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FEATURED PRODUCT

 HydroRight Dual Flush Converter


Glossary

bioaccumulation: the net accumulation of a substance by an organism as a result of uptake from all environmental sources.

biobased products: products manufactured from agricultural material, forestry material or both.

biodiversity: the variability among living organisms from all sources including: terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

building related illness (BRI): a diagnosable illness of which cause and symptoms can be directly attributed to a specific pollutant source within a building (for example, Legionnaire’s disease, hypersensitivity, pneumonitis). BRI differs from sick building syndrome (SBS) because the symptoms of the disease persist after leaving the building, unlike SBS where the occupant experiences relief shortly after leaving the building.

carbon sinking: an approach to offset carbon dioxide emissions through the absorption potential of forests and other vegetation. In carbon sinking (also called carbon sequestration), carbon is removed from the atmosphere and ‘stored’ in plants.

carrying capacity: the theoretical maximum population of a biological organism that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely. While the existence of a carrying capacity for a given species in a given ecosystem is commonly recognized, the specific number or range established as the carrying capacity is often debated.

climate change: the changing weather patterns related to greenhouse gas emissions. The term 'climate change' is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but because the Earth's climate is never static, the term is more properly used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. In some cases, 'climate change' has been used synonymously with the term, 'global warming'; see global warming.

ecosystem: a community of biological organisms and their physical environment, functioning together as an interdependent unit within a defined area. Humans, animals, plants and micro-organisms are all considered biological organisms.

environmentally preferable product: a product, material, or system that promotes stewardship of the earth’s resources, promotes good indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and/or promotes efficiencies in operational performance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, per Executive Order (EO) 13101 section 201 (1998), defines environmentally preferable products as “products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.”

evapotranspiration: a natural cooling process in which water transpires from a leaf's surface and evaporates into the atmosphere, reducing ambient temperature.

global warming: an increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming that occurs as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Scientists generally agree that the Earth's surface has warmed by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 140 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently concluded that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases are causing an increase in the Earth's surface temperature. See climate change.

green building program: green building programs provide design guidance in response to the growing awareness and understanding of environmental issues. Numerous local, state and regional agencies are adopting green building programs. These programs typically address new construction and require professional assistance in documenting compliance with the program requirements.

green home rating programs: see green building program.

green roofing system: an assembly that supports an area of planting/landscaping, built up on a waterproofed substrate at any level that is separated from the natural ground by a human-made structure.

greenhouse gas: gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, which contributes to climate change.

indoor air quality (IAQ): IAQ is the condition or state of the indoor air. IAQ is an aspect of IEQ.

indoor environmental quality (IEQ): IEQ is the condition or state of the indoor environment. Aspects of IEQ include but are not limited to thermal comfort, light quality, acoustic quality and air quality.

multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS): a diagnostic label for people who suffer multi-symptom illnesses as a result of contact with, or proximity to, a variety of airborne agents and other substances.

non-renewable resource: a resource that exists in a fixed amount that cannot be replenished on a human time-scale. Non-renewable resources have the potential for renewal only by the geological, physical and chemical processes taking place over hundreds of millions of years. Non-renewable resources exist in various places in the earth’s crust. Examples include iron ore, coal and oil.

off-gas: see out-gas.

outgas: a process of evaporation or chemical decomposition through which vapors are released from materials.

perpetual resource: a resource that is virtually inexhaustible on a human time scale. Examples include solar energy, tidal energy, and wind energy.

pervious paving: paving systems that allow water to percolate through the paving and recharge ground water tables. Systems typically are concrete interlocking pavers, paving blocks, or plastic paving forms with open areas designed for placement of gravel or to allow grass to grow within the void areas. Alternatively, loose fill permeable surfacing includes: gravel, cobbles, wood, mulch, brick, and natural stone.

post-consumer: refers to recovered materials that are reclaimed from products that have already served their intended end-use as a consumer item. Waste from industrial processes are not considered post-consumer.

precautionary approach: an internationally–recognized method for evaluating risk. It advocates caution when the environment or human health may be negatively impacted by a human activity, chemical or process; such caution is advocated even when the cause and effect relationships are not completely established scientifically. A precautionary approach manages risk by avoiding risk. It embraces the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin who wrote: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

recycled content products: products that contain preconsumer or post-consumer materials as all or part of their feedstock.

renewable energy: energy obtained from renewable resources, including wind, solar, tidal, and forestry and agricultural products and by-products.

renewable resource: a resource that is grown, naturally replenished, or cleansed, at a rate which exceeds depletion of the usable supply of that resource. A renewable resource can be exhausted if improperly managed. However, a renewable resource can last indefinitely with proper stewardship. Examples include: trees in forests, grasses in grasslands, and fertile soil.

sick building syndrome (SBS): condition in which a building’s occupants experience health or comfort effects, or both, that appear to be linked to time spent therein, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. Condition may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may spread throughout the building.

sustainability: the maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.

sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

urban heat island effect: a phenomenon in which urban air and surface temperatures are higher than nearby rural areas due to the replacement of natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other infrastructure.

urban sprawl: physical pattern of expansion of urban areas into rural or agricultural areas. It is typically characterized by low average population densities in comparison with older population centers, auto dependence, fragmented open space, and separation of uses into distinct areas.

water and wastewater infrastructure: the system that collects, treats, delivers, and removes water to the home. Water and wastewater infrastructure include: water pipes, sewer pipes, and water plants.

xeriscaping: water-efficient landscaping. It refers to seven basic principles to conserve water and protect the environment, including: planning and designing; use of well-adapted plants; soil analysis; practical turf areas; use of mulches; appropriate maintenance; and efficient irrigation. The term “Xeriscape” and the Xeriscape logo are trademarks of the National Xeriscape Council, Inc., P.O. Box 767936, Roswell, GA 30076.
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