Biodegradable: A product or material made from plant or animal material that, after usage, is broken down quickly by other living organisms
Carbon Footprint: The environmental impact we have depending on the choices we make such as raw-material selection, energy selection, transportation, etc.
CFL: Compact fluorescent light bulb. They use 75% less energy than traditional (incandescent) bulbs and CFL’s last up to 10 times longer.
Compost: The act of recycling organic materials for fertilizer.
Cradle-to-Cradle: A term used to describe a material or product that is recycled into a new or similar product at the end of its intended life.
Cradle-to-Grave: A term used to describe a material or product that is dumped in a landfill or burned at the end of its intended life.
Cruelty-Free: Although the credibility of this varies from product to product, for a full cruelty free product, the companies vow that they have not tested their finished product on animals and that they continued to use only cruelty-free suppliers. A leaping bunny logo can be found on such items, the image representing the (CCIC), the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics.
Energy Star: A U.S. government sponsored program designed to help consumers save money and energy.
Environmentally-friendly: A term often used to designate a product or process that has a reduced carbon footprint when compared to other products or processes.
Greenager: an eco-conscious adolescent.
Greenhouse Effect: Rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain faces in the atmosphere trap energy from the sun.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG): Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Grey-water: Post-bath or sink water used to flush toilets and for landscape watering.
LED: Light emitting diode. Can last up to a million hours compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
Natural: “Consumers assume these products that don’t pose health risks…but some products out there are labeled ‘natural’ that aren’t.” Look at the products ingredients to judge what is natural and what products include petrochemicals.
Net metering: Programs that provide an incentive for customers to invest in renewable energy. Customers can generate their own energy to offset consumption; meters turn backwards when energy generated exceeds electricity used.
Never Greens: People who either dont care or are not interested in America's new passion for sustainable, green products.
Off-gas: The evaporation and release of chemicals from materials (often building and home furnishing materials) that lead to unhealthy indoor living environments.
Organic: Products that are commonly produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals.
Photovoltaic (PV): Cell or devices that directly convert sunlight into electricity.
Real-time pricing: A utility monitoring and billing structure whereby consumers are billed for the power they use on hourly market prices. This structure enables consumers to use power during non-peak times to save money.
Renewable energy: Energy from sources that regenerate or reoccur such as wind or sunlight.
Sustainability: Practice of making products or materials using resources that can be quickly replaced or replenished.
Urban Heat Island Effect: The phenomenon whereby metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than surrounding areas. This temperature increase occurs because cities are composed of more artificial surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, and these materials easily absorb the sun’s heat, causing the temperature of the area to rise.
Vegan-Friendly: Byproducts of honey and milk are not considered vegan friendly. The average consumer might not be aware of contents that are vegan friendly. Vegan Action makes it easier by offering a vegan.org stamp to manufacturers who submit signed testimonies that all ingredients are from vegan sources.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds (found in paints and carpet glue) are the leading cause of indoor air pollution.
