Glossary

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Adaptive Reuse - Converting a building (often a former industrial building) to a new use.

Black Water - Sewage water that can be treated through biofiltration to be drinkable again.

Building Envelope - The outer skin of the building, between the exterior cladding and the interior walls.

Carbon Offset - The amount of carbon created by travel or use of machines, offset by a purchased voucher that gives the same dollar value to the development of alternative energy.

Climate Change - The gradual heating of the earth's atmosphere, with human industrial and building activity believed to be a major source of this change.

Co-Housing - A system of land ownership and community living in which every household has a stake in the well-being and outcome of the group and built environment.

Daylighting - Using natural light effectively in interior design to reduce the need for electric lighting.

Ecological Footprint - The amount of land area that is required to provide the resources consumed by one household.

Embodied Energy - The amount of energy inherent in an object or building system, calculated from its extraction as natural resource to its value-added state.

Energy Star - A rating system organized by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy that shows consumers how much energy an appliance will consume over a period of one year, and that certifies buildings to be 20-30% more energy-efficient than their conventional counterparts.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) - An organization that gives consumers information about the source of sustainably harvested wood products.

Geothermal Energy - A heat source for buildings derived from tapping into the earth's constant temperature using pumps and wells.

Green Design - The process of designing objects, buildings, landscapes and regions to be in harmony with ecological health. Also known as Sustainable Design.

Grey Water - Water used for washing that can be treated using biofiltration for a second use. Sometimes also refers to rainwater collected and used for irrigation.

Integrative Design - The process of designing that involves a cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge from various trades and professions.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - A building rating system created by the US Green Building Council that promotes ecologically-balanced design.

Life Cycle Cost - The entire monetary cost of a building material or system from its extraction to its maintenance cost and replacement value.

Preservation - The act of maintaining the original historic appearance of a building.

Reconstruction - The act of creating a historic appearance in a building to match existing, historic drawings or photos.

Renovation - The act of changing an aspect of a historic building while maintaining the overall historic nature of the structure.

Secretary of the Interior Standards - Federal design standards that guide the preservation, restoration and reconstruction of some historic buildings.

Solar Design - The process of designing with orientation to the sun in mind. This may be Passive Solar Design, as in considering the placement of overhangs and heat-absorbing, heat-releasing walls. It may be Active Solar Design, as in using solar panels on the roof of a house.

USGBC (US Green Building Council) - An organization that promotes green design and that created the LEED building rating system.

VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) - A substance in paint and polyurethane that has a strong odor and that has health risks associated with its manufacture and use. Low VOC products are commonly available if you ask.