Carbon Footprint: Total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product.
Circular Economy: Economic system aimed at eliminating waste through continual use of resources via sharing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling.
Compost: Decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer, created through controlled decomposition of food scraps and yard waste.
Energy Star: U.S. government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, helping consumers identify products that save money and protect the environment.
Fast Fashion: Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to latest trends, often with poor quality and labor practices.
Food Miles: Distance food travels from production to consumer, used as indicator of environmental impact from transportation.
Greenwashing: Deceptive marketing practices making products appear more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Greywater: Relatively clean wastewater from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other appliances excluding toilets.
LEED Certification: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; world's most widely used green building rating system.
Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in diameter resulting from breakdown of larger plastics or direct release.
Phantom Power: Electricity consumed by devices when switched off but still plugged in, also called standby power or vampire draw.
Planned Obsolescence: Business strategy of planning or designing products with artificially limited useful life to encourage repeat purchases.
Regenerative Agriculture: Farming practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and draw carbon from atmosphere into soil.
Renewable Energy: Energy from sources naturally replenished on human timescales, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.
Single-Use Plastics: Plastic items intended for one use before disposal, including bags, straws, cutlery, and packaging.
Sustainable Development: Development meeting present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
Upcycling: Creative reuse transforming waste materials into products of higher quality or environmental value.
VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds; chemicals that easily become vapors or gases, often found in paints, cleaning supplies, and furnishings.
Xeriscaping: Landscaping method using drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation to minimize water use.
Zero Waste: Philosophy encouraging redesign of resource life cycles so all products are reused and no trash is sent to landfills or incinerators.
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