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Browse Glossary :
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Frequently Searched Terms
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Definition of Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content
Post-consumer recycled (PCR) contentThis is any material that was used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product. A product label might indicate how much post-consumer recycled content that product contains, by percentage-look for a PCR figure on the label. Paper, plastic, steel, and rubber are among the post-consumer discards that get recycled into such things as insulation, park benches, carpets, and napkins. Buying products made of PCR content salvages material that would otherwise end up in a landfill and puts it to good use, while saving "virgin" resources. For more on recycling, click here.
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| Acid rain |
| This environmental buzzword may take you back a few years, and it's true it gets less press today,... more |
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| Acrylic |
| A fleece blanket, an artist's paint, an airplane windshield. What these things might have in common... more |
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| Aggregate |
| As a kid, you might have known aggregate as the worst part of getting a skinned knee. This... more |
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| Antimony |
| This brittle, silvery white heavy metal occurs naturally in the Earth's crust. Antimony is mixed... more |
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| Asbestos |
| There is little debate about the dangers of this silicate mineral fiber, once commonly used in... more |
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| Bagasse |
| Here's a sweet find: This byproduct of sugarcane processing is a type of biomass, an organic,... more |
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| Bamboo fabric |
| What's soft and light and "green" all over? This fabric, which is made from the pulp of the same... more |
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| Bamboo flooring |
| Not just for pandas anymore, bamboo is an up-and-coming option for flooring. This eco-friendly... more |
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| Batt insulation |
| A familiar sight in unfinished attics, this material is also called blanket insulation. It is... more |
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| Bioaccumulate |
| Exposure to dangerous chemicals adds up over time. This term refers to just that-the gradual... more |
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| Biodegradable |
| Nine lives might be fine for a cat, but when it comes to trash, who wants it to last forever? A... more |
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| Biodiversity |
| This is the great variety of life, in all its forms. The term refers to diversity in a range of... more |
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| Biomass |
| Renewable energy doesn't come only from the sun, wind, and water. Biomass, which is any organic,... more |
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| Bioplastic |
| If The Graduate were remade today, it might be this phrase ringing in Dustin Hoffman's ears as the... more |
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| Blown-in insulation |
| There are numerous ways to add a layer of protection between your interior living spaces and the... more |
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| Borate |
| This mineral is a salt of boric acid. Borate is often added to cellulose, cotton, and other natural... more |
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| Brownfield |
| It's more than just a bad view. Ever wonder why that old factory site or gas station was never... more |
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| Building envelope |
| In a nutshell, it's the shell: Everything that separates and protects indoors from out-including... more |
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| Cadmium |
| This is one of many toxic heavy metals that exist naturally in the Earth's crust. Industrially,... more |
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| Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
| People breathe it out, plants breathe it in: a perfect balance, at least in theory. This colorless... more |
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| Carbon footprint |
| Always wanted to make your mark on the world? This probably isn't how you imagined doing it. This... more |
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| Carbon market |
| How much does it cost to pollute? Very often, it doesn't cost a dime. The principle of a carbon... more |
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| Carbon monoxide (CO) |
| It packs one less O, and a lot more toxicity, than its cousin CO2. Colorless and odorless, this gas... more |
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| Carpet backing |
| This is something you might be tempted to sweep under the rug. Carpet backing, which holds carpet... more |
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| Cellulose |
| Cellulose is a natural polymer that is the basic component of plant fibers, including wood fibers.... more |
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| Clear-cutting |
| The problem with clearcutting is pretty clear-cut. This forestry technique, which is commonly... more |
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| Closed loop production |
| A sustainable system in which a product is created using renewable energy, with no pollutant output... more |
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| Compact fluorescent lamp |
| Here's a bright idea: an energy-efficient alternative to age-old incandescent lighting. These bulbs... more |
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| Composting |
| The word may not conjure beds of roses, but this easy, natural form of recycling is a gardener's... more |
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| Composting toilet |
| OK, joke all you want about this. The composting toilet has a rep that puts it almost on par with... more |
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| Cool roof |
| Wearing white on a hot summer day makes sense for you, and it does for your roof as well. A cool... more |
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| Cooling/heating load |
| This HVAC industry term refers to the amount of energy it takes to reach and maintain a desired... more |
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| Cork flooring |
| Pop the cork for cork. This durable, comfy-under-bare-feet flooring material is definitely worth... more |
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| Cross-ventilation |
| This was your grandmother's approach to air-conditioning: air that flows from one side of a room or... more |
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| Daylighting |
| Here's an energy-saving idea that is as cheerful as it sounds: This approach to lighting a home is... more |
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| Deconstruction |
| Not so fast with that wrecking ball, folks. A building that has outlived its usefulness doesn't... more |
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| Deforestation |
| This destructive practice affects a lot more than the landscape. Deforestation refers to the... more |
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| Demand water heater |
| Also called tankless water heater or instantaneous water heater. Hot water when you need it,... more |
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| Dioxins |
| Some of the most unpleasant things are the hardest to get rid of. This tenacious family of... more |
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| Disassembly |
| Disassembly embraces the idea that the whole is not necessarily greater than the sum of its parts.... more |
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| Double-glazed window |
| Glazing is another word for window glass, and this type of window has two panes instead of one, for... more |
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| Downcycling |
| Think of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy. With every successive copy, the quality... more |
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| Drip irrigation |
| Sure, sprinklers are a lot of fun on a hot day. But if you want to conserve water while giving... more |
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| Drywall |
| If your home was built in the last 50 years or so, you're probably surrounded by the stuff. Give it... more |
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| E-waste |
| This term doesn't refer to all the spam filling your email box, though those messages do waste... more |
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| Eco-tourism |
| More than just a nature tour. This trend in traveling is about visiting natural areas responsibly,... more |
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| Eco-travel |
| More than just a nature tour. This trend in traveling is about visiting natural areas responsibly,... more |
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| Ecological footprint |
| Always wanted to make your mark on the world? This probably isn't how you imagined doing it. This... more |
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| Ecosystem |
| In nature, everything has a purpose. This is a community of living things-animals, plants, and... more |
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| Electronic waste |
| This term doesn't refer to all the spam filling your email box, though those messages do waste... more |
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| Emissivity |
| This term describes the ability of a material to release, or radiate, heat. When a window is... more |
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| Emittance |
| This term describes the ability of a material to release, or radiate, heat. When a window is... more |
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| Energy efficiency |
| Energy efficiency is all about bang for the buck and a boon for the environment. Systems or... more |
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| Energy efficiency ratio (EER) |
| Ready for a chill? This standard air-conditioning system rating refers to the cooling capacity of a... more |
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| Energy Star |
| In the vast universe of appliances and home improvement products, these are the stars to look for.... more |
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| EnergyGuide label |
| If you're appliance shopping, you can't miss it: This bright yellow label, created by the Federal... more |
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| Engineered wood |
| The Lorax, the creature dreamed up by Dr. Seuss to speak for the trees, might be somewhat heartened... more |
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| Environmental footprint |
| Always wanted to make your mark on the world? This probably isn't how you imagined doing it. This... more |
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| Environmental impact |
| Very simply, this is any change, positive or negative, to land, ecosystems, and human health as a... more |
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| Environmental justice |
| This term might bring to mind a super hero-"eco-man"-clad in green tights and traveling the world... more |
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| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| This is the U.S. government agency responsible for the development and enforcement of environmental... more |
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| Environmental racism |
| Racial discrimination takes many insidious forms. This term refers to a situation in which... more |
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| Ethanol |
| Fill the tank with liquor? This alcohol, made from corn and other starchy grains, can be used as a... more |
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| Evaporative cooling |
| What happens when you perspire on a hot day? The sweat evaporates, using heat from your body in the... more |
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| Fiber-cement siding |
| Looking for a siding material that looks like wood but is resistant to fire, rot, and insects? This... more |
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| Fiber-reactive dye |
| Ever had a red sock turn all your white shirts pink in the wash? That's one of the troubles of... more |
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| Fiberglass |
| Many of us think of it as that pink, cotton-candy-like stuff that lines the attic. Fiberglass is... more |
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| Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) |
| "There's got to be a better way," captures the essence of the Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC... more |
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| Formaldehyde |
| The smell of this highly toxic volatile organic compound (VOC) could virtually transport you right... more |
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| Fossil fuel |
| It's ingenious if you think about it: Long-dead plants and animals are reborn as fuel for our... more |
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| Fuel cell |
| A battery-like device that converts chemical energy, from a fuel such as hydrogen or alcohol,... more |
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| Geothermal heat pump |
| Looking for an efficient heat source? A geothermal heat pump could be the solution. This appliance... more |
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| Glazing |
| This is the part you see through. It's the glass, or other transparent material, that forms the... more |
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| Global warming |
| As hard as it may be to believe on the chilliest days of the year, the Earth is getting warmer, and... more |
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| Graywater |
| That water swirling down the drain doesn't have to go to waste. Well, not all of it. Graywater is... more |
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| Green building |
| You may be new to building or renovating, but this "green" is not about a lack of experience, it's... more |
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| Green roof |
| You might call it a living roof, an eco-roof, or even a rooftop garden; in every case it's a roof... more |
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| Greenhouse gas |
| This is actually any of a number of gases, accumulating in the Earth's atmosphere, that act just... more |
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| Greenwashing |
| Here's an unfortunate trend, and one that eco-friendly consumers need to watch out for. Derived... more |
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| Halogen light bulb |
| As incandescent light bulbs go, this one is hot. By that we mean that is gets extremely hot while... more |
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| Hardwood |
| Cherry, maple, oak, elm and other deciduous trees fall into this category of wood. They are... more |
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| Harvested rainwater |
| Here's a good rainy day project: Collecting water-from a roof, driveway, or other hard surface... more |
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| Hazardous chemical |
| Warning-these are chemicals that should be used, and disposed of, with the utmost care. Any... more |
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| Hazardous waste |
| This is among the more unpleasant byproducts of households and industrial processes: It's waste... more |
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| Heat gain |
| There's nothing worse than a crowded room on a hot day. It isn't your imagination-human bodies do... more |
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| Heat island effect |
| It's no wonder so many urbanites flee the cities on summer weekends. It really is hotter in the... more |
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| Heat pump |
| Just as it sounds, this product, typically powered by electricity, pumps heat into a building... more |
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| Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) |
| Looking for the perfect climate? You could hightail it to San Diego, or you could get it in your... more |
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| Heavy metals |
| Maybe this term makes you think of your music collection back in high school. Environmentally... more |
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| Hemp |
| It's not just for hippies anymore. This is the common name for the cannabis sativa plant, a cousin... more |
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| High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter |
| You might know it as a designation for vacuum cleaner or air purifiers. In a consumer context,... more |
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| House wrap |
| Just like that windbreaker you slide into on a chilly day, this protective barrier helps to keep... more |
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| Hybrid |
| While the totally electric car might not be within reach for the average consumer quite yet, more... more |
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| Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) |
| It wasn't so long ago that we cooled our cars with Freon and sprayed our hair with aerosols without... more |
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| Hydronic radiant floor heating system |
| If you're the type who gets cold feet, your toes will love this. It's a network of pipes beneath... more |
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| Indoor air quality |
| Pollution is not only outside. Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air inside a... more |
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| Industrial waste |
| The manufacture of nearly everything produces waste, some of it hazardous waste, and some of it... more |
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| Ingeo |
| So what can't be made from corn these days? Automobile fuel, bioplastic, and now clothing, too?... more |
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| Instantaneous water heater |
| Also called tankless water heater or demand water heater. Hot water when you need it, without... more |
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| Insulated concrete form (ICF) |
| Have you ever thought of living in a concrete house? It may be more welcoming than it sounds. These... more |
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| Insulation |
| Like the down on a goose, it's a protective layer against the elements. Technically, insulation is... more |
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| Integrated building design |
| This is teamwork at its best: A holistic approach to building, through which multiple disciplines... more |
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| Joist |
| If building or remodeling a home, you'll almost certainly hear about these. Part of the framing of... more |
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| Kelvin (K) |
| Ever wonder what "white-hot" really means? Kelvin has the answer. It is the scale for the color... more |
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| Kilowatt |
| This is a unit of energy used to measure electrical power. One kW equals 1000 watts-or the... more |
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| Kilowatt hour (kWh) |
| This common measurement of electrical energy consumption is equal to the use of 1000 watts of power... more |
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| Kyoto Protocol |
| A global problem requires a global solution. That was the thinking behind this agreement, reached... more |
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| Laminate |
| This term refers to thin layers of material that are bonded together to create a strong, durable... more |
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| Latex |
| It's in rubber gloves, elastic bands, and even birthday-party balloons. This natural resin, which... more |
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| Leaching |
| Not related to bloodsucking leeches, but arguably as objectionable, this term refers to the drawing... more |
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| Lead |
| You definitely want to get the lead out. Although it has been widely used for centuries-in products... more |
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| Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) |
| For green builders, this is both a benchmark and a support system. The U.S. Green Building Council... more |
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| Life cycle |
| Everything has a lifespan, whether it's a person, a planet, or a house. This term, in green design... more |
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| Linoleum |
| Poor Linoleum. This flooring material hung out with some questionable characters back in the... more |
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| Low flush toilet |
| A water-saving toilet that still gets the job done. Low-flush toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons... more |
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| Low impact dye |
| Ever had a red sock turn all your white shirts pink in the wash? That's one of the troubles of... more |
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| Low-emissivity (Low-E) window |
| Want to let the light in but keep the heat out? A low-E window can do just that. It has been coated... more |
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| Mastic |
| What good is a powerful heating and cooling system if air can leak in and out around the ducts?... more |
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| Medium density fiberboard (MDF) |
| This sturdy, inexpensive substitute for wood is common in homes, though it's often hidden behind an... more |
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| Megawatt (MW) |
| A unit of electrical power, equal to a million watts or one thousand kilowatts. It is typically... more |
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| Methane (CH4) |
| Can we lay a little blame for global warming on anyone else? Like cows, maybe? Actually, yes. By... more |
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| Multiple chemical sensitivity |
| Ever feel as if perfectly ordinary things in your environment are making you sick? This is how some... more |
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| National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) |
| Planning a little window shopping? Before you go, you'll want to know about this group. It has... more |
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| Native vegetation |
| These plants are born to be wild. Native vegetation refers to grasses, wildflowers, and other plant... more |
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| Natural cooling |
| In the days before mechanical air-conditioning, this was how people beat the heat, and it can work... more |
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| Natural dye |
| Colorful dyes have been used to gussy up fabric for thousands of years, and for most of that time... more |
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| Natural ventilation |
| You feel this effect every time you throw open a few windows in the house: Natural ventilation... more |
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| New urbanism |
| For decades, the car has been the quintessential symbol of individual freedom. Proponents of new... more |
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| Nonrenewable resource |
| We're using them up faster than they are made. These natural resources-including forests, coal, and... more |
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| Offgassing |
| Does that unmistakable "new rug smell" or "new car smell" make you woozy? That's because the smell... more |
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| Old-growth tree |
| This is a tree that has lived hundreds, even thousands of years. Such trees are usually found in... more |
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| Organic |
| In the widest sense, this is anything of, or relating to, living organisms. It is also a term used... more |
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| Organic gardening |
| It's the most Earth-friendly method of gardening, and the healthiest, too. Organic gardening... more |
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| Orientation |
| When a real estate ad says that a home has a "southern exposure," this is what it means. It is the... more |
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| Ozone |
| This chemical molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms, has something of a dual personality: On... more |
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| Particleboard |
| You might know it best as that bookshelf that arrived in 109 pieces, with "some assembly required."... more |
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| Particulates |
| These are tiny bits of matter; they come from soot, dust, or other polluting sources, and can... more |
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| Passive cooling |
| In the days before mechanical air-conditioning, this was how people beat the heat, and it can work... more |
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| Passive solar design |
| Here's a passive way to be aggressive about helping the planet. This age-old approach to design... more |
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| Peak oil |
| When will the world's oil run out? It's a hotly debated question among energy experts, geologists,... more |
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| Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) |
| These man-made compounds show up in a host of items we associate with making our lives a little... more |
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| Permaculture |
| This concept, which comes from the words permanent, agriculture, and culture, means a lot of... more |
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| Pesticide |
| These potent chemicals a major reason we wash our vegetables well before eating them-and an... more |
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| Petrochemical |
| The source of many of the highly useful but unsustainable and potentially damaging products in our... more |
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| Petroleum-based |
| From the gasoline in your car, to your car's dashboard, to the lip balm in your pocket (and maybe... more |
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| Phantom load |
| Your house is probably haunted…by a phantom load. This is the small but not insignificant... more |
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| Phenol formaldehyde (PF) |
| In layman's terms, this is a glue. It's one of two synthetic, formaldehyde-based polymer resins... more |
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| Photocell |
| Would you like to have your front-porch light come on when dusk falls, whether you're home or not?... more |
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| Photovoltaic (PV) cell |
| This is the technology that makes solar power happen. A panel of semiconductor material (typically... more |
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| Phthalates |
| Nearly impossible to pronounce and nearly impossible to avoid, phthalates are a group of chemicals... more |
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| Plastic |
| In the 1967 movie The Graduate, the word plastics represents a certain kind of bright, golden... more |
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| Plywood |
| This tough, inexpensive pressed-wood product is commonplace in homes-in furniture, flooring, and... more |
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| Pollution credit |
| How much is one company allowed to pollute? That might depend on how many credits it has. The... more |
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| Polyester |
| Not just the fiber that makes leisure suits and gauchos possible, polyester has long outlasted... more |
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| Polyethylene |
| This lightweight, translucent, and flexible plastic is used for grocery bags, food containers,... more |
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| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) |
| This is the stuff that holds your soda, your peanut butter, and possibly your bathroom cleaner.... more |
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| Polymer |
| This is a chain of small molecules, called monomers, that is joined to create a material with a... more |
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| Polyurethane |
| It's used as foam insulation, upholstery stuffing, shiny wood-floor sealant, and more. This... more |
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| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) |
| This durable plastic can be found just about anywhere: in your shower curtain, raincoat, or baby's... more |
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| Post-consumer |
| A term that refers to something used and discarded by a consumer. With recyclables, purchasing... more |
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| Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content |
| This is any material that was used by a consumer and then recycled for use in a new product. A... more |
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| Potable water |
| Water that is free enough of chemicals, particulate matter, and biological nasties (such as... more |
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| Prefab |
| A house in a box? In construction, prefabrication means creating the pieces of a building-complete... more |
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| Pressure-treated wood |
| This is wood that is used mostly for outdoor construction-in decks, for example. Pressure-treated... more |
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| R-value |
| When it comes to keeping out the heat, one window-or one type of insulation or building material-is... more |
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| Radiant barrier |
| This is a reflective material that is used to block heat from entering a building. A layer of... more |
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| Radiant heat |
| If you're the type who gets cold feet, your toes will love this. It's a network of pipes beneath... more |
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| Radiation |
| This is the transfer of energy via waves or particles. An example is when heat moves from a warmer... more |
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| Radon |
| An invisible threat in many homes, this colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, radon is produced... more |
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| Rainwater harvesting |
| Here's a good rainy-day project: Collecting water-from a roof, driveway, or other hard surface... more |
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| Reclaimed material |
| Have you ever seen a beautiful old door in an all but forgotten building and wanted to rescue it?... more |
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| Recycled plastic lumber |
| A house made out of soda bottles and milk jugs may sound like a third-grade art project, but those... more |
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| Recycling |
| This is the process of taking materials that would be tossed away, most likely ending up in... more |
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| Renewable energy |
| A supply of energy that won't run out, at least not as long as humans are on Earth to put it to... more |
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| Renewable resource |
| This is the holy grail of conservationists: Any material that can be quickly regrown or replenished... more |
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| Renewables |
| This is the holy grail of conservationists: Any material that can be quickly regrown or replenished... more |
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| Retrofit |
| This is not about snug bell-bottoms. Retrofit is a term that refers to taking an existing... more |
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| Runoff |
| This is one source of pollutants in the water supply. The term refers to rainwater or irrigation... more |
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| Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) |
| Here's a cool number to know. This is the rating, given by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to... more |
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| Sick building syndrome (SBS) |
| Is it your imagination? Maybe you really just don't like that job? It's something of a mysterious... more |
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| Smart growth |
| For decades, the car has been the quintessential symbol of individual freedom. Proponents of smart... more |
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| Smog |
| It's that dirty brown haze that hangs over a city on a hot summer day, reminding us that we... more |
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| Soffit |
| This is the underside of a roof overhang. It can be fitted with vents to increase airflow under the... more |
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| Softwood |
| Pine, spruce, cedar, and other conifer trees fall into this category of wood. Softwood trees are... more |
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| Solar collector |
| Ever wish you could bottle the sun's warmth on a summer day? This device effectively does that: It... more |
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| Solar electricity |
| A clean, powerful energy source, right above our heads. It's power that is harnessed from sunlight... more |
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| Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) |
| The number to know when selecting windows, doors, and skylights. It's a measure of how much of the... more |
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| Solar water heater |
| Sun-warmed water is something you might seek on a tropical vacation. But you don't have to go that... more |
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| Solid bleached sulfite |
| The little box that housed your last tube of toothpaste, the cereal cartons in your kitchen... more |
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| Sprawl |
| Ever notice how farmland is disappearing right before your eyes, only to be replaced by strip... more |
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| Storage water heater |
| This is the conventional water heater most of us know well. A ready supply of heated water is kept... more |
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| Structural insulated panel (SIP) |
| It's not all about posts and beams. For builders, this is an energy-efficient alternative to... more |
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| Styrene-butadiene (SB) latex |
| This is one of many products that can affect the indoor air quality in homes and businesses. A... more |
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| Sustainability |
| A word that pops up quite a bit in green-speak, it's really all about thinking ahead.... more |
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| Sustainable development |
| The concept of combining economic growth and improvement of the human condition with respect for... more |
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| Tankless water heater |
| Also called instantaneous water heater or demand water heater. Hot water when you need it, without... more |
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| Thermal mass |
| A rock warmed in the sun all day still radiates heat long after nightfall. That's the principle of... more |
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| Thermal resistance |
| When it comes to keeping out the heat, one window-or one type of insulation or building material-is... more |
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| Toxin |
| This is a poison. Within the scientific community, it is the term used specifically to refer to... more |
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| Triple bottom line |
| How does a business measure success? The conventional way is simple: profit. The bottom line has... more |
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| Tropical hardwood |
| Many beautiful, highly sought-after woods-including teak, mahogany, and Brazilian cherry-fall into... more |
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| Truss |
| Cooks think of this as a way to tie up a turkey. In construction, it plays a different kind of... more |
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| U-factor |
| The measure of how well a material (a window, door, or other construction element) conducts heat;... more |
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| Ultraviolet (UV) radiation |
| Gone are the days of roasting on the beach in nothing but tanning oil. We're wearing more sunscreen... more |
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| Universal design |
| It's not easy being all things to all people. Those who take this approach to design, however, give... more |
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| Urea formaldehyde (UF) |
| This glue can be found in most homes, and it's sticky stuff. It's one of two common, synthetic,... more |
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| Utility grid |
| This is the energy highway. The grid is the system of distribution lines that delivers energy from... more |
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| Varnish |
| Products involved in refinishing are often powerful enough to knock your socks off, which is why... more |
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| Vegetable dye |
| This is any natural dye that is derived from plant sources, such as roots or... more |
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| Veneer |
| This is a very thin sheet of wood. It is used to make plywood (many sheets laminated together) or... more |
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| Vinyl |
| This durable plastic can be found just about anywhere: in your shower curtain, raincoat, or baby's... more |
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| Volatile organic compound (VOC) |
| A paint job that leaves you lightheaded, or new upholstery that has a funny scent-these are VOCs at... more |
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| Water purification |
| This is the process by which water from the ground, or some other source, is treated to make it... more |
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| Water-based paint |
| For most home projects, this is your go-to paint. Also called latex paint, it has a binder that is... more |
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| Weatherstripping |
| It may sound like an urge to peel off all your clothes during a summer heat wave, but... more |
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| Wildlife corridor |
| Nature has its own complex map. This term refers to a stretch of land (and/or water) across which... more |
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| Wind energy |
| Humans have known wind as a reliable source of power since long before the days of Don Quixote, and... more |
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| Wind farm |
| This is a sort of natural power plant. It's a group of many wind turbines located together in an... more |
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| Wood pulp |
| This is the raw material that is used to make paper, paperboard, and cellulose products such as... more |
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| Xeriscape |
| Ever see a lush, green lawn and garden in a desert region and feel as if it didn't happen... more |
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