Climate

Climate: The average weather conditions in a particular location or region at a particular time of the year. Climate is usually measured over a period of 30 years or more.

Carbonic acid

Carbonic acid: An acid that forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. As people add more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the world’s oceans absorb some of the extra carbon dioxide and it turns into carbonic acid. Extra carbonic acid is making the oceans more acidic, which can make it harder for corals and shellfish to build their skeletons and shells.

Carbon dioxide equivalent

Carbon dioxide equivalent: A unit of measurement that can be used to compare the emissions of various greenhouse gases based on how long they stay in the atmosphere and how much heat they can trap. For example, over a period of 100 years, 1 pound of methane will trap as much heat as 21 pounds of carbon dioxide. Thus, 1 pound of methane is equal to 21 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.

Carbon

Carbon: A chemical element that is essential to all living things. Carbon combines with other elements to form a variety of different compounds. Plants and animals are made up of carbon compounds, and so are certain minerals. Carbon combines with oxygen to make a gas called carbon dioxide.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel: A type of biofuel typically made from soybean, canola, or other vegetable oils; animal fats; or recycled grease. Biodiesel can be blended with regular diesel fuel and used in most diesel engines. Some engines can also be modified to run on pure biodiesel.

Barometer

Barometer: An instrument that measures the air pressure of the atmosphere. Differences in air pressure are responsible for wind and weather patterns, and low pressure is generally associated with storms.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere: A mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases that surrounds the Earth. The atmosphere is critical to supporting life on Earth.

Atom

Atom: The basic building block of all the matter in the universe. Every element (for example, carbon or oxygen) represents a unique type of atom. Atoms combine together to make molecules such as carbon dioxide.

Asthma

Asthma: A disease that affects a person’s lungs and can make it difficult to breathe. Many factors can trigger an asthma attack. For some people, these triggers may include air pollution, allergens, heavy exercise, or certain weather conditions.

Allergen

Allergen: A substance, such as pollen, mold, and dust mites, that causes allergies.

Aerosol

Aerosol: A collection of tiny solid or liquid particles in the atmosphere that can come from natural sources (such as wildfires, dust storms, and volcanoes) or people’s activities (such as burning fossil fuels). Some aerosols make the atmosphere warmer because they absorb energy. Others have a cooling effect because they reflect sunlight back to space. Aerosols also influence cloud formation.

Waste-to-Energy

Waste-to-Energy – The process of burning solid waste, landfill gas, tires, or other forms of waste to produce heat or electricity.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Voaitile Organic Compounds- Compounds from many housekeeping, maintenance & building products made with organic chemicals. These compounds may be released from the products both in use and in storage. In sufficient quantities, VOC’s can cause irritation & some are carcinogenic *& are suspected of causing or exacerbating acute *& chronic diseases. The health effects of VOC’s at levels found typically in commercial indoor environments are still not completely known & continue to be a point of further study.

Upcycling

Upcycling - The process of recycling in such a way that the new products are of higher economic value. Example: using waste PET (plastic from soda bottles) to create Terratex panel fabric.

Sweatshop-free

Sweatshop-free - describes the absence of manufacturing conditions currently existing in many countries, referred to as “sweatshops”. They are production facilities or factories where goods are produced cheaply by minimizing workers’ salaries, and increasing working hours. Proper environmental health standards are diminished, yet demands for high levels of productivity still remain. These sweatshops may thrive from corporations seeking to increase profits by subcontracting inexpensive labor

Sustainability

Sustainability - is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. For humans it is the potential for long-term maintenance of well being, which in turn depends on the well being of the natural world and the responsible use of natural resources.

Sustainable

Sustainable – is a theory that something has the capacity to withstand long periods of time continue to be productive overtime

S.O.L.E

S.O.L.E. – sustainable, organic, local & ethical

Social Responsibility

Social Responsibility – is an ethical or ideological theory that an entity whether it is a government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society. This responsibility can be “negative”, meaning there is a responsibility to refrain from acting (resistance stance) or it can be “positive,” meaning there is a responsibility to act (proactive stance).

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) – A term used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in particular building, but where no specific illness can be identified. Symptoms typically appear upon entering the building & disappear upon leaving the building in affected occupants. These occupants. These buildings are often defined as “problem buildings”.