definitions

black water: waste water generated by toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers.

blower door test: checks the tightness of a house. Results of the blower door test and a duct test (to test the tightness of ducts) with other information about your house, are entered into a computer simulation program to generate a score.

certified wood: materials going into certified wood-based products come from a sustainable forest, or they contain certified recycled and recovered content. Most products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

CFC: chlorofluorocarbon, a chemical compound found in many aerosol products or manufacturing processes and believed to be responsible for depleting the Earth’s diminishing ozone layer.

duct sealing: refers to stopping air leaks in ductwork through joints, seams and other holes, especially in return ducts and plenums. Water based latex mastic that meets UL std.181 is recommended.

embodied energy: all of the energy invested in bringing a material to its final product, including transportation.

Energy Star: the EPA's label to indicate that a home has a minimum HERS rating of 86 and therefore is 30% more energy efficient than a comparable house built using minimum energy code requirements.

engineered wood: recycled/reconstituted wood products that are laminated or "finger-jointed." The product is typically more uniform and has superior strength.

flyash: a byproduct of coal-burning power plants. Currently the U.S. produces about 60 million tons per year; 70% ends up in landfills. By using flyash in concrete, not only is a waste product recycled, but it produces a more durable and more environmentally friendly concrete. With the proper mixture of water and cement, maximum benefits can be achieved with 50% or more flyash content.

graywater: wastewater produced from baths, washers, and bathroom sinks. The wastewater generated by toilet is blackwater. Graywater can be used for irrigation purposes, although each county has different regulations.

harvested rainwater: rainwater captured and used for indoor needs, irrigation, or both.

HCFC: hydrochlorofluorocarbon, a chemical compound used in aerosol cans.

Home Energy Rating System (HERS): rating is an objective, standardized evaluation of the energy efficiency of a home, compared to a simulated reference house (same size and shape as the rated home) that meets minimum energy code requirements.

hydronic heating: in-floor hot water heating system where hot water is pumped through a thermal mass floor which absorbs the heat and evenly radiates the over an extended period of time.

hydropower: the production of electricity by harnessing the power of flowing water, usually through the use of a waterwheel

insulating concrete forms (ICFs): lightweight blocks, commonly made of expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene that are filled with concrete and remain in place to provide thermal insulation for concrete walls.

insulation R-value: a measurement ranging that refers to the insulation's ability to resist heat flow, affected by the insulation's coverage, density, airflow near and through the insulation and water presence within the insulation.

laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams: engineered wood that is glued together from defect-free veneers to achieve longer and thicker dimensions with superior strength than is available from solid woods, with less warping and twisting.

low-e glazing: glazing treated with a low-emittance (low-e) coating. Microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers are deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce the U-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow. A typical type of low-E coating is transparent to the solar spectrum (visible light and short-wave infrared radiation) and reflective of long-wave infrared radiation.

low and non-VOC paints and finishes: do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that outgas and lower the quality of the indoor air.

micro-hydropower: similar to hydropower, except it can be achieved through the use of a small stream.

oriented strand board (OSB): a layered, mat-formed panel product made of strands, flakes or wafers sliced from small diameter, round wood logs and bonded under heat and pressure. OSB's strength comes mainly from the uninterrupted wood fiber, interweaving of the long strands or wafers, and degree of orientation of strands in the surface layers.

passive solar design: the technology of heating and cooling a building naturally without the use of mechanical equipment. The orientation of the building, site selection, materials, and design features allow the home to collect, store and distribute the sun's heat in winter, block the sun during the summer, and provide for air circulation and natural day lighting.

photovoltaics (PV): solar cells that absorb sunlight and convert it directly into electricity and used to power a home's electrical systems. Solar cells are thin rectangular wafers, typically made of silicon. A four-inch silicon cell can produce about one watt of DC electricity. A number of cells form a module or a module array.

R-value: a measure of the rate of resistance to heat loss or gain through a material; typically a wall or a roof. The higher the R-value, the greater the material's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.

radiant barrier: is a layer of metallic foil placed on the back of roof decking or attached to the beams just below the roof to reduce heat flow from the roof into the attic, thereby keeping the house cooler. To be effective, a radiant barrier must have its reflective surface face an air space.

radiant floor heating: a heating system consisting of liquid filled tubes that are placed in the flooring that can be heated. Radiant heat can be zoned to provide heat only in the rooms that need it.

renewable: when a resource comes into being through a relatively fast-acting natural processes (sunlight and rain are examples)

sealed-combustion appliances: appliances with the ignition heating element sealed and vented to prevent gases from mixing with and polluting indoor air quality.

solar water heating: liquid flowing through tubes in an insulated box, typically mounted on the roof, absorb the sun's heat which heats the water used in the home.

structural insulating panels (SIPs): two exterior skins, typically oriented strand board (OSB), with a foam insulation core. Replaces traditional framing.

sustainable: a resource or system that meets present needs without compromising those of future generations. Example: a continuously maintained forest where mature trees are harvested and new trees are replanted to filter pollutants and provide continued resources and products for future generations.

TJI joists: a high-tech beam, manufactured to resist swelling and shrinking, and feature an efficient I-beam shape that enables them to carry large loads over long spans.

U-value: (or U-factor) is a measure of the rate of heat loss or gain through a material. The lower the U-factor, the greater the material's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value. U-value is the inverse of R-value.

VOC: volatile organic compound. A highly evaporative, carbon-based chemical substance, which produces noxious fumes; found in many paints, caulks, stains, and adhesives.

water harvesting: captures rainwater from the roofs of buildings and stores it in above or below ground cisterns for future use. Rainwater can be used for potable needs, irrigation, or both.

wind power: wind power is generated through the use of a turbine, usually mounted on a tower. The turbine collects wind energy and converts it to electricity which is transferred to your houses breaker panel, allowing you to rely on your existing utility power supply as only a backup.

xeriscaping: low-maintenance landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment by using mulch, soil analysis, native plant selection, and efficient irrigation.