Glossary of Green Terminologies

‘Going green’ is now a common and recognizable phrase for making choices that benefit our environment.  There are a myriad ways that individuals can help to protect our planet – From driving less to turning out lights when exiting a room, and from buying organic foods to wearing eco-friendly clothing.

Go Green 101: Learning the Terminologies

• 3R's
  This is the world standard for green -  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• biodegradable
  That which is capable of being decomposed by biological activity, especially by microorganisms
• bioaccumulation
  toxic substances that accumulate via a food chain when the organism’s ability to remove it (the toxin) is insufficient (e.g. pesticide soil springs forth grass, which is consumed by a cow, who is injected with hormones.  The cow is then killed and the meat is cooked along with non-organic food and then consumed by you, adding to the many other toxins not yet purged from your body)
• biomes
  a major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climat
• biodiversity
  the diversity (number and variety of species) of plant and animal life within a region
• degradable
  material that breaks down through chemical reactions rather than through the activity of microorganisms
• blackwater
  waste water likely to contain significant quantities of fecal matter
• carbon footprint
  a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organization or place in a given time
• CFL
  Compact Fluorescent Lamp/Light – a direct energy efficient replacement for the incandescent lamp due to greatly improved colour, long life and very good payback
• climate change
  changes in the Earth’s climate, especially those produced by global warming
• co2
  produced by the burning fossil fuels and is one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming
• compostable
  a product that can be placed into a composition of decaying biodegradable materials and eventually turn into a nutrient-rich material
• eco-savvy
  Someone who is environmentally aware
• ecosystem
  a complex set of relationships of living organisms functioning as a unit and interacting with their physical environment
• emissions
  any waste substances which are released into the air or water
• flat pack
  refers to furniture that is designed to pack flat, thereby reducing shipping costs and fuel used in transportation.  Flat-pak designs are ready to assemble by the customer, right of the box. (Ikea is amazing at this)
• fossil fuel
  a fuel (as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from plant or animal remains
• free range
  of livestock and domestic poultry; permitted to graze or forage rather than being confined to a feedlot
• global warming
  an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)
• GMO (or GEO)
  A genetically modified organism (or genetically engineered organism).  Refers to plants that have had genes implanted to improve their performance by making them resistant to certain pesticides, diseases, or insects
• green
  anything considered environmentally friendly
• greenhouse gas
  a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation
• greywater
  Effluent from the shower, bath, sinks and washing machines. Does not contain sewage
• heavy metal
  metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, etc, having more than five times the weight of water.  When concentrated in the environment, can pose a significant health risk to humans
• herbicide
  any chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth
• IPCC
  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. An international organization established to investigate climate change, its potential impacts and options for reducing risk.
• landfill
  a disposal facility or part of a facility where non-hazardous waste is placed in/on the land, carefully lined and monitored, for containment
• LED
  Light Emitting Diode - becoming more common as a replacement for traditional incandescent lighting
• LOHAS
  Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability is a demographic defining a particular market segment related to sustainable living, “green” ecological initiatives, and generally composed of a relatively upscale and well-educated population segment.
• organic food
  food that is farmed without the use of pesticides, antibiotics or genetically altered organisms
• photovoltaic (PV)
  technology of the conversion of sunlight into electricity
• recycle
  the practice of sorting and collecting waste materials for new use
• renewable energy
  energy that can be replenished at the same rate it is being used
• repurpose
  to convert an item from one form to another or to use in another format or product
• sustainability
  able  to be sustained; able to be sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource; renewable
• TVP
  Texturized Vegetable Protein is a meat substitute made from defatted soy flour.
• vegan               
  veganism is a diet and lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose
• vegetarian
  A person whose diet consists mainly or entirely of plant products.  The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are ethical commitment or moral conviction
• waste stream
  the waste material output of a community, region, or facility