Eco Speak Decoded

Eco Speak Decoded

Eco Speak Decoded

These days a great many more people considering a home remodeling project are making efforts to remodel green. As they do their research it quickly becomes apparent that acronym usage is particularly prevalent in the green remodeling field and they can all become rather confusing rather quickly.

What is the difference between LEED and LED again? And is HET anything like HVAC or not? Here is a brief glossary that decodes some of this green remodeling code you may be encountering as you plan your eco friendly project.

AIA

American Institute of Architects. This organization represents the helpful guys and gals who create the initial plans, layouts, designs and blueprints that are an essential component of many largerremodeling projects. Currently many of them are choosing to take extra "green" certifications that expand their expertise in the field of green remodeling.

CFL

Compact Fluorescent Lighting. These are those twisty little light bulbs that are so much more energy efficient than their wire filament cousins. The U.S. government intends to begin phasing out those old fashioned light bulbs altogether by 2012 so you may as well become familiar with them right now.

HERS

Home Energy Rating System. This is a system designed to rate the energy efficiency of an individual home. The scale runs from 0 to 100 with a lower score indicating a more energy efficient home. Testing is performed by a certified Home Energy Rater ( a HER, there goes other one) and the results can be used to determine how to make even more improvements to make homes ever greener and cheaper to maintain.

HET

High Efficiency Toilet. A standard modern toilet, though more efficient than its water guzzling predecessors, still needs to waste 3.5 gallons per flush to work efficiently, which can add up to a lot of wasted water resources, even over the course of a single day. High Efficiency Toilets need less water to function usually around 1.5 gallons so by installing one you will cut your waste water usage in half and shave more than a few dollars off your water bill at the same time. This is one time it pays to get HET up!

LED

Light Emitting Diode LEDs have actually been around for decades but are only now shaping up as a real alternative in the home lighting arena. Best used as task lighting, LED lighting is super energy efficient and will burn for years longer than a traditional incandescent.

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (acronym USGBC) many people think that this environmental efficiency certification applies only to commercial buildings but that is not the case. New homes can become LEED certified, although in order to be deemed such the construction must be supervised by aLEED for Homes Provider, who verifies that the project meets these rigorous guidelines.

VOC

Volatile Organic Compounds. Nasty things that seriously degrade the air quality in a space and are emitted by paints, solvents and various finishes often used on household cabinetry and furniture . It is VOCs that cause that new carpet smell or the new paint smell that can give you a headache for days. Low VOC products are advised for use in all homes whenever possible now since the health risks are, researchers believe, potentially very serious.

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