"Green Building" Glossary
Carbon cycle
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it, combined with water
they get from the soil, to make the substances they need for growth. Also,
photosynthesis allows the carbond atom from carbon dioxide to be converted
into sugars. The
process of the food chain allows the carbon to continue into animals, converting
to build tissue or as needed, continually returning carbon dioxide into the
air. When animals die, the carbon is returned to the soil during decomposition
and may then be used in a new plant or micro-organisms.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms.
A very widely known chemical compound, it is frequently called by its formula
CO2 and is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, concentrations
of which have increased (from 280 parts per million in pre-industrial times
to over 350 parts per million today) as a result of human activity (burning
coal, oil, natural gas and organic matter). This increased carbon dioxide is
linked to global warming.
Carbon footprint
The amount of carbon released by subject (human, building, factory, production
and so on), how much carbon is being produced as a result of specific actions.
The typical American is responsible for 10 tons of CO2 emissions annually through
their direct energy use of home, cars and air travel, and about 23 tons of
CO2 indirectly through purchases and other activities.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Chemicals used in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, or
as solvents and aerosol propellants. CFCs are not destroyed and drift into
the upper atmosphere where their chlorine components destroy the Earth's protective
ozone layer.
Formaldehyde
Colorless, pungent smelling, toxic material used in glues in many wood products.
Its use has been linked with respiratory problems, cancer and chemical sensitivity.
Geothermal heat exchange technology
A geothermal system connects the inside of a building with the Earth beneath
it. An exchange of BTU's between the two keeps the temperature inside the building
constant and comfortable.
In winter, geothermal heat exchange technology utilizes heat from
subsurface water and soils to heat buildings; in summer, this process is reversed
as the technology takes the right number of BTU's out of the building to make
it cool and puts those BTU's back into the subsurface water and soils.
Global Warming
An increase in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. Global warming
is one of the consequences of the enhanced greenhouse effect and will cause
worldwide changes to climate patterns.
Greenhouse Effect
In simple terms, sunlight passes through the atmosphere, warming the Earth. In
turn, the Earth radiates this energy back towards space. As it passes through
the atmosphere, greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and
nitrous oxide) absorb part of the energy, while the remainder escapes into
space. This means that some of the sun's energy becomes trapped — thus
making the
lower part of the atmosphere, and Earth, warmer. (As long as the amount of
greenhouse gases inthe air stays the same, and and as long as the amount of
heat arriving from the sun is constant, an equilibrium is established. This
is a steady state where as much energy is lost to space as it gained from
the sun.)
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
An increase in the natural process of the greenhouse effect, brought about by
human activities, whereby greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane,
chlorofluorocarbons and nitrous oxide are being released into the atmosphere
at a far greater rate than would occur through natural processes and thus
their concentrations are increasing. Also called anthropogenic greenhouse effect
or climate change.
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
You pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you
use. A kWh is the amount of electricity consumed in one hour. Appliances
are labeled
with their wattage (W). For example, an average dishwasher has a wattage range
of 1200 - 2400 W. If you know the average wattage, you can calculate
how much each appliance uses per day with this formula:
kWH used per day equals
W times hours used per day ÷ 1000
So, if your 1200-watt coffee maker is used for 1/2 hour, your kWh/day would be:
0.6
kWh/day or 219 kWh/year:
1200 W x .50/hr per day ÷ 1000 equals 0.6 kWh/day
With the
national average (2006) at 9.45¢,
it would cost about $20.70 per year to make your coffee.
.6 kWh x .0945 x 365 days equals $20.70. Keep in mind this is just one small appliance with limited use!
Methane: (CH4)
A major component of natural gas that's flammable. It is a more powerful global warming agent than carbon dioxide.
Ozone
Stratospheric ozone is a gas which occurs naturally — the stratosphere
begins 7-10 miles above Earth. Stratospheric ozone filters ultraviolet
(UV) radiation from
the sun. As the ozone layer is depleted, more ultraviolet radiation reaches
the Earth's surface, causing health
problems like skin cancer and cataracts. Ground level ozone is produced
near the Earth's surface through complex chemical reactions of nitrogen oxides,
volatile
organic compounds, and sunlight. Ground level ozone is the primary
component of smog and is harmful to humans and the environment.
Radon
A radioactive, colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally. When trapped in
buildings, the concentration can build up and cause health hazards such as
lung cancer.
Sick House Syndrome
In poorly ventilated homes and office buildings, noxious agents such as carbon
dioxide can build up, affecting the immune systems of people. See www.SickHouseSurvival.com.
Green building practices seek to control sick house syndrome.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Chemicals that contain carbon molecules and are volatile enough to evaporate
from material surfaces into indoor air at normal room temperatures. VOCs may
be in paints, adhesives, carpeting and particleboard. Signs or symptoms of
VOC exposure may include eye and upper respiratory irritation, nasal
congestion, headache and dizziness.