Carbon footprint: The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service.

CFL: Compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are more energy efficient than standard incandescent light bulbs and last longer.

Cool coating: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Cool roof coatings are white liquids applied over an existing low-sloped roof structure to achieve energy savings, an extended life span and protection from weathering and ultraviolet radiation. Dual-flush toilets: Feature both high and low-volume flushes using technology that ensures low water consumption.

Energy-efficient: Used to describe property or products that exhibit special features designed to save electrical and heat power — for example, special light fixtures or double-insulated windows.

Energy Star: A joint program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that sets energy efficiency guidelines for products, homes and businesses. (www.energystar.gov)

Green building: Also known as sustainable building or environmental building, this definition varies depending on the agency or group. Generally it means to construct a building to the highest environmental standards by minimizing the use of energy, water and materials. A green building, for example, might have skylights, recycled building materials and solar panels.

Greenwashing: A term playing off "whitewash" that is used to describe projects that are labeled as energy-efficient and sustainable when they're really not. It's also a term sometimes used to describe the distribution of misleading information by a business or an organization to conceal its abuse of the environment.

LEED: A certification program through the U.S. Green Building Council that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environ-mental Design. The nationwide program provides guidelines for residential and commercial construction projects to follow to determine if a project is green. (www.usgbc.org)

PaperStone: Countertop material made in Washington by compressing post-consumer recycled paper and a water-based resin (plant-based adhesives).

R value: Measures the ability of insulation to resist heat flow; the higher the number the better.

Renewable energy: Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels. For example, wind power and solar energy.

Shades of green: A term used by officials in the green industry to describe the varying levels of sustainability achieved in residential and commercial projects. For example, a home with only some energy-efficient features and attributes would make it a lighter shade of green than one that is energy-efficient from its light fixtures to its carbon footprint.

Smart growth: Basically describes environmentally sensitive land development that takes into account minimizing dependence on auto transportation and reducing air pollution.

Solar design: Design that takes advantage of solar energy, that is derived from sunlight, to heat, cool and provide lighting in a home or office. Active solar uses mechanical devices such as pumps and fans to move heat from collectors to storage or from storage to use. Photo-voltaic panels that collect solar energy, turning it into electricity, are also considered an active solar system. Passive solar depends on the siting and design of the home — with such features as south-facing windows, overhangs, shade trees — operating with little or no mechanical assistance. It uses a simple system to collect and store solar energy with no switches or controls.

VOC: Volatile organic compounds are carcinogens found in paint, finishes, synthetic foams, fabrics and stains. Most labels should indicate if something has low or zero VOCs.

Wheat board: Similar in appearance to particle board, wheat board is moisture-resistant and made from chopped wheat straw, bonded with poly-urethane resin.

Primary Source: Sarasota Green Pages (www.NASRQ.com)

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, The Natural Resource Defense Council, U.S. Green Building Council, Built Green and The Seattle Times; The Northwest Green Home Primer; California Energy Commission's Consumer Energy Center