Confused about what’s green and what’s not? Here’s a glossary of terms:
Biodegradable: A material or substance which will decompose quickly and without harmful effects to the environment when left exposed to nature.
Carbon footprint: The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full lifecycle of a product or service. Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and climate change, so reducing carbon footprints is desirable.
Certified: Acknowledging that a product is genuine to what it claims, typically having gone through a process similar to obtaining a license.
Certified wood: Under the guidance of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)— and others—wood-based materials used in building construction that are supplied from sources that comply with sustainable forestry practices, protecting trees, wildlife habitat, streams and soil.
Eco-friendly: An alternative to goods usually bought in most stores. These products are made with ecology and the environment in mind.
Emissions: Particles and gases released into the air as byproducts.
Energy efficient: Products and systems that use less energy to perform as well or better than standard products. While energy-efficient products sometimes have higher up-front costs, they tend to cost less over their lifetime when the cost of energy consumed is factored in.
Forestry Stewardship Council: A nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
Green building: A building designed to conserve resources and reduce negative impacts on the environment, whether it is energy, water, building materials or land.
Green design: A term used in the building, furnishings and product industries to indicate design that is sensitive to environmentally friendly, ecological issues.
Greenwashing: A superficial nod to the environment that marketers and businesses that historically were not interested in sustainable concerns are doing to improve their public relation standings with the consumer or public.
Going green: A phrase referring to individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior and lifestyle.
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A leading certification process by the U.S. Green Building Council that evaluates new buildings constructed to common green standards.
Low-VOC: A term referring to reduced amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by a finished product. Low-VOC paints, for example, do not off-gas as much as conventional paints and contain less toxins that are harmful to the environment.
Natural: A product that is made from materials and ingredients found in nature, with little or no human intervention.
Post-consumer: Refers to recycled material that was used first by a consumer. A high post-consumer content helps divert materials from ending up in landfills.
Pre-consumer: Refers to recycled material that came from the manufacturing process. Pre-consumer recycling of scraps and discards diverts waste that may otherwise end up in landfills and reduces use of raw materials.
Recyclable: A product or material that can be converted back into material that can be used again in manufacturing new goods. Typically, recyclable materials must remain in their pure form.
Renewable energy: Energy harvested from sources that are not depleted when used, typically causing very low environmental impact. Examples include solar energy, hydroelectric power and wind power.
Renewable: A raw material that can be replenished within a reasonable amount of time. Bamboo would be an example.
Sustainable: Actions or products that meet current needs without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Sustainably harvested: A renewable resource that has been harvested in a way that allows its inherent regeneration and continued ongoing supply.
VOC: Volatile organic compounds. VOCs are toxins commonly found in conventional paints, sealers and the finished product. VOCs off-gas into the air and are not good to people or the environment.
Waste reduction: A process to reduce or eliminate the amount of waste generated at its source or to reduce the amount of toxicity from waste or the reuse of materials.
