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Green building glossary

A glossary of words and phrases used in green construction and sustainable development.

C

Caliche

A type of soil containing calcium carbonate that makes a very hard brick/block without firing, common in the southern USA and South America.

Calorific value

The energy content of a fuel measured as the heat released on complete combustion.

Cap-and-trade system

A regulatory or management system that sets a target level for emissions or Natural resource use, and, after distributing shares in that quota, lets trading in those permits determine their price.

Carbon credit

Are measured in units of certified emission reductions (CERs). Each CER is equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide reduction. Developed countries that have exceeded the levels can either cut down emissions, or borrow or buy carbon credits from developing countries.

Carbon cycle

Is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged between the Biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere of the Earth. Major components include photosynthesis, respiration and decay between atmospheric and terrestrial systems.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The greenhouse gas whose concentration is being most affected directly by human activities. Carbon dioxide also serves as the reference to compare all other Greenhouse gases. The major source of emissions is fossil fuel combustion.

Carbon emissions

See – Greenhouse gases

Carbon footprint

A representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of Greenhouse gases produced (measured in units of Carbon dioxide).

Carbon Management

A strategy for large organisations who wish to manage and reduce their carbon emissions while growing profitably; provides a strategic view of how carbon impacts the organisation by identifying the risks and opportunities associated with Climate change

Carbon monoxide (CO)

A colourless, odourless, very toxic gas made up of carbon and oxygen that burns to Carbon dioxide with a blue flame and is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon.

Carbon sequestration

Refers to the process by which atmospheric carbon is absorbed in to carbon sinks such as the oceans, forests and soil.

Carbon sink

Is a carbon reservoir that is increasing in size, the main natural sinks are the oceans, and plants and other organisms that use photosynthesis to remove carbon from the atmosphere by incorporating it into Biomass. The concept of carbon sinks has become more widely known because the Kyoto Protocol allows this as a form of carbon offset.

Carbon tax

A tax on energy sources which emit Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is an example of a pollution tax, which has been proposed by economists as preferable because it taxes a bad, rather than a good, issue.

Carrying capacity

The number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within Natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural, social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations.

Catchment

The area contributing surface water flow to a point on a drainage or river system; can be divided into Sub-catchments.

Certified emission reduction (CER)

Each CER is equivalent to one ton of Carbon dioxide emissions reduction. A CER is the technical term for the output of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, as defined by the Kyoto Protocol.

Chloroflourocarbon (CFC)

A chemical compound made up of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine. CFCs have been used as propellants in spray cans, coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, and in foam, plastics, and cleaning solvents. They are very stable in the Troposphere, but are broken down by strong ultraviolet light in the Stratosphere and release chlorine atoms which have been shown to deplete the Ozone layer.

City system

The people, goods and information flows which enter and leave a city, creating a system of inputs and outputs.

Circular metabolism

A system where some or many of the outputs are recycled back into the system, meaning less inputs are required.

City metabolism

Using a view of cities as organisms, describes the way in which they operate to enable continued growth and functioning.

Climate change

Refers to the variation in the Earth's global climate or in regional climates over time. It describes changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over time scales ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes may come from processes internal to the Earth, be driven by external forces or, most recently, be caused by human activities.

Closed loop-recycling

A recycling system in which a particular mass of material is remanufactured into the same product. See - Ecodesign.

Co-generation

A method of using the heat that is produced as a by-product of electrical generation and that would otherwise be wasted; the heat can be used for space heating of buildings or for industrial purposes. Utilising the heat in this way means that 70-85% of the energy converted from fuel can be put to use, rather than the 30-50% that is typical for electrical generation alone. The term CHP is employed in the UK and some other parts of Europe, while the term co-generation is employed elsewhere in Europe, the US and other countries.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

See - Co-generation

Combined sewer

A sewer designed to carry foul sewage and surface Runoff in the same pipe.

Community Plan

A plan which is developed at local authority level involving local communities to promote and put Sustainable development into practice in the locality.

Compost

Material resulting from the controlled microbial transformation of organic materials under aerobic, high temperature conditions.

Composting

A waste management option involving the controlled biological decomposition of organic materials into a relatively stable humus-like product that can be handled, stored, and applied to the land without adversely affecting the environment.

Composting toilet

A toilet which uses little or no water in which the waste composts to a material which can be safely used as a soil additive.

Compressed earth blocks

Earth that is mechanically compressed into a block form, often stabilised with cement, and having a higher compressive strength and better weatherability characteristics than Adobe. See - Earth construction.

Contaminated land

Land that retains undesirable residues resulting from a previous use or recent incident.

Controlled waters

Waters defined and protected under the Water Resources Act 1991. Any relevant territorial waters that extend seaward for 3 miles from the baselines, any coastal waters that extend inland from those baselines to the limit of the highest tide or the freshwater limit of any river or watercourse, any enclosed dock that adjoins coastal waters, inland freshwaters, including rivers, watercourses, and ponds and lakes with discharges and groundwaters.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

A concept that suggests that commercial corporations have a duty of care to all of their stakeholders in all aspects of their business operations. CSR is closely linked with the principles of Sustainable development which argue that enterprises should be obliged to make decisions based not only on financial/economic factors but also on the social, environmental and other consequences of their activities

Cost-benefit analysis

The appraisal of an investment or a policy change that considers all associated costs and benefits, expressed in monetary terms, accruing to it.

Cradle-to-cradle

Design, industrial, management and economic activities which ensure that materials and products are cared for throughout their life cycle, so that once their current use life is complete they are returned to new use lives or functions. See - Ecodesign and Recycling.

Curtilage

Land area within property boundaries.

Anything produced in the course of making another product.

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