| Biodegradable cleaner |
Cleaner which can be broken down naturally, safely and relatively quickly, by biological means, into the raw materials of nature and disappear into the environment. |
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| Biological contaminants |
Living organisms or derivates (eg viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can cause harmful health effects when inhaled, swallowed, or otherwise taken into the body. |
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| Bulk waste reduction |
Waste treatment methods that reduce the volume of waste to be ultimately disposed. Ideally it is used to treat wastes that are neither recyclable nor reusable. |
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| Car pooling |
The sharing of rides in a private vehicle among two or more individuals. It involves the use of one person's private or company vehicle to carry one or more fellow passengers, either by using one car or rotating cars. |
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| Carbon monoxide (CO) |
A colourless, odourless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel combustion. |
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| Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
A colourless, odourless, non-poisonous gas, which results from respiration and complete combustion of fossil fuel, solid waste and wood products. It occurs naturally in the atmosphere and is a greenhouse gas which causes global warming if its concentration in the atmosphere is too high. |
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| Electronic ballast |
Ballasts are electrical devices that convert line current into the proper voltage, amperage, and waveform to operate fluorescent lamps. When compared to traditional magnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts are more energy efficient and produce less heat load for the air conditioning system, and eliminate flicker and hum. |
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| Energy audit |
A survey that shows how much energy you use in your office, house or apartment. It will help you find ways to use less energy. |
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| Environmental aspect |
any activities or products or services of the organisation that can interact with the environment. |
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| Environmental impact |
any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation's environmental aspects. |
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| Environmentally friendly engines |
Engines that can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulates and other air pollutants. |
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| Fresh air intake |
The process of taking fresh air into a space supplied by artificial ventilation. |
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| Hazards |
A source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of injury or ill health, damage to property, damage to the workplace environment, or a combination of these. |
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| HEPA filters |
HEPA filter - high efficiency particulate arresting filter. The most efficient air filters available in the market for filtering small particles. |
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| Indoor air quality (IAQ) |
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the effect, good or bad, of the contents of the air inside a structure, on its occupants. Good IAQ is the quality of air which has no unwanted gases or particles in it at concentrations which will adversely affect someone. Poor IAQ occurs when gases or particles are present at an excessive concentration so as to affect the satisfaction or health of occupants. |
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| Light intensity |
The amount of light emitted or reflected per unit area. |
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| Light reflectors |
Specially shaped retrofitted metal sheets designed to improve the efficiency and light distribution of conventional white-painted, ceiling-mounted fluorescent down light fixtures. |
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| Ozone |
A gas composed of three atoms of oxygen (03). Ozone is a desirable gas in the stratosphere as it screens out certain wavelengths of ultraviolet light from the sun, but, in high concentrations at ground level, it is toxic to living organisms. |
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| Recyclables |
Products such as paper, glass, plastic, oil and metals that can be reprocessed into products again instead of being disposed of as waste. |
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| Risks |
A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard. |
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| Sick building syndrome |
A situation in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localised in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. |
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| Solvent-based paint |
Paints that are insoluble in water, with high concentration of volatile organic compounds and which can be flammable. Their labels usually contain the words "alkyl" or "oil-based". |
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| T8/T5 fluorescent-tubes (F-tubes) |
T8 and T5 fluorescent tubes are more energy-efficient lamps than traditional T12 tubes. The T8/electronic ballast combination can be 40% more energy efficient than the T12/magnetic ballast combination. (The T numbers express the diameters of the tubes in eighths of an inch.) |
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| Water-based paint |
Paints that are soluble in water, inflammable and contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Their labels usually contain words such as "latex", "vinyl" or "acrylic". |
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