Search Glossary
A term now extensively used to describe buildings designed and constructed with a minimum negative impact to the environment, with an emphasis on conservation of resources, energy efficiency, and healthful interior spaces.
The concept that new development must meet the needs of the present without compromising those of the future. Sustainability is measured in three interdependent dimensions: environment, economics, and society—often referred to as the “triple bottom line.”
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- Heat Island Effectsearch for term
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A phenomenon that occurs in developed areas where the replacement of natural land cover with pavement and buildings results in an increase in outdoor temperatures. The heat island effect
can be mitigated by vegetation, green roofs, and light colored building materials that reflect heat.
Families significantly below the poverty level have been shown to spend as much as 19% of their income on utility bills, while in some areas of the United States as many as 25% of evictions of low-income renters were due to inability to pay utility bills, which is why incorporating sustainable design elements into affordable housing is so critical.
- Global Green USA
