In America everything has its own lingo and anyone venturing into new territory should know some of the tech talk in order to prevent panic and retreat. Consider the number of first time computer users who have fled back to their typewriters and hand-held calculators after encountering acronyms such as HTML, RAM, SEO or old words like domain, applications, and code used in new and unfamiliar ways, usually by other users with either lots of experience or access to a good glossary. Those who suspect that the definition of lingo is “words used by ‘experts’ to baffle and intimidate” are probably on to something.
Green lingo is a lot less confusing than terminology used by say, aerospace engineers or NASCAR drivers, but is still daunting for those who want to learn more about America’s hottest fad. A green vocabulary while not terribly technical, it is more about assigning new meanings to old words. Here are a few terms to get you started – we will regularly add to this basic glossary and each of the areas suggested by these terms will be covered in this blog as we talk about being green.
Air pollution – Most people think of smog, but perfectly clear air can be polluted as well. Big sources of outdoor pollution are high levels of carbon dioxide from carbon burning uses such as auto emissions, waste output from coal burning plants and heavy metals and other harmful chemicals emitted from refining and manufacturing processes.
Carbon Footprint – This is a measurement of the efficiency of an individual, household, business, or factory in utilizing resources in daily life. People who drive SUVs live in huge houses, and never turn off a light have large footprints while those who recycle, walk to work, and weather strip their windows will have smaller ones. There are formulas to calculate carbon footprints and measure the impact on the environment.
Conservation – This means more than saving trees or the ruby-throated hummingbird. It now applies to virtually any kind of limited resource on the planet including water, energy, clean air, all kinds of wildlife, long term forest growth, or the space in landfills
Indoor air pollution – Major sources of poor quality indoor air are:
Off-gassing – chemicals released into the air from non-metallic materials. A surprising number of household products are capable of releasing volatile chemicals into the air even years into their lifespan. Some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as paints, stains, and varnishes release smelly fumes along with the chemicals; others such some kinds of countertops, plywood, fabrics, and mattresses release harmful chemicals without a noticeable odor or one that disappears after a few hours
Carbon emissions – in the home most of these come from the use of fuels for heating (oil, wood, and natural gas) cooking (gas) or burning tobacco products.
Inadequate ventilation – new homes in particular are sealed up tight to prevent heat and cooling loss. However, the lack of sufficient fresh air causes the build-up of unhealthy substances in our homes. This includes excess moisture which can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew which are also health risks; the products of the previously mentioned off-gassing; and radon, a radioactive gas that is a naturally occurring product of soil decomposition.
Recycle – The word does double duty; it means to dispose of “trash” in a way that encourages a secondary use or to utilize the end products of such repurposing. An example would be to take plastic soda bottles to the curb or back to the store and then to buy and wear Polartec® fleece clothing made from that reused plastic. Recycling may be the green area where homeowners can make the most impact with the least cost and effort.
Sustainable resources – Sustainable products are quickly replaced when used and are unlikely to be depleted. A hardwood tree, for example, can take up forty or fifty years to reach sufficient size for use as lumber and once harvested, can no longer help to clean pollution from the air or contribute to the ecology of the forest. Bamboo and corn on the other hand grow quickly and are excellent sources of building products.
Water conservation – Clean water is a limited resource so we need to be concerned with both quantity and quality. Water conservation entails cutting back on the amount of water we use and focusing on the need to keep lakes, streams, oceans, and aquifers pristine.