Designitgreener has compiled a glossary of the most commonly used terms when it comes to green. If you have something to add, have a question or would like to start a discussion, send us a message!
A
Agenda 21: A program run by the United Nations related to sustainable development. It is a comprehensive archetype of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the UN, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans impact the environment. The number 21 refers to the 21st century.
American Carbon Registry (ACR): A leading non-profit U.S. carbon market registry and carbon technical services provider. In 1996, market-oriented environmental experts at the Environmental Defense Fund founded the Environmental Resources Trust (ERT) and launched the GHG Registry, now known as the American Carbon Registry. www.americancarbonregistry.org
American National Standards Institute (ANSI): The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards—including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14001 environmental management systems. www.ansi.org
Archival Paper: Paper that is made with a slightly alkaline or neutral pH so it will not deteriorate, yellow or turn brittle over time. Archival papers must meet national standards for permanence: they must be acid-free and alkaline with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5; include 2 percent calcium carbonate as an alkaline reserve; and not contain any ground wood or unbleached wood fiber.
Alternative Energy: This energy is harvested from less common sources, which are usually renewable such as wind, water or solar power, not from fossil fuels.
Aqueous Coating: Environmentally sensitive, fast-drying coating made from a mix of polymers and water used to protect printed pieces from offsetting (unintentional ink transfer when wet), dirt and scratches. There is no yellowing with age, unlike with other alternative varnishes. Paper that is aqueous coated can recycled.
B
Bakeout: A process used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in a building by operating a building’s HVAC systems at elevated temperatures using 100 percent outside air after all the furniture and finishes (carpeting, ceiling tiles, etc.) have been installed.
Bamboo: An alternative to more common woods used in building and industrial design. Generally, bamboo is a more renewable material than wood because it is a fast-growing grass/reed that can be harvested after only 4-6 years of growth, much shorter than the 30-60 years required for comparable wood species. Replanting is not necessary, as it regenerates on its own. Bamboo can withstand a lot of use without getting damaged. It is stronger than oak, which is widely considered the most durable hardwood. When laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn’t swell or shrink as hardwoods do, making it a perfect material for furniture and flooring.
Black Water: Water containing human waste from toilets and urinals. Black water contains pathogens that must be neutralized before the water can be safely reused. Typically black water, after neutralization, is used in non-potable applications such as flushing or irrigation.
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA): Organization that creates and manages standards for evaluating the safety, durability, ergonomics, toxicity and structural adequacy of contract and commercial furniture. www.bifma.org
Biodegradable: A material or substance that will decompose quickly without harmful effects to the environment, when left exposed to nature.
Biodiversity: The variation of life forms within a given ecosystem.
Biomass: An energy resource derived from organic matter such as wood, agricultural waste and other living cell material.
Bioplastic: Plastics made from corn, potato or other renewable resources that are biodegradable.
Bioremediation: The use of natural biological processes (microbes, bacteria, plants, etc.) to break down pollutants and to restore contaminated land back to productive use.
Building Envelope: Structural elements (walls, windows, roofs, skylights, etc.) and materials (insulation, vapor barriers, siding, etc.) that enclose a building. The building envelope is a thermal barrier between the indoor and outdoor environment and is a key factor in the sustainability of a building. A well-designed building envelope will minimize energy consumption for cooling and heating as well as promote the influx of natural light.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM): A comprehensive tool for analyzing and improving the environmental performance of buildings through design and operations. The UK-based Building Research Establishment has developed this methodology.
C
Carbon Footprint: The total amount of carbon dioxide (C02) and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full lifecycle of a product or service, expressed as grams of CO2 equivalents.
Carbon Negative: A company, person or action that absorbs more carbon emissions than it emits.
Carbon Neutral: A company, person or action either not producing any carbon emissions or if it does, they have been offset elsewhere.
Carbon Offset: The act of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through emissions trading. For example, a factory or production facility may not be able to reduce its own carbon footprint any further through its own actions, so it may voluntarily purchase credits for another party to offset their actions. The goal of carbon offsets is to attain a carbon neutral overall effect.
Carbon Rationing: Limiting the amount of carbon produced in a given timeframe, commonly by year. Carbon rationing action groups (crags) can help you learn to reduce your carbon footprint.
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label: The CRI is a nonprofit trade organization that sets standards for the carpet industry. The CRI Green Label tests carpeting, cushions and adhesives to help specifiers identify products with low-VOC emissions. www.carpet-rug.org
Chain-of-Custody (COC): The systematic tracking of wood-based products from the forest to their end-use.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Man-made chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Often used in older refrigerators and air conditioners, the chlorine in CFCs damages the ozone layer and promotes global warming.
Climate Change: Any change in the climate that can be identified by shifts in the average and/or the variability of its properties (e.g., temperature, precipitation), that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. The term is often used interchangably with global warming, but the two have distinct meanings.
Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA): The CCBA has developed and is promoting rigorous standards for evaluating land-based carbon projects. The CCBA Standards identify land-based climate change mitigation projects that simultaneously generate climate, biodiversity and sustainable development benefits. www.climate-standards.org
Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS): A national non-profit organization that offers resources, assessment tools and recognition programs for building and operating high-performance, healthful, green schools. It offers state-specific rating systems designed by school facilities experts to create schools that are both good on the environment and healthful for students and faculty. Schools can receive third-party verification, and they also can self-verify. www.chps.net
Conservation: Preserving and renewing both human and natural resources.
Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP): A plan that diverts construction debris from landfills through conscientious plans to recycle, salvage and reuse.
Cotton: A renewable material that can be used in place of wood to manufacture paper. Cotton fiber papers tend to be stronger and more durable than wood-based papers and are known to last several hundred years without fading, discoloring or deteriorating, making it an excellent eco-friendly alternative to wood fiber papers.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A business outlook that acknowledges responsibilities to stakeholders not traditionally accepted, including suppliers, customers and employees as well as local and international communities in which it operates and their natural environments.
Cradle-to-cradle (C2C): A design philosophy and certification system developed by William McDonough and Michael Braungart to evaluate products based on their energy use, materials and potential for disassembly, reuse and recycling. www.c2ccertified.com
Cradle-to-gate: Analysis of a partial product life cycle from manufacturer to the factory gate (before it’s transported to the consumer). The use and disposal phase of the product is omitted. Cradle-to-gate assessments are usually the basis for environmental product declarations in the products most people purchase for their homes.
Cradle-to-grave: Analysis of the impact of a product from the beginning of its source gathering processes, through the end of its useful life, to disposal of all waste products.
Cross Ventilation: The technique of using natural air movement from the outside and drawing it inside (without the aid of ventilation systems) to cool buildings. If a building is well-designed to achieve effect, windows will be positioned in line with each other on opposite walls to create the maximum air flow and cooling effect.
Cullet: Crushed, waste glass that is returned for recycling.
D
Daylighting: The use of natural light to supplement or replace artificial lighting.
De-inking: The process of removing ink, dyes and other contaminants from paper so the pulp can be recycled.
E
Eco-conscious: Marked by or showing concern for the environment.
Eco-friendly: A widely used term for “environmentally friendly,” something that is developed with a minimum impact on the environment.
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT): An environmental rating system developed by the nonprofit Green Electronics Council to rank the environmental friendliness of consumer electronics such as desktop computers, notebooks and monitors.
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 it can emit within a given timeframe.
Energy Efficiency: Overall ratio of energy output of a conversion process or system to its energy input.
Environmental Management System (EMS): A set of processes and practices that enable an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency.
F
Fair Trade Federation (FTF): An association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers and producers that adhere to social criteria and environmental principles that foster a more equitable and sustainable system of production and trade. www.fairtradefederation.org
Flat-pack: Refers to a product that is designed to be ready to assemble by the customer, right out of the box, thereby reducing shipping costs and fuel during transportation.
Formaldehyde: A gas used widely in production of adhesives, plastics, preservatives and fabric treatments and commonly emitted by indoor materials that are made with its compounds. It is highly irritating if inhaled and is now listed as a probable human carcinogen.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): A nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. www.fsc.org
FSC Certified: Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from sustainably managed forests that are controlled to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.
Fuel Cell: A technology that uses an electrochemical process to convert energy into electrical power. Often powered by natural gas, fuel cell power is cleaner than grid-connected power sources. In addition, hot water is produced as a by-product.
G
Gang Printing: Printing multiple projects on one large sheet to reduce paper waste and cost when printing on offset presses.
Global Warming: Global warming is the combined result of human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases and changes in the amount of solr radiation present on the Earth’s surface. The term is often used interchangably with climate change, but the two have distinct meanings.
Geothermal Energy: Heat energy that comes from the Earth’s interior.
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 applications such as flushing, irrigation, etc.
Green: The movement that incorporates environmental awareness, social responsibility, bioregionalism and nonviolence. The term is often inappropriately used to describe any effort to be more environmentally friendly.
Green Building: A building designed to conserve resources and reduce negative impacts on the environment – whether it is energy, water, building materials or land. Compared to conventional construction, green buildings may use one or more renewable energy systems for heating and cooling, such as solar electric, solar hot water, geothermal, biomass or any combination of these.
Green Design: The design of products, services, buildings or experiences that are sensitive to environmental issues and achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in terms of energy and materials.
Green-e Certified: Green-e is the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. The Green-e logo is available to those who purchase Green-e Certified energy or Green-e Certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). www.green-e.org
GreenHab: To restore a building in an environmentally friendly and/or energy efficient way.
Greenhouse Effect: A major cause of global warming. It’s the process that raises the temperature of air in the lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and ozone.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation and reduce the loss of heat into space. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone), while others result from human activities. Certain human activities either add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases or produce powerful and harmful compounds that are not naturally occurring (hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)) which are generated in a variety of industrial processes.
Greenhouse Gas Indicator: UNEP Guidelines for calculating greenhouse gas emissions for businesses and non-commercial organizations.
Greenwashing: Misleading information given by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image that conceals its true environmental impact. See the tips section for more on greenwashing and how it can be avoided.
H
Heavy Metal: A metal with a high relative atomic mass. The term is usually applied to common transition metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury and zinc.
Hemp: One of the oldest cultivated crops and its use dates back to the stone age. It is one of the most environmentally friendly fibers in the world and requires no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, and uses very little water. Hemp exhibits eight times the strength of cotton and can be woven into a variety of textures. Although currently illegal to cultivate in the U.S., hemp is a fast growing, environmentally sound substitute for cotton and wood fibers, requiring little or no chemicals to produce paper, textiles, and a variety of other products.
Hybrid: A car that runs on both electric battery and fuel, making the gas mileage extremely efficient and also produces fewer emissions which help control pollution in the environment.
Hydroelectric Energy: Energy produced by moving water that is harvested for conversion into usable electrical energy.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): 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
Indigenous Materials: Building materials that are mined, manufactured or fabricated locally to reduce the environmental impact of transportation cost and increase viability of the local economy.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
Indoor Air Quality Procedure: One of two procedures listed in ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 to determine appropriate ventilation rates for buildings. The IAQ Procedure provides a method of measuring and controlling outdoor airflow in order to keep harmful substances diluted to acceptable levels. It is inherently a more rigorous strategy than the Ventilation Rate Procedure because it considers all contaminants.
ISO 14001:2004: The “ISO 14001:2004″ logo indicated that a corporation is certified to meet ISO standards and practices for environmental management in manufacturing company-wide. This logo is available only to companies holding certified ISO Environmental Management Systems.
K
Kyoto Protocol: In December of 1997, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Kyoto, Japan and was attended by delegates from 160 countries. A legally binding agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, was adopted by the countries in attendance, under which the industrialized nations agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2010. The USA pledged a 7 percent reduction. Subsequent to the Kyoto meetings, the US Congress did not ratify the agreement.
L
Landfill: An area where waste is dumped and eventually covered with dirt and topsoil.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): A third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor air quality. This program was developed and is operated by the U.S. Green Building Council. www.usgbc.org/leed
Life Cycle Assessment: A tool developed to evaluate a product’s full effect on the environment, from the extraction of raw materials, through to the consumption and final disposal of the product.
Low-emissive (Low-e) Glass: Glass that has an invisible thin 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-VOC: A term referring to reduced amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints and finishes. Low-VOC products do not off-gas as much as conventional alternatives and contain less harmful toxins.
M
Microclimate: Localized climate conditions within an urban area or building (see urban heat-island effect.)
Monopack: A package with multiple components that are made from the same materials for easy sorting and recycling. For example, a glass bottle with a paper label and a metal cap is not a monopack. A plastic milk jug with a plastic cap and a plastic label that are all made from the same plastic material is a monopack.
Multi-functional: Something that serves more than one purpose. In product and furniture design, multi-functional pieces reduce the need for multiple products, thus using less raw resources and reducing clutter in modern homes and waste in landfills.
N
Natural Cooling: Use of environmental phenomena to cool buildings, e.g., natural ventilation, evaporative cooling and radiative cooling.
Natural Latex: Natural latex is produced from the milky white sap of the rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensis). No harmful chemicals are used in its production, it is biodegradable and has a life expectancy of 20 years or more. It has a superior feel to polyurethane foam and provides unsurpassed resiliency and comfort.
Natural Materials: A product that is made from materials and ingredients found in nature, with little or no human intervention. Natural materials include stone, glass, lime or mud plasters, adobe or rammed earth, bricks, tiles, untreated wood, cork, paper, reeds, bamboo, canes and grasses as well as all natural fibers. From both, an aesthetic and health point of view, building with natural materials also helps sustainable development.
Net-Zero: Requiring no additional energy input from outside sources.
Non-Renewable Resources: Resources that are in limited supply, such as oil, coal and natural gas.
O
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 livestock, produce, etc. without the use or growth hormones, artificial pesticides or fertilizer.
Ozone (O3): An unstable greenhouse gas molecule, consisting of three (instead of two) oxygen atoms. Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory systems of animals.
Ozone Layer: In the upper atmosphere about 15 miles above sea level it forms a protective layer which shields the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation and occurs naturally.
P
Passive House (Passivehaus): A very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain as well as internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc.
Passive Solar Design: Designing a building’s architectural elements to collect, store and distribute solar resources for heating, cooling and daylighting.
Perceived Obsolescence: The art of making products that go out of style or “date” so you buy new ones, for example the fashion industry.
Photodegradable: Substances that can be chemically decomposed by light. Photodegradable plastic, for example, becomes brittle and breaks into smaller pieces when exposed to sunlight.
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 or 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 which in turn makes a greater profit, for example cell phones.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): A lightweight, transparent and has a good moisture barrier, making it good for bottled liquids, food trays for oven use, videotapes and mechanical components. It is the most popular thermo plastic packaging material used for beverages and food. PET soda bottles are the most recycled container.
Post-Consumer Recycled: Refers to recycled material that was used first by a consumer. A high post-consumer recycled content helps divert materials from ending up in landfills.
Pre-Consumer Recycled: Refers to recycled material that came from the manufacturing process. Pre-consumer recycling of scraps, breakage and discards diverts waste that may otherwise end up in landfills, and reduces use of raw materials. Pre-consumer recycled materials have not yet reached a consumer for the intended use.
Process Chlorine Free (PCF): Process chlorine-free papers contain recycled content that has not been re-bleached with chlorine containing compounds.
R
Rainforest Alliance: The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Companies, cooperatives and landowners that participate in their programs meet rigorous standards that conserve biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods. www.rainforest-alliance.org
Recycle: The process of collecting, sorting and reprocessing old material into usable raw materials.
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.
Reduce: Not using or buying products in the first place so less waste, less recycling and less reusing.
Remanufacturing: A recycling concept by which an existing product can have its useful life extended through a secondary manufacturing or refurbishing process such as remanufactured systems furniture.
Renewable Energy: Natural energy sources such as wind and water power or solar, geothermal or biomass energy that can keep producing energy indefinitely without being used up.
Renewable Resources: Resources such as wind, sunlight, trees and plants that regenerate.
Repurpose: Using something for a purpose other than for what it was originally intended. Often products and packaging are designed to be repurposed. See our green design tips section for more on designing for repurposing.
Reuse: Before throwing away or recycling, a something that can be used again until its time to recycle.
S
Smart House: Consists of programmable electronic controls and sensors that regulates heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, appliance and equipment operation that responds to interior climate conditions in order to conserve energy.
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. If designed ecologically, good passive solar energy provides just enough sunlight into the rooms to be absorbed by the surrounding thermal mass which acts as a heat battery and gives the warmth back into the room when the sun goes down. Crushed volcanic rock and straw bales make for good thermal mass insulation and designs in a green building.
Solar Radiation: The full spectrum of electromagnetic energy including visible light from the sun. When solar radiation strikes a solid surface or a transparent medium such as air or glass, some of the energy is absorbed and converted into heat energy, some is reflected and some is transmitted. All three of these effects are important for effective passive solar design.
Soy Ink: Contains non-toxic soybean oil (the same oil that is used in cooking oils), is low in VOCs, safe, sustainable, made from a renewable resource, produces rich, vivid color and is more easily stripped from paper during the de-inking and recycling process than petroleum inks. Soy inks are popular because the oil is a very stable material that exhibits excellent “wetting” properties, which enhance its ability to carry solid pigments. It also helps the US economy by providing a constant demand for a domestic crop while diminishing dependence on foreign resources such as petroleum oil, according to the United Soybean Board.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): SO2 is a heavy, odorous gas that can be condensed into a clear liquid. It’s used to make sulfuric acid, bleaching agents, preservatives and refrigerants and is also a major source of air pollution.
Sustainable: The condition of being able to meet the needs of present generations without compromising those needs for future generations. Achieving a balance among extraction and renewal and environmental inputs and outputs, as to cause no overall net environmental burden or deficit. To be truly sustainable, a human community must not decrease biodiversity, must not consume resources faster than they are renewed, must recycle and reuse virtually all materials, and must rely primarily on resources of its own region.
Sustainable Packaging Coalition: An industry working group inspired by cradle-to-cradle principles and dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials. www.sustainablepackaging.org
Sustainably Managed Forest: The use of forests in a way and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity and vitality without compromising their potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological functions and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.
T
Thermal Mass: A material used to store heat, thereby slowing the temperature variation within a space. Typical thermal mass materials include concrete, brick, masonry, tile and mortar, water and rock. Eco designers will strategically place these materials to create heat sinks that absorb heat in the winter and remain cool in the summer.
Totally Chlorine-free (TCF): Reserved for virgin fiber papers, TCF papers do not use pulp produced with chlorine or chlorine containing compounds as bleaching agents.
U
Urban Heat-Island Effect: A microclimate created by the extra energy emissions and absorbed solar heat in a city. Buildings retain far more heat into the night than the non-existent natural vegetation of more rural areas, making it more difficult for the area to cool. This greatly increases amount of energy needed and consumed for air conditioning.
V
Vegan: A form of vegetarianism that excludes all animal ingredients or by-products. This doesn’t only apply to foods, but raw materials as well such as leather, wool, fur, feathers and silk.
Vegetable Ink: Contains vegetable oil such as soy, linseed (flax), tung (Chinawood), castor, canola or safflower instead of petroleum. They offer a safe, Low-VOC, sustainable alternative to harmful and less-recyclable petroleum inks. Vegetable inks are more easily stripped from paper during the de-inking process of recycling. They can be cleaner and brighter, and more rub resistant than petroleum inks. They are well suited for use with uncoated and recycled stocks because the ink doesn’t spread as much.
Virgin Paper: Paper that contains no recycled content.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): Chemical compounds based on carbon and hydrogen structures that vaporize at room temperatures. VOCs are one type of indoor air contaminant. Although thousands have been identified in indoor air, only a few are well understood and regulated. Sources of VOC’s include solvents and paints. Many materials commonly used in building construction such as carpets, furniture, wallcoverings and paints emit VOC’s.
W
Wastewater: Water that has been used and contaminated. Wastewater must be purified before being used again or before being returned to the environment.
Water Power: (see hydroelectric energy)
Water Reclamation: Reuse of effluent from wastewater treatment facilities through irrigation, land application or other recycling methods.
Wind Turbine: A device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy. The addition of a generator allows the wind’s kinetic energy to be converted into electricity. There are two types of wind turbines: horizontal axis turbines—blades rotate about a horizontal axis; and vertical axis turbines—blades rotate about a vertical axis.
Wind Power: Energy produced by the wind and harvested for conversion into usable electrical energy.
X
Xeriscape: Quality, low-maintenance landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment by using mulch, soil analysis and appropriate plant selection. This approach is especially beneficial in drought-ridden areas.
Z
Zero-net-energy Building: A building that would provide all of its own energy on an annual basis from onsite renewable resources or offsite renewable energy purchases. In this way it would still be connected to the grid, providing power when it had a surplus and drawing from the grid when it needed power, such as at night. This approach typically involves using solar energy for electricity, water heating and space heating and employing such design measures as passive solar design, natural ventilation and operable windows for space cooling (with some electric power assist).
