Glossary

Green building— the process of construction requiring the greatest comfort, value, health and safety for the inhabitants while using the least fossil fuels, water and other depletable resources, both to build and inhabit the structure, generating as little waste as possible, while imposing minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
Green building also demands the use of high quality materials and workmanship because a well-built home lasts longer, uses less energy, is healthier to inhabit, and creates less waste.

Green power—
Green power is energy to run your home that is derived from renewable and non-polluting energy sources as opposed to depletable, polluting sources. Examples of residential green power are:

• Wind. A wind turbine is used to harness the power of the wind to generate electrical power. This is a cost effective technology and worth considering if you live in an area that has an annual average wind speed of 8-10 mph.
• Solar generated electricity
  Sunlight can be converted directly to electrical power by installing photo-voltaic panels on the roof. Latest systems are integrated into roofing tiles and become part of the roof.
  Solar panels of roofing tiles are installed (or tilted) to face south and require an unshaded roof plane, approx. 200 square feet per kilowatt.
• Solar heated water
  Sunlight is used to heat a cavity through which water flows. The process is essentially the same as a garden hose on a sun-baked lawn. Note that as opposed to Solar generated electricity above, where the light of the sun generates electrical power, when heating water, it is thermal energy (the heat of the sun) that is used. For this reason, solar water systems are more efficient and less expensive than solar electric systems.
  Domestic solar water systems require approx. 1/2 square feet per gallon of hot water.
  
  radiant barrier

heat island effect

daylighting

duct leakage
Your furnace or air conditioner delivers warmed or cooled air to the rooms of your house through a system of ducts. Typically these are in the attic. If these ducts are not properly sealed or have developed cracks over time, some of this conditioned air will escape outdoors. Having your furnace heat the attic or garage in this way is the same as if you threw dollar bills out the window whenever the heater was running.
Nationwide, over 20% of the hot or cold air that is supposed to go to rooms in your house never gets there—even in brand new homes—and costs homeowners $5 billion annually.
This energy loss is equivalent to the potential annual oil production from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the annual energy consumption of 13 million cars. The carbon dioxide uptake of seven billion trees is needed to offset the global warming impacts of this energy waste. (Green Remodeling)
embodied energy—the sum of all energy required to produce a durable product. For example, to produce a brick, energy is used to excavate the clay and other components, fire the brick, then deliver it to the building site.

offgassing
Offgassing is the release of vapors from non-metallic substances at room temperatures. The most common example is paint. When you open a can of paint and begin applying it, it begins drying during which time the organic solvents in the paint vaporize into a gas and enter the ambient air. Solvents which offgas found in the home include formaldehyde, benzene, xylenes, toluene, and ethanol. These should be avoided if possible.

Carbon Monoxide:

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, practically odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid. It results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Burns with a violet flame. Slightly soluble in water; soluble in alcohol and benzene. Specific gravity 0.96716; boiling point -190oC; solidification point -207oC; specific volume 13.8 cu. ft./lb. (70oF). Auto ignition temperature (liquid) 1128oF. Classed as an inorganic compound.
Source: "The Condensed Chemical Dictionary," 9th ed., revised by Gessner G. Hawley, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY, 1977.

worst case conditions:

When testing open combustion appliances such as an oven, water heater, furnace or fire place, we must verify that those systems operate safely under worst case conditions. This is defined by a standard developed by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as follows:

• the appliace combustion air zone (CAZ) is subjected to the most negative pressure possible with respect to outdoors. Typically, this means turning on all exhaust fans, dryer, and any other device that may cause a negative pressure in the appliance's CAZ. The negative pressure is verified by a pressure gauge measurement.
• This negative pressure must be less than a not-to-exceed maximum (depressurization) level as specified by the BPI standard.
• Then each appliance in this CAZ is tested for draft pressure and carbon monoxide level in order of smallest capacity (input BTU) to largest. Each must meet a standard for draft pressure and carbon monoxide level to be considered safe at all conditions.