Greening the Way Glossary
Albedo:Ratio of reflected light to the total amount of light falling on a surface. In hotclimates, it is desirable to use roofing materials with a high albedo.
Carbon emissions: CO2 (carbon dioxide), a greenhouse gas, a by-product of energy combustion, has been identified as a potential major contributor to global climate change
Carbon emission reduction:
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs): These are screw-in fluorescent replacements for incandescentbulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs combine the efficiency of fluorescent lighting with the convenience of a standard incandescent bulb. There are many styles of compact fluorescent, including exit light fixtures and floodlights (lamps containing reflectors). Many screw into a standard light socket, and most produce a similar color of light as a standard incandescent bulb. Compact fluorescent bulbs come with ballasts that are electronic (lightweight, instant, no-flicker starting, and 10 to 15% more efficient) or magnetic (much heavier and slower starting). Other types of compact fluorescent bulbs include adaptive circulation and PL and SL lamps and ballasts. Compact fluorescent bulbs are designed for residential uses; they are also used in table lamps, wall sconces, and hall and ceiling fixtures of hotels, motels, hospitals, and other types of commercial buildings with residential-type applications.
Cistern: A tank to hold a supply of fresh water, typically rainwater. May be above orbelow ground.
Cool (reflective) roofing:These systems lower heat gain for facilities by reflecting the sun’s radiant energy, saving energy on air-conditioning.
Dual-flush toilet:Toilets with two flushing options--about a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. According to their website, Caroma brand dual flush toilets save up to 72% (approx. 18,000 gallons) of annual water usage compared to the traditional 3.5-gallon flush and up to 40% (approx. 4600 gallons) compared to today's standard 1.6-gallon single flush toilets.If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses at least 3.5 gallons per flush.
Videos from toilet manufacturer Caroma
Energy efficiency: Broadly defined--getting more power using fewer resources; conserving energy. Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there does not seem to be a single commonly-accepted definition of energy efficiency. it is generally thought that an increase in energy efficiency is when either energy inputs are reduced for a given level of service, or there are increased or enhanced services for a given amount of energy inputs.
ENERGY STAR certification:ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program provides energy efficiency ratings of appliance and benchmarks against which new construction may be judged.
An ENERGY STAR qualified home uses at least 15% less energy than standard homes and usually include properly installed insulation, high performance windows, tight construction and ducts, energy efficient cooling and heating systems, and ENERGY STAR rated appliances, lighting, and water heaters. An energy performance rating systems for several commercial and institutional building types and manufacturing facilities has also been developed. These ratings, on a scale of 1 to 100, provide a means for benchmarking the energy efficiency of specific buildings and industrial plants against the energy performance of similar facilities.
Fenestration:Architectural term for windows and their placement.
Green:Catch-all term used to describe practices and products that save energy, conserve non-renewable resources and represent environmentally responsible choices
Greenhouse gases: the U.S. Energy Information Administration
Green/garden roofing: Plants are grown in modular containers that are then installed on top of the building’s roof.Green roofs can offer many of the same benefits as cool roofs, including helping to reduce air conditioning and heating costs. Other benefits include:
- Conserving energy by moderating the temperature of the roof throughout the year.
- Reducing stormwater runoff volume and peak flow rates after rainfall events.
- Restoring the ecological and aesthetic value of urban open space.
- Helping quiet the upper floors of a facility.
- Releasing oxygen into the air and absorbing pollution and carbon dioxide.
- Protecting conventional roofing systems, typically doubling the service life of the existing roof membrane.
Heat islands:Refers to urban air and surface temperatures that are higher than nearby rural areas. Many cities and suburbs have air temperatures that are 2 to 10°F (1 to 6°C) warmer than the surrounding natural land cover. There are a number of steps that communities can take to lessen the impacts of heat islands. These heat island reduction strategies include:
- Installing cool roofs or vegetated green roofs
- Installing green roofs
- Switching to cool paving materials.
- Planting trees and vegetation
Mitigation Impact Screening Tool
High-efficiency irrigation system: The typical single-family suburban household uses at least 30 percent of their water outdoors for irrigation. Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water use goes to waste due to evaporation or runoff caused by overwatering. One water conservation method involves the use of drip irrigation systems that use between 20 to 50 percent less water than conventional in-ground sprinkler systems. They are also much more efficient than conventional sprinklers because no water is lost to wind, runoff, and evaporation. If your in-ground system uses 100,000 gallons annually, you could potentially save more than 200,000 gallons over the lifetime of a drip irrigation should you choose to install it. That adds up to savings of at least $1,150.
High-efficiency toilet:New and improved high-efficiency models use less than 1.3 gallons per flush—that's at least 60 percent less than their older, less efficient counterparts. Compared to a 3.5 gallons per flush toilet, a WaterSense (see term defined below) labeled toilet could save a family of four more than $90 annually on their water bill, and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet.
List of high-efficiency toilet brands and models
HVAC:Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (cooling) system
Incandescent light bulbs,including regular or energy-efficient light bulbs: An incandescent bulb is a type of electric light in which light is produced by a filament heated by electric current. The most common example is the type you find in most table and floor lamps. In commercial buildings, incandescent lights are used for display lights in retail stores, hotels and motels. This includes the very small, high-intensity track lights used to display merchandise or provide spot illumination in restaurants. Energy-efficient light bulbs, known as "watt-savers," use less energy than a standard incandescent bulb. "Long-life" bulbs, bulbs that last longer than standard incandescent but produce considerably less light, are not considered energy-efficient bulbs. This category also includes halogen lamps. Halogen lamps are a special type of incandescent lamp containing halogen gas to produce a brighter, whiter light than standard incandescent. Halogen lamps come in three styles: bulbs, models with reflectors, and infrared models with reflectors. Halogen lamps are especially suited to recessed or "canned fixtures," track lights, and outdoor lights.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): The kilowatt-hour is the usual unit of electrical energy purchase. The cost of electricity in the United States normally ranges from $0.06 to $0.18 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but can be as high as $0.23 per kWh in certain areas such as Hawaii.As for any other electrical appliance, the hourly cost of operation can be calculated by multiplying the input in watts by the cost per kilowatt-hour and dividing by 1000; for example, a 100-watt lamp operated on electricity that costs 10 cents per kilowatt-hour will cost 100 * 10/1000 = 1 cent per hour to operate.
Light-Emitting Diode (LED):Very efficient light bulbs that may last as long as 60,000 hours but do not generally put out enough light on their own for broad household or commercial use.
LEED™ certification: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) program, offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a voluntary credentialing program that certified buildings as green according to their criteria. Professionals in the field can also be certified as LEED™ Accredited Professionals (AP) by passing the rigorous LEED™ AP exam. (Appliances are not certified under the LEED™ program.)
Lifecycle Cost Analysis: Lifecycle Cost Analysis evaluates a project's savings and costs over a lifetime. The factors measured are salvage and maintenance savings, and operating, maintenance, replacement and disposal costs. If the Net Present Value of the benefits is greater than costs, the project is considered cost-effective.
Low-flow faucet aerator:One way to save water is to install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets. They can be installed in minutes by screwing them into the end of faucets. While most aerators limit water to three gallons per minute, low-flow models are available for around $5 that can reduce the flow to as little as one GPM. This can reduce faucet water usage by almost 60%. Aerators can save energy as well, since they use less hot water.
Video:
Cost calculator for water-saving faucet:
Lumens (lm): The unit for the amount of perceived light produced by a light source.
Payback period: The most commonly used method of measuring the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures. The payback period is the amount of time it takes for an energy efficiency measure's energy cost savings to cover its purchase, installation, and operating costs.
An energy efficiency measure is cost-effective if the payback period is less than the functional life of the proposed energy efficiency measure. Generally, a payback period of three years or less is desirable.
Photovoltaic cell (PVC): Solid-state cells (typically made from silicon) that directly convert sunlight into electricity; arranged together to form solar panels.
Reflective parking lot:Cool paving products provide heat island mitigation benefits by either reflecting more incoming solar radiation than traditional materials or enhancing permeability.
Commercial site:
RESFEN: A computer program used to calculate energy use based on window selection in residential buildings. RESFEN calculates the energy and cost implications of the window compared to an insulated wall. The relative energy and cost impacts of two different windows can be compared.
R-Value: R-value is the measure of a material's ability to resist heat conduction. Used to describe how well insulation performs. The greater the material's R-value, the better it performs as an insulator. All values assigned to insulation are based on specific thicknesses and are usually noted on the packaging. Compressing or otherwise reducing the thickness of insulation reduces its ability to resist conduction and its R-value.
In terms of mathematical formulas, an R-value describes a material's resistance to heat flow in units of Fahrenheit degrees x hours x square feet per Btu. The higher the R-value of a material, the greater its insulating capability. The R-value of some insulating materials is 3.7 per inch for fiberglass and cellulose,2.5 per inch for vermiculite, and more than 4 per inch for foam.
All building materials have some R-value. For example, a 4-inch brick has an R-value of 0.8, and half-inch plywood has an R-value of 0.6. The below table converts the most common "R" values to inches (of insulation). For other "R" values, divide the "R" value by 3 to get the number of inches.
3 / 1
11 / 3.5
19 / 6
52 / 18
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER):Measure of air conditioner as defined by the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute. In general, the higher the SEER, the less electricity the system needs to do its job. SEER is a mathematically determined ratio of the total cooling capacity during normal periods of operation (not to exceed 12 months) divided by the total electric energy input during the same time period.
Using the SEER number to calculate operating costs:
Sustainability:A very broad term. In relationship to human society, it is defined by the EPA as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In ecological terms, it is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biological diversity, and productivity over time. The term is most often used in discussions about consumption of limited resources. (For example: Using coal is, ultimately, not a sustainable practice, as there is a finite amount of it available. Using renewable energy resources may be more sustainable in the long term.)
Waterless urinal:Installs to the regular waste lines, but eliminate the flush water supply lines. Flush valves are eliminated as well; the conventional water-filled urinal's trap drain is replaced by a disposable a chemical trap inserted in the urinal outlet. A layer of sealing liquid floats on top of a urine layer. This combination trap seal blocks out sewer gases and the urine odors.
(One brand advertises that a 3-oz. container of their chemical trap fluid lasts over 1500 uses, replacing at least 1500 or up to 4500 gallons of potable quality flush water.)
Commercial sites describing their products:
U-value/U-factor: Measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material. Thereciprocal of R-value. The lower the U-value, the greater the material’sresistance to heat flow and better its insulating value (the opposite of Rvalue).
WaterSense Partnership: Sponsored by EPA, promote water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices, hels consumers identify water-efficient products and programs. The WaterSense label indicates that these products and programs are 20% more efficient than conventional models.
Wind turbine: Wind energy conversion device that produces electricity; typically three blades rotating about a horizontal axis and positioned up-wind of the supporting tower.
More terms:
Efficient Windows Glossary:
Facilities Dictionary:
Heat Island Effect Glossary:
Green Building Glossary:
Glossary for Greening the WayPage 1 of 5 / Contextual Biology Integrated Projects
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