Auction:

An online auction allows you to set a starting price for an item and allows buyers to bid on the item at an escalating rate for a predetermined amount of time.

Biodegradable:

A term used to classify products that will naturally break down in the environment over time. ie: Food waste and plastics made from vegetable content

Biodiesel:

Fuel that is generated from vegetable oil (often soybean and/or canola oil). Biodiesel is most commonly measured by its blend, ranging from 5% (B5) to 20% (B20).

Biomass:

Biological material from plant or animal matter that is used to generate fuel. ie: corn and sugarcane.

Carbon Footprint:

The total amount of Greenhouse gasses emitted by people or companies through activities like travel and electricity use.

Carbon Offset:

Sometimes called emission offsets, carbon offsets are reductions in emissions that someone pays for. When you buy an emission offset, you are paying someone else to reduce their carbon footprint.

Carbon Neutral:

Carbon neutral is a term designated to products or activities that emit a total of zero carbon into the atmosphere. This can be achieved by completely reducing ones carbon footprint, or by balancing it through carbon offsets.

Chasing Arrows:

A triangle shape framed with arrows that are used to label something that is recyclable.

Classifieds:

Classifieds are items put up for sale at an established price.

Climate Change:

Describes changes in temperature and weather systems that currently exist on earth. ie: Global Warming

CO2 Equivalent:

A measure used by scientists to compare the emissions from different greenhouse gasses to their global warming potential. Example: Decaying animal waste and garbage emit methane gas which has a global warming potential of 21 times that of Carbon Dioxide. So, one ton of methane gas in the atmosphere equals 21 CO2 equivalent tons.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA):

CSA is a coactive effort between consumers and farmers in neighboring locations. The consumer's role in a CSA program is to buy a subscription for periodic delivery of food produced by a nearby farmer. The farmer often agrees to produce organically grown food. CSA programs often have less of an environmental impact due to short transportations distances.

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL):

CFLs generate the same amount of light that incandescent bulbs while using less energy. They generate light with trapped gas instead of filaments.

Ecological Footprint:

Measurement of the impact of human activity on the environment through waste generation and resource consumption.

Eco-Chic:

A product that is both eco-friendly and aimed towards a hip, modern lifestyle.

Eco-Friendly:

Products made with a conscious effort towards improving the environment and ecology.

Eco-Swap:

The exchange of green items of comparable value.

Ethanol:

A fuel mixed with gasoline for use in vehicles. Like biodiesel, it is measure through its mixture, E85 means 85% Ethanol ad 15% Gasoline.

Energy Efficiency:

A measure of how much energy is needed for a product to function.

Energy Star:

A US Government program that certifies energy efficient products. To know if a product has been certified look for the Energy Star label. [INSERT IMAGE]

Geothermal Energy:

Energy that is stored as heat below the earth's surface. It is often harvested by pumping water through pipes or wells where the water is then heated, brought back to the surface, and the heat is converted into energy.

Global Warming:

The rise in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation due to the greenhouse effect. It has been the topic of great debate within society and politics as to whether or not humans are the cause of this radical change; though we might not know to an absolute certainty if it is our fault or not, we do know that there is something we can all do about it.

Green Audit:

A green audit (sometimes called eco-audit) is a process by which an individual or organization can evaluate and calculate its environmental impact. One common green audit is to assess individual carbon footprints with carbon calculators.

Green Building:

The practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings to reduce negative impacts on the environment through increased energy, material, and water effectiveness. It is also a term for a building that is intended, constructed, and/or operated to be environmentally-friendly.

Greenhouse Gasses:

GHGs are gases that contribute to the confining of solar heat in Earth's atmosphere. Primary greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, methane, and ozone. Though most greenhouse gases occur in nature, scientists believe that human-generated emissions are disturbing the equilibrium of gases and leading to the rising of Earth's temperature.

The Greenhouse Gas Effect:

The process where the emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere warms the planet's surface. Greenhouse gasses are trapped in the earth's atmosphere which then increases earth's temperature. The name comes from an incorrect analogy comparing the warming of air inside a greenhouse to the warming of air inside our earth's atmosphere.

Greenwashing:

The act of making a misleading claim about the ecological benefits of a product, company, or service.

The Green Seal:

An internationally known independent non-profit organization that certifies environmentally-friendly products and services. Established in 1989, Green Seal labels products as "Green Seal Certified" or "GS Certified".

Hydroelectric:

Facilities that are able to generate power by using moving water to turn blades of a turbine.  ie: Dams.

Methane:

Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon gas that plays a role in the greenhouse effect. Frequent sources of methane gasses are landfills and agricultural activities.

Natural:

An item solely made from ingredients and materials found in nature with limited human input.

Natural Gas:

A fossil fuel that is non-renewable yet burns cleaner than oil and coal.

Off-The-Grid:

Buildings and homes that are not connected to an electrical power grid, sewage system, or telephone network. Often, these buildings are electrically self-sufficient and use septic systems rather than sewers.

One Percent for the Planet:

An organization of businesses that agree to give 1% (or more) of their annual revenue to environmental charities, organizations, and/or causes.

Organic:

Products that are made only from plants or insects.

Solar Energy:

The process of converting sunlight into electricity through PV (photovoltaic) cells.

Sustainability:

Products or activities that meet our generations current needs without having a detrimental effect on the needs of future generations.

USGBC:

The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organization working to encourage green building. The USGBC oversee the LEED rating system.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):

VOCs are emitted by several everyday products including cleaning supplies, carpet, paints, pesticides, building materials, and furniture. They are organic solvents that easily evaporate into the air. VOCs may cause health risks and are detrimental to the environment.

Wind Energy:

A process that turns wind power into energy. Blowing wind revolves windmill blades; the blades then turn a turbine, which then converts wind power into electricity.