FAQ About Potential Green Topics

1. What is global warming?
1. Global warming is the average temperature increase on the Earth’s near surface air and oceans. Studies show that the most likely cause of global warming is the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases. 
2. What is LEED?
1. LEED stands for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED was created with the purpose of defining what “green” building is by establishing the standards of “green,” to promote “green” building, to recognize environmental leadership, encourage green competition, to promote consumer awareness of the benefits of green building, and to help create more green building in the market. LEED works to promote sustainable sites, water and energy conservation, sustaining the environment, green materials and resources, promote indoor environment quality, and promote innovation and design process.¹
3. What is a Green Roof?
1. A Green Roof is a roof or a building that is covered with plants such as vegetation or moss. These plants are not in pot but instead actually grow on the roof. Green Roofs have built in irrigation systems. Green Roofs can be benefitial by taking the place of backyards or patios, growing produce, increase the life of a roof, and can help filter out pollutants and CO2 in the air.²
4. Why is fluorescent bulb preferred green?
1. Fluorescent bulbs use less energy and have a longer life span. While saving a consumer money on electricity, fluorescent bulbs also save 2000 times their weight in greenhouse gases. Although the price of buying fluorescent bulbs is higher than incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs make up for their cost in the electricity bill.³
5. What are GHG’s?
1. Greenhouse Gases are the gases that cause the greenhouse effect. It is possible for greenhouse gases to occur naturally in the environment but they can also be produced from burning fossil fuels such as coal. Specific greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and ozone. ⁴
6. What are green energies?
   1. Green energies are energies and fuel sources that are environmentally friendly. It is common for them to be recyclable and non-polluting. Examples of green energies are anaerobic digestion, geothermal power, wind power, small-scale hydropower, solar power, biomass power, tidal.
1. power, and wave power. The issue concerning the greenness nuclear power is up for debate.⁵
7. What is Green Point Rated?
1. Green Point Rated is a term used to label houses to tell a consumer how “green” a home is. When being rated, a home is inspected from energy efficiency, resource conservation, indoor air quality, water conservation, and community. All of these aspects are awarded points and when a certain point range is met, the home is awarded the title of a Green Point Rated home. ⁶
8. What is peak oil?
1. Peak oil is based on the Hubbert peak theory. Peak oil represents a point or a timeframe when the global petroleum production rate reaches its maximum.  It is predicted that after this point the global petroleum production rate will then experience a decline. This peak is predicted to occur in the 2020s or 2030s. ⁷
9. Are recent natural disasters related to global warming?
   1. Disasters, such as hurricanes, cannot be caused by global warming. Instead, hurricanes can increase in energy because and increase in ocean temperature provides more energy for tropical storms. ⁸