Glossary
- Aquifer
- An aquifer is an underground layer of porous rock, gravel, sand, silt or clay from which water can easily flow, and be extracted.
- Brownfield redevelopment
- A piece of industrial or commercial property that is abandoned or underused; these were sites where factories, train yards and commercial structures that were the economic lifeblood of the American economy were located.
- Carbon Footprint
- The measure given to the amount of green house gases produced by burning fossil fuels, measured in units of carbon dioxide (i.e. Kg). Like walking on a soft sandy beach, everyone leaves a footprint. Basic reduction in power consumption, responsible travel, and various other activities can offset your carbon footprint.
- Daylight harvesting
- The process of using natural daylight (through windows) to light up offices or homes during the day.
- Energy Star®
- Energy star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Star offers most energy efficient products and practices. http://www.energystar.gov/
- Florida Green Building Coalition
- FGBC is a nonprofit Florida Corporation dedicated to improving the built environment. Its mission is "to provide a statewide Green Building program with environmental and economic benefits." http://floridagreenbuilding.org/
- Greenfield
- Sites in both rural and urban areas, which have not experienced previous development. It also includes forestry and agricultural land and buildings, as well as previously developed sites which have now blended into the natural landscape over time.
- Green products/technologies
- Environmentally friendly products and technologies that protect natural resources and reduce our impact on the environment. Some examples include: non-toxic paints, permeable surfaces, recycled flooring, grey water capturing/recycling and the use of native plants.
- Green Roofs
- Roofs of buildings and parking decks are planted. This reduces the heat transmitted to the building and the heat reflected into the atmosphere. The additional plants increase oxygen output and air filtration. The roof also becomes a recreational amenity.
- Greywater system
- Reuse the wastewater from sinks, showers and other sources for the flushing of toilets, landscape irrigation and other functions that do not require potable water.
- High-density
- Using land in the most efficient manner when designing a community. This type of development preserves natural resources, encourages independence from automobiles, reuses existing infrastructure, and feels more like fondly remembered, traditional neighborhoods.
- LEED™
- (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
- Low flow fixtures
- fixtures such as toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads that have been developed to substantial amounts of water compared to conventional fixtures while providing the same utility.
- Low-impact design
- Environmentally friendly, sustainable practices that reduce our impact on the environment and conserve natural resources.
- Mass transit
- Public transport comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. It is also called public transit or mass transit. While it is generally taken to mean rail and bus services, wider definitions would include scheduled airline services, ferries, taxicab services etc. — any system that transports members of the general public.
- Median family income
- the median family income is a measure of average family income. It divides the family income distribution into two equal parts: one-half of the cases fall below the median family income, and one-half above it.
- Mixed-use developments
- Developments that combine several uses on one site in a coordinated way, including office, retail, hotel, or residential development.
- Multimodal hubs
- One central location where a variety of transportation options are available. Modes such as rail, busses, airplanes, bike trails and walking paths will be accessible to the public.
- Non-potable water
- Non-potable water is water that is not treated to drinking water standards and is not meant for human consumption.
- Permeable
- Passable; allowing fluid to penetrate or pass through it.
- Photovoltaics (PV)
- Is a technology often confused with solar thermal and is in fact what many people mean when they refer to "solar energy." Photovoltaics (photo=light, voltaics=electricity) is a semiconductor-based technology (similar to the microchip) which converts light energy directly into an electric current that can either be used immediately or stored, such as in a battery, for later use.
- Photovoltaic cells
- Also known as solar cells, these devices use electrons to convert photons from the sun (solar light)) into electricity.
- Rainwater harvesting system
- This popular process collects water that otherwise would disappear into the ground or drain into local water bodies. The water is then treated and redirected as needed.
- Redevelopment
- To restore (buildings or neighborhoods, for example) to a better condition.
- Segway™
- A self-balancing personal transportation device with two wheels; can operate in any level pedestrian environment.
- Solar Power Systems
- Solar power systems that use photovoltaic cells and converters can offset a significant portion of a household’s electricity demand. Though the systems require a considerable investment, over time they pay for themselves and can be factored into a mortgage to make the cost more manageable.
- Solar Street Lighting
- Solar street lights are set up off the power grid, meaning once installed, the light they supply costs nothing. There are many other benefits, as well. Take for instance, the extensive power outages from the recent over-active hurricane season. With solar lighting, the lights stay on even when the powers out.
- Solar thermal technology
- Uses the sun's heat energy to heat substances (such as water or air) for applications such as space heating, pool heating and water heating for homes and businesses.
- Solar Water Heaters and Chillers
- Installing a solar water heater is one of the best ways to lower energy expenses because up to one-third of a home’s energy use goes to heating water. Because the savings are so significant, this investment has a very low payback time. Using solar power to chill water has the same effect: reducing energy costs for the owner or occupant and reducing the amount of carbon in the air caused by traditional energy production.
- Sprawl
- Low-density development on the edge of cities and towns, poorly planned, land consumptive, auto-dependent, and designed without respect to its surroundings.
- Sustainable development
- development that uses a holistic, realistic approach that incorporates long-range planning, green products/technologies, transportation alternatives and low-impact design.
- Transit-oriented communities
- Mixed-use, walkable, compact communities that offer a variety of alternative transportation options, such as people movers, buses and multi-modal hubs that connect to mass transit outside of the community.
- Urban infill/infill development
- The development of vacant land or redevelopment of existing urban structures or infrastructure where water, sewer and other public services are already in place; Urban infill reduces urban sprawl.
- Urban redevelopment
- The restoration or rehabilitation of existing urban structures or infrastructures where water, sewer and other public services are already in place.
- Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
- Low-VOC paints are better for the occupants and for those applying the paints, too. For people with allergies and sensitivities, environmentally and people-friendly low VOC paints make the space enjoyable and the air breathable from day one.
- Zero-carbon communities
- These communities incorporate energy-saving technologies into homes and offices, which reduces or neutralizes our carbon footprint and significantly decreases energy bills and operating costs; A carbon footprint is the measure given to the amount of greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
