Green Definitions

Glossary

Air Pollution - Airborne contaminants or pollutants.

Biodegradable - A material or substance which, when left exposed to nature, will decompose without harmful effects to the environment.

Certified Wood - Under the guidance of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), wood-based materials used in building construction that are supplied from sources that comply with sustainable forestry practices, protecting trees, wildlife habitat, streams and soil.

Carbon Footprint - the impact we have upon the earth.

Compact fluorescent bulbs – a type of light bulb that use up to 75 percent less energy (electricity) than incandescent light bulbs, last up to 10 times longer

Deforestation - the net removal of trees from forested land.

Earth Day - a worldwide annual event where global citizens promote environmentally friendly change. Recognized on April 22.

Eco-friendly - inflicts a minimal amount of harm on the environment.

Energy Star™ Rating - the label given by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to appliances and products that exceed federal energy efficiency standards.

Fossil Fuels - non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil and natural gas extracted from beneath the Earth's surface

Habitat - a community including plants, animals, water, air, and land that depend on each other to survive.

Incandescent bulb - a type of electric light in which light is produced by a filament heated by electric current. Found in most table and floor lamps.

Non-Renewable - a finite resource.

Organic - grown without drugs, hormones, or chemicals.