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GSHT Glossary

Adaptable building	A building than can be readily remodeled or reconfigured to meet an occupant’s or community’s evolving needs.
Advanced framing	Design and construction techniques that significantly reduce the amount of material used to frame a building. Includes strategies such as studs placed 24 inches on center; fully insulated corners; insulated headers; engineered wood products; and roof or floor trusses.
Alternating current (AC)	Electric current that reverses its direction of flow at regular intervals. In most countries, the electricity provided by utilities is AC electricity.
Bamboo flooring	Flooring made from bamboo, a, fast-growing grass with a hollow stem, that can be harvested every three to five years. Tongue-and-groove bamboo floor planks are available prefinished or unfinished, with a vertical or horizontal grain. An alternative to hardwood.
Borrowed space	Views and daylight from a nearby space used to enliven and seemingly enlarge a room.
British thermal unit (BTU)	The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Building envelope	A building’s shell, including exterior walls, windows, doors, roof and the bottom floor.
Cellulose insulation	Insulation made from wood fiber, primarily recycled newspaper, treated with nontoxic chemicals to retard fire, mold and insects. Loose-fill cellulose can be blown into attic spaces or packed into wall cavities. Damp-spray cellulose is a damp mix of cellulose and adhesives that is sprayed into wall cavities before hanging drywall.
Certified wood	Wood certified by an independent third-party certification program to have been grown and harvested using environmentally responsible forestry practices.
Cistern	A tank, often underground, used to collect and store rain water for later use.
Clerestory	A window or row of windows placed high on a wall, often above the main roof line, used for introducing daylight into a room.
Compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL)	A fluorescent light bulb designed to replace regular incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer, use ¼ the energy, & produce 90% less heat.
Conditioned space	An enclosed space supplied with conditioned air from a heating and/or cooling system.
Conduction	Heat flow from molecule to molecule in a solid substance. A cast iron skillet handle heats up because of conduction through metal.
Convection	The transfer of heat caused by the movement of a fluid like water or air. When a fluid becomes warmer it becomes lighter and rises.
Cork flooring	Flooring, usually sold as tiles, made from cork, which is harvested from the outer bark of cork oak trees without damaging the trees. Cork oaks regenerate their bark and can be reharvested every 9 years.
Cotton insulation	Insulation made from post-industrial recycled cotton textile trimmings. Typically treated with a nontoxic fire retardant and sold as batts that fit between framing studs.
Daylighting	Using light from the sun to illuminate a room. Usually used in combination with electric lighting.
Deconstruction	Disassembling rather than demolishing a building so that its components can be reused.
Direct current (DC)	Electric current that flows in one direction. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into DC electricity. An inverter is then used to convert the DC electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity so that it can be used to power standard household equipment and appliances.
Double-glazed window	A window with two panes of glass separated by an air space. Compared to single-glazed windows, double-glazed windows significantly reduce heat and sound transmission. Some double-glazed windows contain a gas such as argon or krypton in the air gap to provide additional insulation.
Energy efficiency ratio (ERR)	A measurement of energy efficiency for air conditioners. The EER is computed by dividing cooling capacity, measured in British Thermal Units per hour (BTUH), by watts of power.
Energy efficiency	Using less electricity or fuel than a conventional technology to perform the same task.
Energy Star	A program sponsored jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that promotes energy-efficient products, homes and technologies for consumers and businesses. Energy Star qualified products and new homes are often ten to thirty percent more efficient than their conventional counterparts.
EnergyGuide label	A yellow sticker required by U.S. law on certain new household appliances, including air conditioners, furnaces, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers. The label provides information on the amount of energy the appliance will use in one year.
Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)	A ventilator that recovers latent and sensible energy from the exhaust airstream and imparts it to the incoming airstream. Sensible heat is transferred from the warmer to the cooler airstream and moisture is transferred from the wetter to the dryer airstream. ERVs are used in humid climates to reject outdoor humidity and in very cold climates to retain indoor humidity.
Energy Performance Score (ESP)	Similar to a miles-per-gallon rating for cars, newly constructed homes earn a score based on their estimated energy use, utility costs and environmental impact. Calculating the EPS is based on several factors: the building’s size, insulation, air leakage and ventilation, heating and cooling systems, major appliances, lighting and water heating. Using the EPS, home buyers now have a way of learning the energy costs of a home before they buy.
Engineered wood	Building products, including beams, framing studs, and floor and roof joists, made from wood fibers bound with adhesives. The wood typically comes from plantation-grown trees, thus reducing demand for old-growth trees. In general, engineered wood products result in less wood waste than solid sawn lumber products.
Fiber-cement siding	An exterior siding product made from a blend of portland cement, sand, cellulose fiber and additives, typically sold as planks or panels, with a smooth or textured finish.
Fly ash	A waste product from coal-fired electric power plants that can be used as a substitute for portland cement in some concrete mixtures.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)	An international certification organization that has established voluntary environmental forest management standards. FSC accredits independent third-party organizations that monitor and certify the compliance of forestry operations with FSC standards. FSC-labeled wood products give consumers assurance that the wood comes from trees grown and harvested in an environmentally responsible manner.
Formaldehyde	A colorless, pungent gas used in many glues, adhesives, preservatives and coatings. It also occurs naturally. Products and materials containing formaldehyde can offgas the chemical into the air. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to formaldehyde may cause allergic reactions, respiratory problems or cancer in humans. Phenol formaldehyde is roughly 4-10% as volatile as Urea-based glues. Phenol is typically used for exterior materials like OSB, engineered lumber and exterior grade plywood.
Glazing	Transparent or translucent material, such as glass or plastic, that lets light into a building.
Glulam	Abbreviation of “glued laminated” timber. An engineered wood product consisting of thin layers of wood, usually less than two inches thick, bound with an adhesive and formed into structural beams that can be used instead of solid sawn lumber. Used to reduce pressure on old growth forest.
Graywater	Household wastewater that doesn’t contain sewage and can be reused for toilet flushing. Graywater typically comes from showers, lavatories, and clothes washing machines.
Green roof	A roof that has a layer of soil or other growing medium on top of a waterproofing membrane. May be planted with sedum, grasses, wildflowers or other groundcover. Also known as a “living roof” or “eco roof.”
Halogen light bulb	A type of incandescent light bulb that is filled with halogen gas. It burns longer than a standard incandescent bulb and provides a crisp white light, but gets very hot and is less energy efficient than a compact fluorescent bulb.
Heat gain	Heat from the sun, people, electric lights or appliances that cause the temperature in a space to rise.
Heat island effect	The tendency of large areas of roofs, asphalt, concrete and paved surfaces to absorb the heat, making urban areas considerably hotter than nearby rural areas.
Heat loss	The decrease of heat in a space as a result of heat escaping through the building’s walls, windows, roof and other building envelope components.
Horizontal-axis washing machine	A clothes washer with a horizontal tub instead of a vertical tub (also known as front load washing machines). Horizontal-axis washers tend to use significantly less water—and therefore less energy to heat the water—than conventional washers.
Heat Recovery ventilation (HRV) system	An air-to-air heat exchanger captures heat from indoor air that’s about to be vented from a home and transfers that heat to fresh air that’s being drawn in from the outside. Exhaust and supply airstreams cross but do not mix. Heat is transferred from warmer to cooler airstream. There are two core types; Cross flow cores and Counter flow cores..
Hydronic radiant-floor heating system	A heating system in which warm water circulates through tubes embedded in a concrete floor slab or attached beneath the subflooring. The floor absorbs heat from the tubes and slowly releases it to the room, providing comfortable, quiet, gentle warmth that doesn’t stir up dust or create drafts.
Impervious surface	A surface that water can’t pass through.
Incandescent light bulb	A light bulb that consists of a filament inside a glass bulb. Passing electric current through the filament causes it to heat up and produce light. Standard household light bulbs are incandescent bulbs; they are very inefficient, wasting 90% of their energy as heat instead of useful light.
Indoor air quality	The level of air pollutants inside a building. Indoor air pollution sources include tobacco and wood smoke; certain building materials and furnishings; certain cleaning, maintenance, and personal care products; dust mites; pet dander; mold; radon; pesticides; and outdoor air pollution. Inadequate ventilation and high humidity levels can also contribute to indoor air quality problems.
Infill development	Building on empty or underutilized lots in cities or older suburban areas instead of building in a previously undeveloped area.
Infiltration	The uncontrolled movement of outdoor air into a building through cracks and other defects around plumbing, floor cavities, soffits, chimneys, ducts. Accompanied by an equal outflow of air from indoors to the outdoors.
Insulated concrete form (ICF)	Plastic foam shaped into hollow blocks, panels or planks and used as a form to create a concrete wall. After positioning the foam forms, rebar is typically inserted into the cavities to reinforce the walls, and then concrete is poured in. Once the concrete cures, the foam remains in place to insulate the walls. Exterior siding and interior wall finishes are attached to the ICFs.
Insulation	A material that has a high resistance to heat flow. Used to keep a home comfortable and reduce the energy needed to heat and cool the home.
Integrated building design	A collaborative design process that takes into account the interrelatedness of all parts of a building. It involves designing a building from the outset so that all its components, equipment and systems work together to provide maximum comfort, healthfulness, energy and resource efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
Inverter	A device used to convert DC electricity (such as that produced by a photovoltaic system) into AC electricity to power standard household equipment and appliances.
Kilowatt (kW)	A unit of electric power equal to 1000 joules per second or 3412 BTUs in output.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)	A unit of electric energy equal to 3600 kilojoules or 3412 BTUs.(relates to usage)
Lighting controls	Devices used to manually or automatically dim electric lights or switch them on or off. These devices, which include dimmers, timers, motion sensors and photocell controls, provide convenience and energy savings.
Linoleum	A smooth floor covering typically used in kitchens and bathrooms. True linoleum is made from natural renewable resources, including pine rosin, sawdust, linseed oil, natural pigments and jute. Vinyl flooring, sometimes mistakenly called linoleum, is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is derived from petrochemicals.
Low-e (low-emissivity) window	A window with a special coating that allows daylight to enter a building but reduces the flow of heat. The appropriate type of low-e glazing for a home will depend on the climate and the window’s orientation.
Native vegetation	Plants that are indigenous to a particular area, and generally require less water & less maintenance, as opposed to occurring there due to human intervention.
Natural cooling	Cooling a building through passive means rather than mechanical systems such as air conditioning. Natural cooling strategies include shading, cross ventilation, and the use of thermal mass to moderate temperatures inside a space.
Natural ventilation	The introduction of outside air into a building by using passive means such as open windows and cross ventilation, rather than using mechanical systems such as air conditioners, heating systems or fans.
Net metering	A billing agreement that allows small power producers, such as homeowners with photovoltaic systems, to feed directly to the utility grid any electricity they generate in excess of their current demand. This causes the electricity meter to spin backwards, essentially selling that power back to the utility system at retail price.
Offgas	The release of vapors from a material through the process of evaporation or chemical decomposition. Many building products, furnishings, floor and wall coverings and other products brought into the home offgas formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other potentially harmful chemicals.
Organic gardening	Gardening without synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, instead using environmentally responsible techniques and substances like compost, mulch and manure to build healthy soils, manage pests and encourage healthy plant growth.
Orientation	The relationship of a building, or a window or other building component, to compass direction and consequently to the sun’s position.
Oriented strand board (OSB)	An engineered wood panel made from strands of wood arranged in crisscrossing layers and bound with an adhesive.
Parallel strand lumber	An engineered wood product made from strands of wood glued together under pressure and cut to form beams, columns and other structural building components.
Passive solar design	A building specifically designed to collect and store the sun’s heat, and release that heat into the interior spaces to help warm the rooms naturally. Depending on the design and climate, passive solar heating can be the sole source of heat for the building or can be supplemented with a heating system.
Phantom load	The small amounts of electricity consumed by many appliances and equipment—such as TVs and stereos with remotes, ovens with digital clocks, cell phone chargers and answering machines—even when they’re not in use.
Photovoltaic (PV) cell	A material that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	Also known as vinyl. A family of plastics, derived from vinyl chloride, with a wide range of forms and uses. PVC is used extensively in building products, consumer goods and industrial applications. PVC contains or releases many dangerous chemicals including dioxins, phthalates & vinyl chloride. There is no safe way to manufacture, use or dispose of PVC.
Post-consumer recycled content	Products that have been used and discarded by a consumer and are then reprocessed as raw material for a new product.
Radiant barrier	A material installed in buildings to reduce summer heat gain (and, to a lesser extent, winter heat loss). Radiant barrier products typically consist of a thin sheet of a reflective material such as aluminum, attached to a substrate such as plywood, oriented strand board or kraft paper. The product is typically installed in a home’s attic to reduce the transfer of heat from the roof into the home.
Radiation	The transfer of heat from a warm object to a cooler object by means of electromagnetic waves passing through air or space. When you stand in the sun, your skin is warmed by radiation. When you stand next to a cold window, your body radiates heat to the cooler window.
Radon	A radioactive gas derived from the natural decay of uranium. Radon is emitted by some soils and rocks, and can enter a home through cracks and holes in the foundation or through well water. Exposure to radon causes lung cancer.
Rainwater harvesting	Collecting rainwater from a catchment area such as a roof and storing it in cisterns or other containers to use for watering a yard or garden, or for other purposes.
Reclaimed material	A material that’s put to a new beneficial use after it’s no longer needed for its original use, such as wood removed from an abandoned building and used to construct a new building.
Renewable resource	A material that can be replenished in a relatively short period of time after it is harvested or used.
R-value	A measure of a material’s resistance to the passage of heat through it. The higher the R-value, the more effective the material is as insulation.
Sealed-combustion appliance	A gas-burning fireplace, furnace or water heater with a sealed combustion chamber. Fresh air is supplied directly to the combustion chamber from outside and harmful combustion by-products are exhausted directly to the outside, keeping them out of the home. Same as direct vent.
SEER	Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Indicates an air conditioner’s energy efficiency. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. The cooling output in Btu’s during a season divided by the total electrical energy input watt-hours during the same period.
Smart growth	A community planning movement that offers an alternative to unchecked, sprawling development. It advocates protecting open space and farmland, preserving natural and cultural resources, revitalizing inner cities and inner suburbs, and creating communities that are livable and affordable.
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)	An indication of how much of the sun’s heat will enter through a window. An SHGC of 0.40, for example, means that forty percent of the sun’s heat gets through the window.
Solar electricity	Electricity generated from sunlight. Also called photovoltaic or PV power.
Solar water heating systems	A system that captures sun energy to heat or preheat water for domestic use and /or space heating. Hot water is then stored in a tank in the building Two types include Flat-plate or Evacuated-tube solar collector systems. Also called Solar Thermal systems.
Stack effect	The air flow established in a building from air infiltrating low and exiting high. The pressures created are greatest at the highest and lowest points in the building.
Stormwater runoff	Water that flows off of buildings and paved surfaces and over land during a rainstorm.
Structural insulating panel (SIP)	An alternative to framing with wood studs and joists. SIPs can be used to build well-insulated floors, walls and roofs. Prefabricated panels typically consist of rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two panels of oriented strand board or plywood.
Sustainability	Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (as defined by the World Commission on the Environment and Development).
Swale	A shallow depression or hollow in the ground used to slow the flow of stormwater off a property.
Tankless water heater	A water heater that saves energy by heating water as it is needed, rather than storing hot water in a tank. Also known as an instantaneous or demand water heater.
Thermal bridge	A highly conductive material within a building envelope, such as a steel or wood framing member, that allows heat to bypass the insulation.
Thermal mass	The ability of a material to absorb and retain heat. Materials with a high thermal mass, such as rocks, earth and concrete, have the capacity to absorb heat during the day and release it when temperatures cool.
Truss	A prefabricated, structural framework for supporting roofs or floors. Trusses, which are shipped to the building site ready to install, are typically fashioned of small pieces of wood joined with metal plates into a triangulated form. They use less wood, and save time and money compared to site-built rafters and joists.
Tubular skylight	A circular skylight that’s much smaller than typical skylights, designed to illuminate interiors with daylight while keeping out excessive heat. It consists of a small, roof-mounted dome attached to a tube lined with reflective material. Light is reflected down the tube, and is transmitted into the room through a translucent ceiling fixture.
U-factor	Indicates how easily heat will pass through a construction assembly, such as a window. The lower the U-factor, the lower the rate of heat flow.
Universal design	An approach to designing a product or a building to make it more easily usable by people of all ages and diverse physical abilities.
Ventilation	The movement of air through an area for the purpose of removing moisture, air pollutants, or unwanted heat.
Volatile organic compound (VOC)	A class of organic chemicals that readily release gaseous vapors at room temperature. VOCs occur naturally in many materials, and can also be manufactured and added to materials and products. VOCs are released (“offgassed”) into a home by common furnishings and building materials, including many types of particleboard, paint, solvents, carpets and synthetic fabrics. Exposure to VOCs can cause symptoms ranging from short-term nausea, eye irritation and headaches to more severe, longer-lasting effects.
Whole-house fan	A powerful fan mounted in a ceiling opening, used to pull air through the home and exhaust it out the attic and through the roof vents. It provides air circulation and cooling in climates where days are warm and nights are cooler, and can often reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning. A whole-house fan is typically used at night to pull cooler outside air into the home through open windows, and to vent warm air through the attic and roof.
Xeriscape	Landscaping design that conserves water by using native or drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and limited or no irrigation.

Glossary adapted from

Good Green Homes: Creating Better Homes for a Healthier Planet,

With permission from the author,

Jennifer Roberts.

Cascadia Green Building Council

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GSHT Glossary

Adaptable building

A building than can be readily remodeled or reconfigured to meet an occupant’s or community’s evolving needs.

Advanced framing

Design and construction techniques that significantly reduce the amount of material used to frame a building. Includes strategies such as studs placed 24 inches on center; fully insulated corners; insulated headers; engineered wood products; and roof or floor trusses.

Alternating current (AC)

Electric current that reverses its direction of flow at regular intervals. In most countries, the electricity provided by utilities is AC electricity.

Bamboo flooring

Flooring made from bamboo, a, fast-growing grass with a hollow stem, that can be harvested every three to five years. Tongue-and-groove bamboo floor planks are available prefinished or unfinished, with a vertical or horizontal grain. An alternative to hardwood.

Borrowed space

Views and daylight from a nearby space used to enliven and seemingly enlarge a room.

British thermal unit (BTU)

The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

Building envelope

A building’s shell, including exterior walls, windows, doors, roof and the bottom floor.

Cellulose insulation

Certified wood

Wood certified by an independent third-party certification program to have been grown and harvested using environmentally responsible forestry practices.

Cistern

A tank, often underground, used to collect and store rain water for later use.

Clerestory

A window or row of windows placed high on a wall, often above the main roof line, used for introducing daylight into a room.

Compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL)

A fluorescent light bulb designed to replace regular incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer, use ¼ the energy, & produce 90% less heat.

Conditioned space

An enclosed space supplied with conditioned air from a heating and/or cooling system.

Conduction

Heat flow from molecule to molecule in a solid substance. A cast iron skillet handle heats up because of conduction through metal.

Convection

The transfer of heat caused by the movement of a fluid like water or air. When a fluid becomes warmer it becomes lighter and rises.

Cork flooring

Flooring, usually sold as tiles, made from cork, which is harvested from the outer bark of cork oak trees without damaging the trees. Cork oaks regenerate their bark and can be reharvested every 9 years.

Cotton insulation

Insulation made from post-industrial recycled cotton textile trimmings. Typically treated with a nontoxic fire retardant and sold as batts that fit between framing studs.

Daylighting

Using light from the sun to illuminate a room. Usually used in combination with electric lighting.

Deconstruction

Disassembling rather than demolishing a building so that its components can be reused.

Direct current (DC)

Electric current that flows in one direction. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into DC electricity. An inverter is then used to convert the DC electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity so that it can be used to power standard household equipment and appliances.

Double-glazed window

A window with two panes of glass separated by an air space. Compared to single-glazed windows, double-glazed windows significantly reduce heat and sound transmission. Some double-glazed windows contain a gas such as argon or krypton in the air gap to provide additional insulation.

Energy efficiency ratio (ERR)

A measurement of energy efficiency for air conditioners. The EER is computed by dividing cooling capacity, measured in British Thermal Units per hour (BTUH), by watts of power.

Energy efficiency

Using less electricity or fuel than a conventional technology to perform the same task.

Energy Star

EnergyGuide label

A yellow sticker required by U.S. law on certain new household appliances, including air conditioners, furnaces, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers. The label provides information on the amount of energy the appliance will use in one year.

Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV)

Energy Performance Score (ESP)

Engineered wood

Fiber-cement siding

An exterior siding product made from a blend of portland cement, sand, cellulose fiber and additives, typically sold as planks or panels, with a smooth or textured finish.

Fly ash

A waste product from coal-fired electric power plants that can be used as a substitute for portland cement in some concrete mixtures.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Formaldehyde

Glazing

Transparent or translucent material, such as glass or plastic, that lets light into a building.

Glulam

Abbreviation of “glued laminated” timber. An engineered wood product consisting of thin layers of wood, usually less than two inches thick, bound with an adhesive and formed into structural beams that can be used instead of solid sawn lumber. Used to reduce pressure on old growth forest.

Graywater

Household wastewater that doesn’t contain sewage and can be reused for toilet flushing. Graywater typically comes from showers, lavatories, and clothes washing machines.

Green roof

A roof that has a layer of soil or other growing medium on top of a waterproofing membrane. May be planted with sedum, grasses, wildflowers or other groundcover. Also known as a “living roof” or “eco roof.”

Halogen light bulb

A type of incandescent light bulb that is filled with halogen gas. It burns longer than a standard incandescent bulb and provides a crisp white light, but gets very hot and is less energy efficient than a compact fluorescent bulb.

Heat gain

Heat from the sun, people, electric lights or appliances that cause the temperature in a space to rise.

Heat island effect

The tendency of large areas of roofs, asphalt, concrete and paved surfaces to absorb the heat, making urban areas considerably hotter than nearby rural areas.

Heat loss

The decrease of heat in a space as a result of heat escaping through the building’s walls, windows, roof and other building envelope components.

Horizontal-axis washing machine

A clothes washer with a horizontal tub instead of a vertical tub (also known as front load washing machines). Horizontal-axis washers tend to use significantly less water—and therefore less energy to heat the water—than conventional washers.

Heat Recovery ventilation (HRV) system

Hydronic radiant-floor heating system