Haven’t been keeping up with our Green Scene section for the last couple of years? We forgive you. Here, in very condensed form, is some of the vocabulary you’ll need if you want to build a green home, green your current home, or just impress your friend the architect.
Certifications
LEED: Nationally touted green building rating system, just coming into its own for home construction.
EarthCraft: Residential building program for greener, energy- and resource-efficient homes; somewhat less rigorous than LEED.
EnergyStar: Government-backed program that rates both homes and appliances.
Construction methods and design
SIPs (structural insulated panels): High-performance, energy-saving, eco-sandwiches of structural board and insulating foam.
ThermaSteel: One example of SIPs; a lightweight, framing and insulating alternative to steel or lumber in construction.
Solar orientation: The placement of the house relative to the sun, used to maximize passive solar heating.
Conditioned crawlspaces: Traditionally unheated areas now conditioned and made airtight to prevent them from getting wet and moldy.
Rainwater harvesting: From rain barrels to bigger cistern systems, a range of ways to be miserly with water.
Graywater systems: Nontoxic “used” water (from dishwasher, shower, sink, etc.) given a second go-round as irrigation.
Vegetated roofs: Plants grown on the roof to cool the house, reduce pollution from run-off, and lend a truly green aesthetic.
Xeriscaping: A landscaping method that lowers irrigation requirements in part by using native plants.
Materials and fixtures
FSC-certified wood: Sustainable wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Borate-treated lumber: Moisture-resistant lumber for outdoor use, less toxic than traditional copper-treated lumber.
Fiber cement siding (for example, HardiPlank): A durable alternative to wood or vinyl siding.
Bamboo flooring: Environmentally sound and renewable, and aesthetically pleasing; looks similar to wood.
Marmoleum flooring: Not your mom’s linoleum. Made with minimal impact from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone.
Low- or No-VOC paints, glues, and sealants: Building essentials that off-gas fewer or no Volatile Organic Compounds: a boost to indoor air quality (IAQ).
Low-flow faucets and showerheads: Plumbing fixtures that cut water usage in half and still get you clean.
Dual-flush toilets: Commodes with two flush options so you don’t use more water than necessary.
Soy-based foam insulation (for example, BioBased): High-performance spray insulation used instead of the itchy pink stuff.
Denim insulation (brand name UltraTouch): Recyclable, VOC- and formaldehyde-free batt insulation made from jean factory scraps.
Permeable pavement: Mimics natural percolation and filtering of water to reduce pollution and run-off.
Energy alternatives
Geothermal heating: Uses the earth’s subterranean heat as an energy source for heating and air-conditioning.
Solar power and heating: Conversion of sunlight into electricity, most often via photovoltaic (PV) panels.
Wind power (rooftop windmills): Customized baby turbines that harness wind to slash energy bills.
Tankless water heaters: Devices that heat water only when it’s called for, thus reducing energy use by 20-30 percent.
Solar-heated water: Solar cells placed on rooftops that use forced circulation to heat water.
EnergyStar appliances: EnergyStar-approved devices that use 10-50 percent less energy than standard.
Building practices
Sourcing materials locally: Reduce carbon footprints by using what’s locally produced—for example, Buckingham County slate instead of Italian marble.
Salvaging materials: Find what you need secondhand rather than fueling demand for what’s newly manufactured.
Reducing construction waste: Re-use or recycle waste to keep it out of landfills.