Going-Green-Terminology
Understanding Green Living Lingo

Can you speak green? This going-green-terminology and green-glossary will clarify some basic terms that are quite commonplace in the green living vocabulary.

This list should also help to clear up the definitions of some rather strange terms that are becoming popular as well. In the world of carbon footprint reduction we need a better understanding of what people are talking about these days.

books

BIODIVERSITY The range of living things in one area
and how they are part of the ecosystem.

BIODEGRADABLE

Breaking down of materials with help
from micoorganisms.

BIOACCUMULATION

How animals and plants secrete toxins
in their tissues from their environment.

BLACKWATER

Containing feces and urine.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

The measure of greenhouse gas emitted by
certain actions of humans or industries.

CARBON NEUTRAL

Or Carbon Neutrality - the term used to describe the actions of organizations, businesses and individuals taking action to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as each put in to it.

CARBON OFFSETS

Measures taken to make up for carbon dioxide
released into the atmosphere.

CARBON TAX

A proposed tax charge on carbon dioxide
emissions because of burning fossil fuels.

CARBON DIOXIDE

Greenhouse gas increasing global warming.
Also known as CO2 - chemical abbreviation.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Rapid change in global climate because of
human activities.

COMPOST

Breaking down of materials into dirt.

CFL

Replacement for traditional light-bulbs.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp

ECOSYSTEM

A self sufficient environment formed by
biological and physical characteristics
existing together and in one place.

EMISSION

Gases or exhausts produced by human activity.

One of the new going-green-terminology phrases that
almost sounds a bit "scary" is becoming popular...

ENERGY VAMPIRES

Refers to electric appliances that continue to use
energy after they are supposedly turned off.

FOSSIL FUELS

Deposits such as natural gas, coal and oil
which has taken years to develop naturally
from the environment.

FAIR TRADE

USA certification code that verifies that
farmers have received a fair price for their
products. They have received credit and are
helped with assistance to their business on
the road to being self-sufficient economically.

FREE RANGE

Way of farming which allow animals to roam freely
and not be caged.

GLOBAL WARMING

Temperature increase in air and oceans
because of human activity.

GOLD STANDARD LEGITIMATE

A term given to truly legitimate carbon-offsets; geared to the purchaser.

GREENAPSIS

The process a company undergoes in order to become a "green" company.

GREY WATER

Runoff from washers, sinks, tub etc.,
but has no sewage materials.

GREEN

Used in reference to being environmentally
friendly.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Devoted to the conservation of energy, green
building, soil health, smart electricity and
more.

GREEN BUILDING

The practice of using eco-friendly building
materials, and the designing of energy
efficient homes and businesses. Relies on
wind and solar power.

GREEN LIFESTYLE/LIVING

Consideration of life choices made which
will have consequences on the environment.

GREENHOUSE GASES

Gases in our atmosphere contributing
to global warming.

HERBICIDE

Chemicals that stop plants from growing
or even kills them.

IPPC

Government Panel investigating impact,
and solutions for the changing climate.

LANDFILL

A place to bury garbage, waste.

LED

Replacing the usual light-bulbs, known as
Light Emitting Diode.

"NET" ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT

Same as zero carbon footprint.

ORGANIC FOOD

No fertilizers, sewage, or pesticides are used
to grow plants.

PHANTOM LOAD

Same meaning as Energy Vampires.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Commonly referred to as the 3 r's
of green living. The credo for
going-green-terminology.

RECYCLE

Finding alternate uses for something
instead of throwing it away as garbage.

REPURPOSE

Same meaning as "recycle."

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Alternate forms of electricity through
natural resources such as wind and sun.

SOLAR ENERGY

Conversion of sun's rays to energy.

SUSTAINABILITY

"Living now" changes to make in order to
preserve our resources for generations
to come. Involves different methods of
building, farming and finding new ways
to produce electricity instead of using
up resources that will run out.

VEGAN

Someone who will not eat products from
animals or use material products from
animals either.

WASTE STREAMS

Waste materials which come from various
commercial, industrial or municipal
sectors.

ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT

The goal of carbon neutrality, and the practice of carbon
offsetting.

Leave Going-Green-Terminology, Return To Carbon-Footprint Defined Home Page

Share this page:

What’s this?

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

SBI!