Green Buildings and Cities

thermal mass

Ability of a material to absorb and store heat energy.

night flushing

Day-to-night temperature differences; thermal mass stores and releases heat.

single-side ventilation

Pulse ventilation; only 1 window opened for a short period of time.

stack ventilation

Vertical ventilation; warm air rises.

cross ventilation

Horizontal ventilation; air moves from lower to higher pressure.

heat pump

Like a fridge with a reversing valve; energy efficient.

ground source heat pump

Buried tubes below ground maintain stable temperature year-round; heats and cools in any climate.

daylighting (natural light)

Provides light without electricity.

sidelighting

Full illumination within 15 ft of a window; partial illumination within 30 ft of a window.

toplighting

Any size floor plan; limited to top floor plus clerestories.

light shelf

Reflects light deeper into the room; can double as outdoor shading device.

biophilic design

Connecting people and nature within built environments and communities.

bioregionalism

Green building style; place-based, creating spaces that tell you where you are.

urban heat island effect

A metropolitan area that experiences significantly warmer temperatures than surrounding rural areas.

gentrification

Urban neighborhoods becoming more affluent, often displacing lower-income residents.

green infrastructure

Open space, habitat, stormwater systems.

durable cities

Walkable streets & scenic walks, common public spaces, places to sit, places for spontaneous social contact.

mixed use

Urban planning & transportation theory that concentrates growth in compact walkable urban centers to avoid sprawl.