Glossary

Carbon Footprint - A measure of your impact on the environment measured in units of carbon dioxide, based on the amount of greenhouse gases produced.

CEA - Consumer Electronics Association. An association of more than 2,000 companies with a mission to build the consumer electronics industry.

CEDIA - Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association. A trade association of companies specializing in planning and installing custom electronics.

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.

Custom Electronics - The design and installation of custom audio, video and home theater systems.

Custom Integrator - Specialize in installing technology solutions inside the home and provide advice on consumer electronics and design.

Earth House - A home that uses the natural terrain to form the walls of the house. Usually set into the ground and covered with natural growth, the home is said to have a small ecological footprint.

ENERGY STAR ® - A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which ensure that manufacturers are doing their best to help save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

FSC - Forest Stewardship Council - a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC-labeled wood products indicate that the wood is harvested from sustainably-managed forests.

Green Building - Buildings that reduce the impact on human health and the environment through eco-friendly design, building practice and materials, increasing the efficiency of resources such as energy and water.

Greenwashing - A term used to describe consumers being misled by a company's environmental practices or the benefits of the "green" products they produce.

HERS Index - The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home's HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.

Home Automation - Automated control in the home of lighting, security, entertainment, heating and more by an integrated user interface.

Home Control - Accessibility and management of the home through user interaction with a home automation system.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) - Indoor Air Quality is the assessment of the content of a building's interior air that could affect the health and comfort of the occupants.

LEED® - The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings that encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. Learn more here (link to LEED page).

LEED AP (LEED Accreditation Professionals) - LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 43,000 people have earned the credential since the Professional Accreditation program was launched in 2001.

LEED-H (LEED for Homes) - LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

Milk Paint - Made from milk casein and other natural materials - an environmentally friendly material with no VOCs, HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) or EPA-exempt solvents added.

Multi Room Audio - Audio systems in multiple rooms of a home, each room independent from the others, allowing listeners to adjust volume or audio choice without affecting other audio throughout the home.

NAHB Green Rating System - Provide guidance for builders on green building products and practices and serve as a "baseline" for green building programs. www.nahbgreen.org.

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) - A trade association that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority.

Native - Plants and materials originating naturally in a particular area.

Organic - Foods or materials raised and grown without artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

Stewardship - The shared responsibility for environmental quality.

Structured Wiring - A method of wiring that allows all services (phone, television, music, etc.) to originate from one central location.

Sustainability - Sustainability, central to green living, is about preserving the environment and natural resources for years to come. It is the process of maintaining a small ecological footprint so that one's life has no permanent detrimental effect on the earth. There are specific fields within it like sustainable architecture, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable development.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - A non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction and the developers of the LEED building rating system.

List of favorite and most used resources:
www.energystar.gov
www.nahbgreen.org
www.usbgc.org
www.greenerlivingguide.com