval Warm Period. While not a true ice age, it is generally agreed that there were three minima, beginning about 1650, about 1770, and 1850, each separated by intervals of slight warming.

Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests. The main greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. In our solar system, the atmospheres of Venus, Mars and Titan also contain gases that cause greenhouse effects. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth’s surface would be on average about 33 °C (59 °F) colder than at present.

Green Marketing
Marketing strategies developed to promote products or services that are environmentally responsible and create as little ecological impact as possible.

Green Seal
An independent, non-profit organization based in Washington DC that promotes the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services. Green Seal has its own certification process and environmental standards that must be achieved before the seal is awarded.

Green Tech
Refers to new technologies that are developed with sustainable principles in mind.

Green Washing
The actions of an organization that create the image of being sustainable and environmentally responsible, even though these techniques are not actually used, or not to the extent that is advertised.

Industrial Ecology
The development and use of industrial processes that result in products based on simultaneous consideration of product functionality and competitiveness, natural-resource conservation, and environmental preservation. Also known as design for environment, green design.

Indoor Air Quality
Measures the content of interior air quality with regard to its effect on the health of building occupants. The quality of indoor air is impacted by many sources of air pollutants as well as by building construction and ventilation.Recent studies have shown that indoor air quality is often poorer than outdoor air quality, which illustrates the need for standards and thorough testing in this area.

Kyoto Protocol
An agreement for industrial nations in 1997 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in Kyoto, Japan to reduce green gas emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2012.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System
Green building rating system of the US Green Building Council, a non-profit organization. Certification from LEED is given at four levels: certified, silver, gold, and platinum based on credits earned using the LEED rating system. Currently, the USGBC offers certification using the following rating systems: LEED for New Construction, LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED for Commercial Interiors, LEED for Retail, LEED for Schools and LEED for Core & Shell.

LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability)
A market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice. In 2006, this market segment was estimated at $229 billion.

Life Cycle Analysis
A study of the complete impact of a product or service’s manufacturing, use, and disposal in terms of material and energy. The scope of the analysis is comprehensive, although there are few standards to measure and assess these impacts. LCA’s are useful to companies that want to display the results of their products or services to consumers, aswell as being able to identify ways to reduce energy used.

Maintenance for Conservation
This can include replacing old, wasteful fixtures (light bulbs, toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, old showerheads and faucets that allow more than 2 gallons/minute throughput) and appliances like refrigerators and freezers, ice machines, washing machines and dryers, air conditioners, furnaces/heaters, and computers, as they break or wear out, with new efficient fixtures and appliances.

Materials Audit
A process to analyze the costs and effects of materials used in manufacturing. The objective of this investigation is to determine more efficient, less costly, less toxic and more sustainable alternatives.

NGO (Non-Governmental Organization)
A non-profit organization created neither by businesses or government that often conducts humanitarian and developmental work around the world.

Natural Capital
Same as environmental capital, which is the stock of natural resources and environmental assets. Includes water, soils, air, flora, fauna, minerals, and other natural resources.

Non-Renewable Resources
These are natural resources that cannot be re-grown or re-generated at a proportion that they are being consumed. Fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum are non-renewable resources. Examples of renewable resources are timber, wool, and solar.

Net-Zero Energy Home
A home built with energy efficient practices and technologies that result in an annual contribution to the energy grid that is at least the same as the amount of power used from the grid. Common sources of energy generation are solar panels, wind turbines, geo-thermal heating and cooling systems. Building many of these properties would result in a significant reduction in the need for electricity plants.

Organic
Tern given to the technique of developing food and agricultural products without the use of pesticides, hormones, synthetic fertilizers and other toxic materials. Some countries have adopted a legal definition of ‘organic’.

Organic Food
Organic food has been grown without the application of pesticides or fertilizers. Plant nourishment comes from the use of compost. Pest protection comes from growing healthy plants, companion planting, and natural pest controls like beneficial insects.

Permaculture
A design system that encompasses both “permanent agriculture” and “permanent culture.” It recognizes, first, that all living systems are organized around energy flows. It teaches people to analyze existing energy flows (sun, rain, money, human energy) through a system (a garden, a household, a business). When correctly designed such a system will, like a natural ecosystem, become increasingly diverse and self-sustaining.

Pollution
Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade the natural quality of the environment or cause a health hazard. The usefulness of the natural resource is usually impaired by the presence of pollutants and contaminants.

Pollution Prevention
Any practice which reduces the amount of hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering the waste stream or otherwise released to the environment before recycling, treatment, or disposal. This process reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances.

Precautionary Principle
The principle that states that when an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.

Recycle
Taking an unwanted material, processing it, and then producing a useful product again. Examples include newspaper made into insulation, auto body steel made into bridge parts, or aluminum cans made into additional aluminum cans.

Recyclable
Material that still has useful physical or chemical properties after serving its original purpose and can, therefore be reused or remanufactured into additional products. Plastic, paper, glass, tin and aluminum cans are examples of recyclable materials.

Remanufacturing
The dismantling of a spent product to clean and repair the product for the same use. Replacement parts must be new after-market parts that meet the same specifications as the original manufactured parts.

Renewable
Any material able to be sustained or renewed indefinitely, either because of limitless supplies or because of new growth.

Re-use
Repairing, refurbishing, washing, or recovering worn or used products, packaging appliances, furniture or building materials for internal use. Reusing packaging and products prolongs the useful life of items and delays the final disposal or recycling.

Scientific Certification Systems
A third-party provider of certification, auditing, and testing services.

Stewardship
Taking responsibility and caring for the Earth or any part of it. Includes responsibility in using resources and creating as little waste and pollution as possible.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Third party certification for forest land.

Take-Back
An approach to encourage reuse or recycling where consumers return products back to the company that made them. Some laws mandate take-back programs and create incentives for manufacturers to make their products easily recyclable or reused.

Technical Nutrient
Materials made from highly stable components that can be reused, they are designed to be captured and reused in the closed-loop cycle of sustainable manufacturing. Aluminum is an example of a technical nutrient.

Telecommuting
Instead of commuting to a place of employment, the household member works at home using a personal computer, using the internet and other communication devices. This reduces the use of transport, and hence, energy and pollution.

Toxic
Materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them. The quantities and exposures necessary to cause these effects can vary widely.

Transparency
A requirement that sits alongside ‘accountability’ as a growing expectation on organizations by society. It involves an openness and willingness to accept public scrutiny that reduces the capacity for an organization to practice or harbor deception or deceit.

Triple Bottom Line
Known as Profit, Planet and People – for companies aiming for sustainability, who have to perform to not just a single financial bottom line, but the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity. The effect that sustainable practices cause companies to increase revenues (through more desirable products and services) while reducing costs and expenses, by using more efficient processes.

Upcycle
Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of similar or greater use and value. Aluminum and glass are examples of materials that can be upcycled.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’S)
Organic chemicals containing carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, and other atoms. Volatile chemicals such as benzene toluene and xylene are suspected carcinogens. In addition, VOC’s react with sunlight to create ground level ozone, also known as ground level smog.

Waste Reduction
Preventing or decreasing the quantity of waste being generated through waste prevention, recycling, or purchasing recycled and environmentally preferable products.

Water Conservation
Water use reduction methods range from more efficient practices to capturing water for use through water storage or conservation projects. More efficient practices include using low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets; planting xeric gardens (using native plants that don’t require much additional water beyond what falls from the sky); and gray water recycling systems. This is vital as water is one of our most valuable resources.

Xeriscaping
An environmentally friendly form of landscaping that uses indigenous and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, and ground covers in order to use a limited amount of water, promoting water conservation.