With all the talk of us needing to live in a more ecologically-friendly way many new terms of popped up to confuse people.  What do all these new terms mean?  We will explain some of these terms so that the next time you see them you will understand them better.

Energy Star

Appliances that have the Energy Star symbol on them are more energy efficient, than ones without it.  This shows that the appliances pass the standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA.  This stamp of approval is not just for appliances it can be for products used in construction too such as windows.

Biodegradable

Biodegradable means substance will breakdown and decompose back to nature without hurting it in any way.  This means any animal or plant material.  Anything that will not breakdown or hurts the earth in the process then it is not biodegradable.  So it is better to use products that are biodegradable.  You can find products such as cups and plates that are made from corn and sugarcane respectively.  These are just a couple of examples.

VOC

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) can be found in synthetic foams, paint, stains and fabrics among other things.  These are known carcinogens and the labels on the substances should state if they have zero or low VOCs in them.

CFL

CFL stands for compact fluorescent light bulbs.  These have a higher energy-efficiency rating than the traditional incandescent light bulbs do and they last much longer.

Global Warming

This phrase of global warming has been so bounced around today.  The environmentalists and researchers feel that with the earth’s temperature rising today on a continual basis because of the greenhouse gases people are releasing into the air.  Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are two examples of greenhouse gases.  Not all the experts agree on this theory though.  Still it does not hurt for people to conserve energy and cut down on their carbon footprint.

Deconstruction

Deconstruction just means taking a building that is slated to be torn down and tearing it down in a way that keeps the usable items out of it.  Then people can reuse the ceiling fans, stained glass windows or even the cabinets.  This way, things are recycled as much as possible instead of going in the landfills.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is cotton grown using no fertilizers or pesticides.  This organic cotton is being made into all sorts of products.  The only thing is the products could be manufactured using chemicals that are harsh.  It is best to look into who has made the products before thinking the products are truly organic all the way through the processing.  It will not help you to buy something that started organic if in the processing it has been tainted with chemicals.

These are just a few of the eco-terms you will see talked about today.  Now you have a better understanding of these terms.  You can find many more online if you are interested.  Help save our earth and think more green today.