The precipitation of diluted solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing in the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants (primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapor.

A solar application that uses electrical or mechanical equipment (typically pumps or fans) to assist in the collection and storage of solar energy for the purpose of heating, cooling or making electricity.

Any space used to convey air in a building, furnace, or structure. The space above a suspended ceiling is often used as an air plenum.

Contaminants or substances in the air that interfere with human health or produce other harmful environmental effects that are detrimental to the overall health of an environment or population.

Sources of energy that are renewable or generate less waste than conventional fossil fuels and coal. Examples of alternative energy include, but are not limited to: wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, wave and tidal energy.

Sources of energy that fuel transportation and are not fossil fuels. Most alternative fuels are intended to generate less air pollution than fossil fuels like diesel and gasoline. Examples: natural gas, ethanol and hydrogen.

A process used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a building after all the furniture and finishes (carpeting, ceiling tiles, etc.) have been installed, achieved by operating a building’s HVAC systems at elevated temperatures using 100 percent outside air.

An area defined by its unique ecological characteristics (e.g. watershed, species, flora, fauna, etc.).

Describes any substance that is capable of being decomposed by biological agents.

A landscape element that uses gentle slopes, vegetation, and soil or compost to retain and cleanse runoff water from a site, roadway, or other source, in order to prevent harmful pollutants from entering the water supply. A bioswale acts as a filter for the water before being released into a sewer or drain shed.

Abandoned, idled, or underutilized industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination. In 1993, the City of Chicago created the most aggressive program in the nation to reverse the urban blight associated with brownfields.

Elements (walls, windows, roofs, skylights, etc.) and materials (insulation, vapor barriers, siding, etc.) that enclose a building much like a sealed envelope. The building envelope is a thermal barrier between the indoor and outdoor environments 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.

A tool to help individuals and organizations track carbon emissions. A carbon calculator determines primary carbon footprints, through calculations based on factors such as fuel bills and annual travel patterns.

A measure of one’s impact on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced. This is typically measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Describes a company, person, or action which by itself does not produce any carbon emissions, or if emissions are produced they are offset by carbon reduction taking place elsewhere.

The deliberate limiting of the amount of carbon used each year by individuals. Carbon rationing helps to reduce the carbon footprint of an individual or organization.

A place where carbon dioxide is naturally absorbed. Oceans, forests, and peat bogs are often considered excellent carbon sinks.

A tax on the carbon content of fuels, effectively a tax on the carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

A meeting held early in the design phase of a project in which the design team, contractors, end users, community stakeholders, and technical experts are brought together to develop goals, strategies, and ideas for maximizing the environmental performance of the project.

CFCs are man-made chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen. Since the late 1970s the use of CFCs has been heavily regulated because of their destructive effects on the ozone layer.

Changes in long-term trends in the average climate, such as changes in average temperatures. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), climate change is a change in climate that is attributable directly or indirectly to human activity that alters atmospheric composition. In 2008 the City of Chicago launched its “Chicago Climate Action Plan,” which is a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change at the local level.

Development design that concentrates buildings and infrastructure in specific areas on a site to allow remaining land to be used for recreation, common open space, or the preservation of historical or environmentally sensitive features.

Light bulbs that use 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb. CFLs contain mercury, which can complicate their disposal.

A multi-modal street that is designed to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a ‘complete street.’

A process whereby organic wastes, including food and paper, decompose naturally, resulting in produce rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioner, mulch , resurfacing material, or landfill cover.

Simply preserving and renewing, when possible, human and natural resources.

A form of land regulation that permits flexibility of design in order to promote environmentally sensitive and efficient uses of the land. With land subdivided through a conservation subdivision regulation, local government can preserve unique or sensitive natural resources such as groundwater, floodplains, wetlands, streams, steep slopes, woodlands, and wildlife habitat.

Waste building materials, tree stumps, and rubble resulting from construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition of homes, commercial buildings, and other structures and pavements.

A term used in life-cycle analysis to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new product at the end of its defined life.

A term used in life-cycle analysis to describe the entire life of a material or product up to the point of disposal. Also refers to a system that handles a product from creation through disposal.

Using natural light in an interior space to substitute for artificial light. Well-designed daylighting reduces a building's energy use by diminished the need for artificial light, and contributes to occupant comfort and performance.

The process of carefully dismantling a building in order to salvage components for reuse. This process may result in economic benefits and improved environmental quality as compared to the typical demolition process.

A rough measure used to estimate the amount of heating required in a given area; defined as the difference between the mean daily temperature and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Degree-days are also calculated to estimate cooling requirements.

The process of destroying a building (typically using heavy machinery or explosives). The process results in minimal amount of material reuse opportunities and high quantities of landfill waste.

A factor that affects the life cycle performance of a material or assembly. All other factors being equal, the more durable item is environmentally preferable, as it means less frequent replacement.

An evaluation of a home or workplace with the aim of cutting energy and water usage.

An ethically, organically made bag, that is used in place of typical plastic bags.

A roof that features environmentally friendly features, but not necessarily vegetation. Eco-Roofs can feature a combination of composite, solar reflecting, and thermal emitting materials.

The area of land and water needed to produce the resources to entirely sustain a human population and absorb its waste products with prevailing technology.

The total amount of energy used to create a product, including energy expended in raw materials extraction, processing, manufacturing, and transportation.

A limit placed on companies regarding the amount of greenhouse gases they can emit.

The task or purpose for which energy is required. Examples include lighting dark spaces, cooking food, and powering vehicles.

To the maximum extent economically feasible, the building should rely on energy efficient and renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuel for its operation. It should meet and, in most instances, exceed current whole-building energy performance goals.

A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through the use of high-efficiency products. ENERGY STAR qualifying products, such as windows and doors, use smaller amounts of energy, save money, and help protect the environment.

A document required of federal agencies by the National Environmental Policy Act for major projects or legislative proposals significantly affecting the environment. A tool for decision making, it describes the positive and negative effects of the undertaking and cites alternative actions.

Fuels found in the Earth that are derived from the fossilized remains of animal and plant matter over millions of years. Fossil fuels include oil, natural gas, shale, and coal. Fossil fuels are considered to be non-renewable since they are consumed faster than their natural production.

A special type of glass that utilizes ceramic-enamel coatings in a visible pattern (dots, lines, etc.) to control solar heat gain. The pattern is created by opaque or transparent glass fused to the substrate glass material under high temperatures. The substrate is heat strengthened or tempered to prevent breakage due to thermal stresses.

An independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. They help to certify environmentally sustainable choices of wood products for building, by providing independent certification and labeling of forest products.

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.

A heating and/or cooling system that operates using the natural temperature from the ground to stabilize indoor temperature. Depending on the time of year, a Geo-Exchange system transfers heat from the ground into a building in the colder seasons (for heating), or transfers heat from a building into the ground during warmer seasons (for cooling). Geo-Exchange systems are typically very efficient, but setup costs are higher than for conventional HVAC systems.

Power extracted from heat stored in the earth.

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 uses such as flushing, irrigation, etc.

The development of non-contaminated retail areas such as old malls, strip malls, or institutional areas into complete, livable communities.

A design, usually architectural, which conforms to environmentally sound principles of building, material, and energy use. A green building, for example, might make use of solar panels, skylights, and recycled building materials.

The state of weariness associated with a perceived over-concentration of corporate green credentials and descriptions of future climate change.

Contained green space on, or integrated with, a building roof. Green roofs maintain living plants in a growing medium on top of a membrane and drainage system.

A term describing the misleading utilization of green marketing or green public relations used to promote the false perception that a company’s policies or products are environmentally friendly.

Previously undeveloped parcels that are not surrounded by existing development, or are surrounded by partially developed/low-density areas.

Greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere permit solar radiation to pass through but prevent most of the reflected infrared radiation from the earth’s surface and lower atmosphere from escaping into outer space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the earth’s average surface temperature at approximately 60°F. Life on earth would not be possible without the natural greenhouse effect, but environmental scientists are concerned about the increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities, which lead to climate change and its consequential adverse effects.

Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the earth’s atmosphere. Common greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), hydrofluoro-carbons (HFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides are of particular concern due to their long residence time in the atmosphere.

The rise of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere is widely considered to contribute to environmental disruption, known as global warming. The belief that human industrial activity is responsible for the rise of greenhouse gas, due to industry's release of the above compounds into the atmosphere, is known as anthropogenic global warming. Many of the sustainability efforts described in these pages are aimed at reducing the release of greenhouse gases, which is thought to reduce or eliminate this phenomenon.

A type of incandescent lamp with higher energy efficiency than standard non-halogen bulbs.

The indoor environmental quality of a building has a big impact on occupant health and productivity. Along with its other attributes, a sustainable building should avoid the use of materials hight in pollutants such as VOCs or toxins, and be well ventilated.

A phenomenon that occurs in developed areas where the replacement of natural land cover with pavement and buildings results in an increase in outdoor temperatures. The heat island effect can be mitigated by vegetation, green roofs, and light colored building materials that reflect heat.

General term for technologies and processes that require less energy, water, or other inputs to operate. A goal in sustainable building is to achieve high efficiency in resource use when compared to conventional practice.

The ability of materials to effectively reflect the sun's energy. Roof materials with high reflectance stay cooler in the sun, thereby reducing energy cost, improving occupant comfort, and reducing the urban heat island effect.

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. An important part of the internal environment of any household, as they are the main method of circulating air and maintaining a comfortable temperature.

Electric energy produced by the flow of moving water. Traditionally, fast-moving rivers have been an excellent source for this form of energy.

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.

A type of heating or cooling system that uses water as means of heat transfer. Common examples include steam or hot-water radiators, but more recent applications include Geo-Exchange systems.

A surface that sheds the precipitation falling on it, rather than allowing precipitation to filter through it. Impervious surfaces can lead to excessive storm-water runoff and limit the amount of storm-water that remains onsite or recharges local aquifers.

Good indoor air quality inside a building results from air that contains no known contaminants at harmful concentrations, and with which a substantial majority of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.

The usage of vacant or underutilized land in developed communities, instead of selecting new tracts for a development project.

A holistic process that considers the many disparate parts of a building project and examines the interaction between design, construction, and operations to optimize the energy and environmental performance of the project. The strength of this process is that all relevant issues are considered simultaneously in order to “solve for pattern” or solve many problems with one solution. The goal of integrated design is developments that have the potential to heal damaged environments and become net producers of energy, healthy food, clean water and air, and healthy human and biological communities.

The complementary use of a variety of practices to handle solid waste safely and effectively. Techniques include source reduction, recycling, composting, combustion, and landfilling.

Viewing a building as a system to allow the discovery of synergies and potential tradeoffs or pitfalls with design choices. An integrated design approach helps maximize synergies and minimize unintended consequences.

Materials which are able to adapt to their environment by altering their properties. Example of “intelligent” materials include liquid crystal glass which changes from transparent to opaque upon application of a current, and thermochromic glazing that changes transparency in response to ambient temperatures.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a UN-commissioned international working group formed in 1988. It assesses climate change and its human causes.

Jump ducts are a method improving the energy efficiency of homes with forced-air heating and cooling systems. They address the critical issues of equalizing air pressure in various parts of the home and of effectively handling return air. Jump ducts handle return air from rooms that can be isolated by closing doors. Jump ducts move air from closed rooms to the hallway or open interior space and ultimately to the central return air duct typically via ceiling cavities or attic space.

Unit of measurement for electricity and natural gas usage.

In December 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.

An area where waste is dumped and eventually covered with dirt and topsoil.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a point-based rating system developed by the US Green Building Council that evaluates the environmental performance from a “whole building” perspective over the building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building according to six categories. Buildings are rated as either Silver, Gold, or Platinum, in ascending order of performance quality.

The total cost of acquiring, owning, operating, and disposing of a building or building system over its entire useful life. LCC includes the costs of land acquisition, construction, energy, maintenance, service and repair to the building and its systems, system replacement, financing, and the residual or salvage value at the end of the building’s useful life.

The environmental pollution consisting of an excess amount of harmful or annoying light.

Horizontal device positioned (usually above eye level) to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and beyond. The light shelf may project into the room, beyond the exterior wall plane, or both. The upper surface of the shelf is highly reflective, having 80 percent or greater reflectance. Light shelves are also effective shading devices for windows located below them.

Building products manufactured or extracted within a defined radius of the building site. For example, the US Green Building Council defines local materials as those that are manufactured, processed, or extracted within a 500-mile radius of the site. Use of regional materials is considered a sustainable building strategy due to the fact that these materials require less transport, reducing transportation-related environmental impacts. Additionally, regional materials support local economies, supporting the community goal of sustainable building.

Also known as low-emissivity, this term describes a surface that emits or radiates low levels of radiant energy. Low-emissivity building materials include window glass manufactured with metal-oxide coatings. High-emissivity materials include asphalt or bricks. Reflectivity is the opposite of emissivity, and when the two are added together their total should equal 1.

Vehicles that emit less pollution than those with conventional engines.

Method of conserving water either through the use of attachments, such as faucet aerators, or by utilizing appliances such as ULF toilets (Ultra Low Flow) toilets.

Vehicles typically capable of serving 10 or more occupants, such as buses, trolleys, light rail, etc.

To the maximum extent economically feasible, a sustainable building should be constructed of durable, low-energy content, nontoxic materials that are manufactured locally using sustained yield methods when appropriate. Sustainable-building assemblies encourage reuse and recycling.

Localized climate conditions within an urban area or building.

A layer of material (wood chips, straw, leaves, etc.) placed around plants to hold moisture, prevent weed growth, and enrich or sterilize the soil.

Ventilation design that uses existing air currents on a site and natural convection to move and distribute air through a structure or space.

Energy resources that cannot be restored or replenished by natural processes and therefore are depleted through use. Commonly used non-renewable energy resources include coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium.

Sensing device commonly connected to a room’s lighting, but also occasionally used in the heating or ventilation, which shuts down these services when the space is unoccupied.

Fossil fuel used to produce gasoline and other materials, such as plastics.

The protection of natural areas both within and around communities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g. wetlands).

Defined for LEED purposes as pavement that is less than 50% impervious and contains vegetation in the open cells. See also permeable.

Indicates the growth of plants in the absence of artificial pesticides or fertilizer. Can also refer to organisms or objects that occur in the natural environment, such as in the term volatile organic compounds.

The position of a building relative to the points of a compass. Energy consumption in a building can be reduced by proper orientation of the building’s window areas relative to the sun.

An explanation of the ideas, concepts and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project (previously called the Design Intent).

The upper atmosphere, about 15 miles above sea level, which forms a naturally-occurring protective layer shielding the earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation.

The uses of natural heat transfer processes to collect, distribute, and store usable heat without the help of mechanical devices (pumps or fans). Passive solar systems have few moving parts. Trombe Walls are an example of passive solar systems.

Equity, for which the returns on investment are received on a long-term timeframe, complementing and supplementing typical short-term real estate financing. These may include investments from foundations and pension funds, revenue from parking facilities, and other sources of capital.

Data that can be used to measure how well a person or object is performing compared to objectives and goals.

A substance that allows water to percolate through and helps to maintain and restore area watersheds. Permeable pavements are an important component in low impact development. Through 2008, more than 80 Green Alleys, featuring permeable pavement, have been installed in the City of Chicago.

A process of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into an electrical current. Photovoltaic power methods use photovoltaic cells, silicon-based semiconductors, as the means for collecting and transferring solar radiation.

Low-cost option for site cleanup when the site has low levels of contamination that are widely dispersed. Phytoremediation (a subset of bioremediation) uses plants to break down or uptake contaminants.

A charge added to a customer billing which is intended to cover costs related to services that a utility provides in the public interest. A utility may be mandated by legislation or regulations to provide some or all of the services covered by this charge, and these services range from educational initiatives, to funding for low-income customers, to environmental programs.

A term that relates to the measurement of the thermal resistance of a material. This measurement is typically used in the construction and building industry in relation to the measurement of insulators heat loss retardation. A larger r-value relates to a more effective building insulation that contains heat well, and a lower r-value is less effective allowing heat to travel through a material more easily. R-value is the reciprocal of the u-value.

On-site rainwater harvest and storage systems used to offset potable water needs for a building or landscape. Systems can take a variety of forms, but usually consist of a surface for collecting precipitation (roof or other impervious surface) and a storage system. Depending on the end use, a variety of filtration and purification systems may also be employed.

Materials that are made from plants that are typically harvested within a ten-year or shorter cycle. This type of resource regenerates itself faster than the demand for the product.

A series of processes that include collection, separation, and processing by which products and raw materials are recovered and reused in lieu of being disposed as solid or liquid wastes. Commonly recycled items include aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper and industrial solvents. Recycling can also apply to construction materials, and even to buildings themselves.

The content in a material or product derived from recycled materials versus virgin materials.

The choice not to use or buy a product in the first place so there is less waste, less recycling and less reusing.

Renewal of sites or habitats that have become unfit for human, animal, or plant habitation, bringing them back into productive use. The term most commonly refers to urban and industrial land that has been neglected over time.

Energy that is extracted from a natural source and is constantly replenished. Common sources of renewable energy include wind, water, geo-exchange, and sunlight.

RECs are tradable environmental commodities in the United States which represent proof that one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was renewable (generated from an eligible renewable energy resource).

Like renewable energy, resources such as wind, sunlight and trees that regenerate.

The replacement, upgrade, or improvement of a piece of equipment or structure in an existing building or facility.

The recovery and re-application of a material. An example would be recovering wood from a building that is being deconstructed, and building a table from wood, thereby reusing it. Some reusable materials include: appliances, electrical, lumber, flooring, bricks, doors, windows and architectural pieces.

Building materials diverted from the waste stream so they can be reused. Commonly salvaged materials include structural beams and posts, flooring, doors, cabinetry, brick, and decorative items.

A durable natural fiber used as a floor covering, derived from leaves of the sisal plant.

The location of a building affects a wide range of environmental factors such as local ecosystems, transportation, energy use, and the reuse or rehabilitation of existing structures.

A collection of urban development strategies to reduce sprawl that are fiscally, environmentally and socially responsible. Smart Growth is development that enhances our quality of life, protects our environment, and uses tax revenues wisely.

See Active Solar and Passive Solar.

The process by which heat from the sun is absorbed by solar collectors and transferred by pumps or fans to a storage unit for later use or to the house interior directly.

An assembly of photovoltaic modules. Use of solar panels is considered a sustainable building strategy in that it lessens a building’s reliance on nonrenewable sources of power distributed through the grid system.

The set of systems and facilities that are used to manage solid waste (garbage and recyclable materials), including storage, collection, transport, recycling, and disposal systems and facilities.

A market barrier to an innovation, in which higher capital costs of an innovation are borne by one market participant while its operating savings benefit another. The financial incentive to adopt the technology is split from the participant responsible for putting it in place.

The unlimited outward expansion of suburbs created by low-density residential and commercial development. Sprawl is characterized by low-density greenfield development; the separation of residential, work and shopping areas; lack of well-defined centers; and a road network consisting of very large blocks with limited points of entry into the blocks.

Any organization, governmental entity, or individual that may be impacted by a given approach to environmental regulation, pollution prevention, energy conservation, etc.

SO2 is a heavy, smelly gas which can be condensed into a clear liquid. It is used to make sulfuric acid, bleaching agents, preservatives and refrigerants, and is a major source of air pollution.

Devices for blocking unwanted solar gain.

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.

Charge for the unloading or dumping of waste at a recycling facility, composting facility, landfill, transfer station, or waste-to-energy facility.

Moderate and high-density housing concentrated in mixed-use developments located along transit routes. The location, design and mix of uses in a TOD emphasize pedestrian-oriented environments and encourage the use of public transportation.

The combined production of electricity, heat and cooling, which involves connecting cogeneration units with absorption cooling units (cooling produced from heat).

Thermal storage system used in passive solar design. A high-mass wall that stores heat from solar gain during the day and slowly radiates the heat back into the living space at night.

A term that describes how well a material conducts heat. It represents the rate of heat transfer through a building element over a given area. In terms of insulation, a smaller u-value is better, representing low heat transfer through the insulation material. U-value is the reciprocal of the r-value.

A parking strategy in which parking spaces are rented or sold separately, rather than automatically included with the rent or purchase price of a residential or commercial unit. Tenants or owners are able to purchase only as much parking as they need, and are given the opportunity to save money and space by using fewer parking stalls. Unbundled parking is more equitable and can reduce the total amount of parking required for the building.

A material placed under flooring, shingles, or other finish materials to provide a smooth, even base.

Access to environments and products that is, to the greatest extent possible, usable by everyone regardless of their age, ability, or circumstance.

A forest or a collection of trees and shrubbery that grow within a city, town or a suburb. In a wider sense it may include any kind of woody plant vegetation growing in and around human settlements. The benefits of urban forests include beautification, reduction of the urban heat island effect, reduction of storm water runoff, reduction of air pollution, reduction of energy costs through increased shade over buildings, enhancement of property values, improved wildlife habitat, and mitigation of overall urban environmental impact.

A material once used to conserve energy by sealing crawl spaces, attics, etc. It is no longer used because emissions were found to be a health hazard.

An organized activity in which building systems, equipment, design features and materials are analyzed in order to attain the lowest building life cycle cost while maintaining the stated functional and performance goals including quality, reliability, and safety.

A garden roof system that incorporates vegetation as a major element, they are typically divided into two categories — extensive and intensive — defined by the depth of growing medium and types of vegetative cover.

Process by which outside air is conveyed to an indoor space.

The ability of building occupants to control ventilation rates. A strategy for giving control of comfort back to occupants, this can be achieved through access to individual electronic controls or by operable windows in workspaces.

A form of composting that utilizes worms that feed on slowly decomposing materials (e.g. vegetable scraps, some paper products) in a controlled environment to produce nutrient-rich soil.

Organic compounds that evaporate at room temperatures and are often hazardous to human health, causing poor indoor air quality. Many materials commonly used in building construction such as carpets, furniture and paints emit VOCs.

Describes broken or unwanted electronic gadgets like mobile phones or computers, which often require specialized disposal procedures.

The spent or used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter.

The process of reducing, controlling, or treating site runoff: using water efficiently through appliance specification; and recovering gray water for on-site use when feasible.

The process of reducing the leaks of heat from or into a building. It may involve caulking, weather-stripping, adding insulation, and other similar improvements to the building shell.

A device that converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy that can be used to drive equipment such as pumps. 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, in which, blades rotate about a horizontal axis; and vertical axis turbines, in which blades rotate about a vertical axis.

Landscaping design for conserving water that uses drought-resistant or drought-tolerant plants.