GLOSSARY
This page is intended to serve as a guide to terms, acronyms, concepts and programs mentioned on this site. It provides basic explanations of these words and phrases to help the reader understand he H2O program.
DISCLAIMER: While these definitions here are believed to be correct and according to H2O / HAMC / HUD policy, many factors may influence each individual case and these may vary according to information not considered on this page. All H2O and HAMC decisions and rules must conform to federal, state and local laws, as well as establiushed HUD policy.
Abandoned property - land and/or buildings that are no longer being maintained by their owners and is either vacant or not lawfully occupied. Frequently referred to as ‘blighted.’ Some jurisdictions limit the term to properties that have gone through a legal proceeding confirming their failure to pay back property taxes.
Accessibility – commonly understood to be characterized by easily reached and passible entrances to a structure and by continuous unobstructed paths connecting rooms and spaces within that structure. Acessibility features may include extra-wide doors, corridors, and hallways, as well as ramps and clear floor space. Adaptability is a term often used to refer to the ability of certain building spaces and elements, such as kitchen counters, sinks, bathroom areas, and grab bars, to be added or altered so as to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities (mobility impairments). Both accessibility and adaptability are elements of accessibility design to be incorporated into H2O homes, subject to the limitations of the existing structural frame.
Visitability is another related term that is used to define accessibility aspects relating specifically to single family home construction, rather than in apartments or buildings used by the public (covered under ADA laws).
Air Sealing – process to prevent uncontrolled air movement in the building's envelope by sealing the cracks and holes. Air sealing, along with insulation, is an important aspect of climate control in a structure. Hen applied to
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a Federal law that: (1) provides a comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (2) provides a strong, enforceable standard addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (3) ensures that the Federal Government plays a central role in enforcing ADA standards; and (4) invokes the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the fourteenth amendment and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced by people with disabilities. Note that ADA legislation is specific to public buildings, government offices and privately owned, publicly used buildings such as stores and restaurants. It does not apply to private, individual housing.
Affordable Housing - residential property that is appropriate for the needs of a range of low and moderate-income households, and priced so that households are able to meet other essential basic living costs. Affordable Housing is commonly understood as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household's annual income. Housing assistance refers to a diversity of ways that governments help households who cannot access suitable housing in the market without assistance.
Air Pollution - the presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects. Indoor Air is the breathable air inside a habitable structure or conveyance. Indoor Air Pollution is the chemical, physical, or biological contaminants in indoor air.
Asbestos - a mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or asbestosis when inhaled. EPA has banned or severely restricted its use in manufacturing and construction.
Alternative energy - energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels).
Appraisal - In real estate, the estimate of the value of real property. The most common method for single family units is the sales-comparison approach in which the estimate of value is obtained directly from experiences in the real estate market.
Below-market - a general term that refers to housing that rents or sells for less than prevailing market levels. In some cases, below-market housing is used synonymously with affordable housing. In other cases, below-market housing is targeted at moderate-income families with somewhat higher incomes than those served by federal affordable housing programs. Generally, housing can be offered at below-market levels only with a public subsidy or with a public concession such as density bonuses or reduced-cost publicly-owned land.
Biodegradable - capable of breaking down (composing) into elements found in nature under normal conditions when exposed to air or moisture. Consists of materials composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts that can be absorbed into the earth and ecosystem. Wood, for example, is biodegradable, for example, while plastics are not. “Photodegradable” materials are those that will disintegrate when exposed to enough sunlight, but this process is usually very slow and uncertain.
Brownfields - abandoned, idled, or under used industrial and commercial facilities/sites where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. They can be in urban, suburban, or rural areas.
Btu (British Thermal Unit) - a standard unit for measuring energy. Technically speaking, one Btu is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit from 59 to 60. An Inches-Pounds unit. 12,000 Btu/h equals 1 Ton of Refrigeration, hence a 4 ton HVAC unit provides a 48,000 Btu cooling capacity.
Building code - regulations established by a recognized government agency describing design, building procedures and construction details for new homes or homes undergoing rehabilitation.
Building permit - a permit issued by a local government agency that allows the construction or renovation of a home.
CABO (Council of American Building Officials) - a national organization of building code officials and interested parties, which, through a national consensus process, developed, adopted and promulgated the national Model Energy Code (MEC). CABO has recently become CABO International and has taken on the administrative responsibility for the development of a uniform international building code through an International Code Council. These codes provide administrative and technical directions for all phases of residential construction. The intent is to provide a safe and properly constructed home.
Carbon Footprint - The total amount of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases) emitted over the full life cycle of a product, reflecting the tangible impact that a person or object will have on the environment. To reduce a carbon footprint is beneficial to the environment.
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) - stable, artificially-created chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Chlorofluorocarbons, used primarily to facilitate cooling in refrigerators and air conditioners, have been found to damage the stratospheric ozone layer which protects the earth and its inhabitants from excessive ultraviolet radiation. See "hazardous waste" item below.
CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) - Small fluorescent lamps used as more efficient alternatives to incandescent lighting. Also called PL, CFL, Twin-Tube, or BIAX lamps. A CFL bulb is made of glass, a ceramic and metal base, a powder called phosphor, and a small amount of mercury in gas form that generates light when subjected to electricity. Because of the small mercury content, CFL bulbs should not be thrown in the trash but disposed of in designated places. Note that most of the energy use for a CFL bulb takes place in the first fraction of a second when it is turned on (to stimulate or ignite the gas to make it glow). To give you an idea it takes as much energy to turn on a light in a fraction of a second as it does to maintain that light for 15 minutes. Compact fluorescent bulbs cost more up front but can save up to $30 per bulb in household energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federal entitlement program administered by HUD's Community Planning and Development Office. The purpose of CDBG funds is to improve communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities—principally for persons with low and moderate incomes.
Community Relations - the effort to establish two-way communication with the public to create understanding of housing programs and related actions, to ensure public input into decision-making processes related to affected communities, and to make certain that the Agency is aware of and responsive to public concerns.
Compostable - materials that degrade into organic compounds. Compost enriches the soil and returns nutrients to the earth. Some people collect compost — food scaps, leaves, grass, and other yard waste — to fertilize their plants, lawns and gardens.
Contaminant - any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil. Contamination can be caused by many different things, including microorganisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or wastewater in quantities (concentration) that make the medium unfit for its next intended use. This concept also applies to surfaces of objects, buildings, and various household and agricultural use products.
Conservation - preserving and renewing, when possible, human and natural resources. The use, protection and improvement of natural resources according to principles that will ensure their highest economic or social benefits.
Daylighting - use of natural light sources for illumination. Refers to illumination provided by natural light by windows, light shelves, as well as optimized building orientation and room layout.
Demand Hot Water System - hot water heaters designed to provide instantaneous hot water, rather than storing preheated hot water in a tank. Such devices can serve an entire home, or be "point-of-use", serving an individual water use. Benefits include elimination of "standby losses", or energy wasted keeping stored water warm.
Disability - Federal Definition: Any person who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities; (examples may include housing, personal care or employment) (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
Durability - a factor that affects the life cycle performance of a material or assembly. All other factors being equal, the more durable item is environmentally preferable, as it means less frequent replacement. However, durability is rendered moot as a factor if the material is replaced for aesthetic reasons prior to it actually wearing out.
Ecology - the relationship of living things to one another and their environment, or the study of such relationships. Biodiversity refers to a large number and wide range of species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. Ecologically, wide biodiversity is conducive to the development of all species.
EEM (Energy Efficient Mortgage) - specifically, a home mortgage for which the borrower’s qualifying debt-to-income and housing expense-to-income ratios have been increased ("stretched") by 2% because the home meets or exceeds CABO’s 1992 version of the Model Energy Code (MEC). This term is often used generically to refer to any home mortgage for which the underwriting guidelines have been relaxed specifically for energy efficiency features, or for which any form of financing incentive is given for energy efficiency. See also 'green mortgage.'
In simple terms, Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work. Energy exists in many forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, electrical, or other forms. Life itself is the product of energy. Every movement, every thought and every action uses energy. Human survival - and comfort - depends upon the proper amount of energy being available and being used. As relates to homes and housing, energy is what makes the lights turn on and keeps the appliances working.
Energy Efficiency refers to ways and technology that can reduce the amount of electricity or fuel used to do the same work - such as keeping a house cool using less energy. A device is energy-efficient if it provides comparable or better quality of service while using less energy than a conventional technology.
Energy Audit - similar to a carbon footprint, this is a way to determine how much energy certain activities are expending in order to figure out ways to reduce this. Energy audits can often be done with the help of a utility company that measures a building’s energy use from month to month.
EnergyGuide label - a product notice found on all appliances that provides information on how much energy it uses (average cost per year to operate that product) and compares it to other similar products. When buying a product, you should compare the labels to see which ones are more energy efficient. Federal law requires EnergyGuide labels on all new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, room air conditioner, central air conditioners, heat pump, and furnaces and boilers. EnergyGuide regulations are adminstered by the FTC - Federal Trade Commission.
Energy Star - a rating system that showcases the electronic products and lighting. It was developed by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy in 1992 and is also a rating system for buildings in the United States. An Energy Star Home is at least 30% more energy efficient than the minimum national standard for home energy efficiency as specified by the 1992 MEC, or as defined for specific states or regions.
Energy Vampires - refers to electric appliances such as televisions, chargers, and clock radios that use energy even when turned off. The energy they use is also called a “phantom load.”
Environment - a complex but generic word meaning the totality of surrounding conditions, or an area in which something exists or lives. In more specific terms, it is the surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest - in this case, people. In the housing context, this includes both the environment at macro level (the conditions and circumstances that surround and influence all living organisms on earth, also called the natural world or ecosystem) and at a personal level (a person's immediate neighborhood, housing structure, living space and interactions with those spaces and other people).
Environmental Assessment - an analysis of an area prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to determine whether any construction, development or significant changes to the area would significantly affect the environment and thus require a more detailed study of potential health and safety issues for people and living organisms in that area. This is called an environmental impact statement.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) - a government agency founded in 1970 that protects human health and the environment through programs for consumers and businesses. The EPA is responsible for establishing and enforcing environmental standards under measures like the Clean Air Act. Although the EPA funds research and sponsors environmental awareness and educational programs, it is often primarily thought of as a regulatory agency. To assist it in carrying out its goals, the EPA maintains an extensive list of pollutants, their effects on human health and the environment, and acceptable levels at which they can be found.
Fair Housing Act – Federal legislation that establishes a broad national policy to "provide, within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States." Section 3604c of the Act provides that: "It shall be unlawful...to make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination."
FHA (Federal Housing Administration) - a division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). FHA’s main activity is the insurance of residential mortgage loans made by private lenders. FHA insures mortgages on single family and multifamily homes. FHA mortgage insurance provides lenders with protection against losses as the result of homeowners defaulting on their mortgage loans. The lenders bear less risk because FHA will pay a claim to the lender in the event of a homeowner's default. Loans must meet certain requirements established by FHA to qualify for insurance. FHA-insured loans are popular because they require very little cash investment by the buyer to purchase a home.
Foreclosure - the legal process a lender uses to exercise its right to force the sale of a property to gain repayment of mortgage debt. Generally, lenders exercise this right when a borrower has failed to make timely payments. A forclosure doesn't happen overnight. It is usually the result of a bad financial situation due to a mortgage payment increase, loss of job, divorce, credit card debt, medical expenses, increase in taxes or other reasons. In the 2008-9 market, forclosures often occur because the owners feel their cost of ownership is too great relative to the values of their homes in a depressed real estate market. Usually, if a lender does not receive payments for 90 days, it will issue a "Demand Letter" or "Notice to Accelerate" asking for payment. If the specified amount is not paid or some type of arrangements is not negociated by the given date, the lender will begin foreclosure proceedings. After another 30 days the lender will usually turn the home over to an attorney for a Sheriff's or Public Trustee's Sale. This is the actual day of foreclosure. This process varies from state to state and case by case. Even after a house has been forclosed and sold, a person may sometimes recover the property by a process known as redemption, but this requires payment of outstanding debts and all legal fees relating to the forclosure process as well as individual state laws and the specific circumstances and nature of the foreclosure (judicial or non-judicial).
Fossil fuel - a fuel, such as coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals. Fossil fuels are burned to release the chemical energy that is stored within this resource which is then used to generate electricity, heat homes and power cars and other vehicles. The problem with this is that fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy (that is, the amounts available are limited by nature) and the burning (combustion)of fossil fuels produces pollution.
Grey water - non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing. Greywater comprises 50-80% of residential wastewater. Greywater comprises wastewater generated from all of the house's appliances and plumbing except for the toilets and/or septic tanks (known as blackwater). Greywater gets its name from its cloudy appearance and from its status as being neither fresh (white water from groundwater or potable water), nor heavily polluted with feces or toxic chemicals (blackwater from toilets). Graywater is also known as sullage.
Green - adjetive. Definition: 1. a color in the spectrum between yellow and blue (the color of grass); 2. consisting of or containing green leaves of vegetables (grass, plants, or foliage); 3. supporting or promoting the protection of the environment; 4. produced in an environmentally and ecologically friendly way (e.g. by using renewable resources); 5. unripe or not mature; 6. innocent, naive and lacking experience; 7. young, new, recent, or fresh; 8. envious or jealous.
Green Home - a set of features included to make a home energy efficient and environmentally friendly while maintaining basic standards of comfort and accessibility. Features may vary according to many factors (location, price, materials available, climate, etc…). Some features that may be found in a green home are: environmentally-sound materials, energy-efficient appliances, recycled & locally-sourced materials, natural lighting, drought-resistant landscaping, natural or chemical-free insulation, low-flush toilets faucets and showerheads, solar energy, rain water collection, etc. Green building refers to a set of building design and construction practices that seek to reduce a building's environmental impacts by improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality, reducing water use and consumption, choosing sustainable building materials, and situating the home in a manner that takes advantage of sunlight and other natural amenities.
Shades of green is a concept often used to describe the varying levels of sustainability achieved in a project. A home with fewer green features would be characterized by a lighter shade of green while a darker color of green would distinguish those homes with extensive environment-saving and energy efficiency features.
Green Mortgage - also called the "Energy-efficient Mortgage." These are mortgages that allow homebuyers to qualify for larger loans on the premise that they can afford bigger payments because they will spend less on utilities. This of course, may be considered counter-productive in that the goal of a green home is to save resources, including money. The idea of "pay less to pay more" is a contradiction. Some banks have a better idea: give a $1000 discount to buyers of new homes that meet specific energy efficiency requirements. For a more technical discussion, see EFF above.
Green power - a term used to describe environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two ways to use green power: you can buy green power from those who produce it using renewable energy sources or you can modify your house to generate your own green power.
Greenwash - a term derived from "whitewash" used to describe projects that are labeled as green, energy-efficient, or sustainable when in reality they incorporate few or no features associated with those concepts. Greenwashing is characterized by false, misleading or grossly exaggerated claims of being "environmentally-friendly" for products and services wanting to benefit from the qualities commonly associated with greeness.
H2O - An acronym (or abbreviation formed from letters) for Homes to Owners, a NSP funded program sponsored and administered by the Housing Authority of Maricopa County (HAMC). The goal of Homes to Owners (H2O) is to Connect People to Green Homes. H2O will purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes in Goodyear, Buckeye, Tolleson and El Mirage, Arizona and rehabilitate them to include energy, conservation, and access features. Homes will be sold to qualified buyers that meet income requirements within NSP criteria.
Habitable Space – an area in a structure for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. It is building space intended for continual human occupancy. Bathrooms, closets, hallways, storage or utility space are not considered habitable space. Occupiable Space is any enclosed space intended for human activities, including but not limited to, all habitable spaces, toilets, closets, halls, storage and utility areas, nd laundry areas.
Habitat - any area that is inhabited by living creatures - either human, animal or a plant. It is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that is influenced and utilized by a species population. In simple terms, it is our world and includes both living and non-living things. Human habitat is the environment in which human beings live, work, play and move about. In personal terms, it is the community where we live and, of course, a dwelling place.
HAMC - The Housing Authority of Maricopa County is the independent Public Housing Agency (PHA) funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is responsible for public housing programs in Maricopa County. It is affiliated with the government of Maricopa County though its Board of Commissioners (BOC). HAMC manages different programs such as public housing and the housing choice voucher (section 8) programs. HAMC works with 16 communities throughout Maricopa County (Note that most of the larger cities in the Metropolitan Phoenix area have their own Housing Agencies that serve the populations of each city). The mission of the Housing Authority of Maricopa County is to increase the supply of and maintain existing affordable rental housing for low-income households who cannot afford to pay market rents and promote training, educational opportunities and economic self-sufficiency so that they can become homeowners.
The H2O program is an HAMC iniciative and its admiistrative staff is located at HAMC main offices.
Hazardous Waste - a product in a home (household hazardous waste) or business that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic (e.g. used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline, pesticides, etc). These products are damaging to the environment if disposed of improperly. Many of these products have eco-friendly alternatives. Solid waste, on the other hand, refers to a non-liquid, non gaseous category of waste from non-toxic household and commercial sources, or in other words, garbage. See also "toxic waste" below.
Incandescent bulbs - Old-fashioned, common pear-shaped bulbs with a screw-in base. These bulbs use electricity to heat a filament until it glows white hot, producing light. About 90% of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs is lost as heat. These bulbs use 5 times the amount of energy to produce the same light and last only about one-tenth as long as the newer, more efficient CFL bulbs. Down with incandescent bulbs!
MCCD - The Maricopa County Community Development office is the division of the Maricopa County Human Services Department that is responsible for the receipt and expenditure of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding. It administers CDBG and HOME grants compliance, fair housing, monitoring, and annual planning and reporting activities. Other MCCD activities include the American Dream Downpayment Initiative, the Small Cities Transportation Assistance Fund, management of construction projects and economic development contracts and performance complaince reporting for all CDBG / HOME projects in HUDs Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS). MCCD is also the primarily recepient of the NSP grant that funds the HAMC H2O program.
HERS (Home Energy Rating System) - a standardized system for rating the energy-efficiency of residential buildings. HERS Score: A value between 0 and 100 indicating the relative energy efficiency of a given home as compared with the HERS Energy-Efficient Reference Home as specified by the HERS Council Guidelines. The greater the score, the more efficient the home.
HVAC - an abbreviation for the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system; the system or systems that condition air in a building. System efficiency and design impact the overall energy performance of a home and its indoor environmental quality. Because of the energy required to either heat or cool any structure (residential in this case) in extreme climates (Arizona, Valley of the Sun, in this case), the HVAC equipment and configuration, as well as other related factors (ducts, insolation, etc.) are a major factor in monthly costs in the family budget.
Income eligibility limit - the highest income level at which a household qualifies for participation in a subsidy program. In most housing programs, income limits are expressed as a percentage of the area median income, as determined by HUD.
Indoor Air - the breathable air inside a habitable structure or conveyance. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants. There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home.Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.
Jump Duct - a flexible, short, U-shaped duct (typically 10-inch diameter) that connects a room to a common space. Jump ducts serve the same function as transfer grilles (pictured). In technical terms, jump ducts and transfer grilles serve as balancing mechanisms for both air pressure and temperature inside a house.
Land bank - governmental or quasi-governmental entities dedicated to assembling properties – particularly vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties – and putting them to productive use. Land bank authorities acquire or facilitate the acquisition of properties, hold and manage properties as needed, and dispose of properties in coordination with city planners and in accordance with local priorities for land use.
Lead-based Paint - means paint or other surface coatings that contain lead at concentrations which may be dangerous.
Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can't always see, is very dangerous, especially for children. Exposure to lead is most common when: a. paint is old and it is peeling,
chipping, cracking; and b. when lead paint is being rubbed, scrapped, heated and/or removed. Lead particles and lead dust can be aborbed into the skin, indigested or inhaled. Lead poisoning causes serious damage to the human body. Lead-based paint was commonly used to paint walls, furniture and toys, and was banned in 1978 (although it can still be found in imported toys and other objects).
LEED Rating System (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - a self-assessing system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. It evaluates environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building.
Leverage - the additional money that a program or project causes others to contribute.
Load - the quantity of heat that must be added to or removed from the building (or the hot water tank) to satisfy specific levels of service, such as maintaining space temperature or hot water temperature at a specified thermostat setting (see also the definitions of energy and thermostat).
Low-E - refers to a coating for high-performance windows - the "E" stands for emissivity or re-radiated heat flow. The thin metallic oxide coating increases the U-value of the window by reducing heat flow from a warm(er) air space to a cold(er) glazing surface. Low-E coatings allow short-wavelength solar radiation through windows, but reflect back longer wavelengths of heat. The goal of Low Emissivity window technology is to lower the amount of energy loss through windows by inhibiting the transmission of radiant heat while still allowing sufficient light to pass through.
Low-Flow - description for water-using products that require less water per use. The two most common examples are low-flow showers and low-flow toilets. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of water-conserving plumbing fixtures and fittings to reduce water use in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Water efficiency measures can easily reduce water usage by 30% or more. In a typical home, savings of 20 to 30 thousand gallons of water a year can be achieved, resulting in average annual water utility savings of about $10 per month.
Market failure - a situation where barriers prevent the normal and efficient operation of a local (housing) market.
Median household income - a widely used measure of typical or average income. It represents the income level at which 50 per cent of the population (or households) have lower incomes and 50 per cent have higher incomes. Household median income is calculated by adding all sources of income from all adult occupants of the household, related or not, including, but not limited to, social security, child support, alimony, public assistance, interest income, pensions, income from other assets and employment income.
Mixed-use - a type of development that combines various uses, such as office, commercial, institutional, and residential, in a single building or on a single site in an integrated development project with significant functional interrelationships and a coherent physical design.
Net Zero Energy House - any house that over time, averages out to net zero energy consumption. A net zero energy home may supply more energy than it needs during peak demand, typically using one or more solar energy strategies, energy storage and/or net metering. In simple terms, a net zero energy house produces as much energy as it uses.
Not-for-profit organization - a non-government organization which does not distribute profits.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) - A program established by the federal government under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008 for the purpose of stabilizing communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. Through the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned homes and residential properties, the NSP program will both provide affordable housing to working families and generate a positive economic impact in communities throughout America.
NSP funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to: establish financing mechanisms for purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed homes and residential properties; purchase and rehabilitate homes and residential properties abandoned or foreclosed; establish land banks for foreclosed homes; demolish blighted structures; redevelop demolished or vacant properties.
Note that homebuyers cannot receive direct NSP assistance directly from HUD. NSP funds can be used to help homebuyers purchase homes, but they must contact an NSP grantee for application details.
NSP is a component of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The CDBG regulatory structure is the platform used to implement NSP and the HOME program provides a safe harbor for NSP affordability requirements.
NSP1 - A term designating the original Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding of $3.92 billion allocated by the outgoing Bush administration in the HERA legislation. It was allocated on a formula basis to 309 grantees including 55 states and territories and 254 selected local governments. The H2O program was created by HAMC and MCCD with NSP1 funding to address housing and community redevelopment needs in specific communities in Maricopa County.
NSP2 - A term designating the additional $1.93 billion "Stimulus Package" funding added by the Obama administration under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, also known as the Recovery Act) of 2009. The NSP program objectives and eligible uses did not change, but grants will be awarded to states, local governments, nonprofits and consortiums of nonprofit entities on a competitive basis. The H2O program group has submitted a redevelopment project to HUD for NSP2 funding.
Partnerships – joint efforts that bring together representatives from different sectors and different communities of interest to agree and work towards common goals. Partnerships vary greatly in how they are established and resourced and how they operate. Each partner adds value to the project in some way.
Permit - an authorization, license, or equivalent control document issued by a government entity or an approved state agency to implement the requirements of legislation or established code.
P.I.T.I. - an abbreviation which stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. These generally represent a borrower’s total monthly payment obligations on a home loan. The taxes and insurance portion are often paid monthly to an impound or escrow account and may be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of each. PITIU is also used and adds utility payments to the abbreviation which stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance to truly reflect the monthly costs of a home.
Plastic - a durable and flexible synthetic-based product that is often difficult to recycle and may pose problems with toxic properties. PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) plastics, in particular, are problematic (they emit the toxin dioxin when produced and contain phthalates, a plasticizing and softening chemical). FYI, PVC compounds are also found in recyclable plastics identified with recycling symbol 3. For more information on issues with plastics, see SPI symbol below.
Public health - the health or physical well-being of a whole community.
Public transportation - various forms of shared-ride services, including buses, vans, trolleys, and subways, which are intended for conveying the public. Public transportation is associated with alternative transportation, with refers to any modes of travel other than private cars. Alternative transportation can be either public, using collective vehicles to reduce individual costs and fuel consumption (bus, trains, light rail, carpooling, etc.) or private using simple but efficient and environmentally friendly travel modes (walking, bicycling, rollerblading, hybrid and electric vehicles, etc.) to arrive at a destination.
R-Value - the quantitative measure of resistance to heat flow or conductivity and is the reciprocal of U-factor. The units for R-value are ft2 °F hr/Btu (English) or m2 °K hr/W (SI or metric). A high R-value indicates an efficient thermal insulation. See also "U-Factor" below.
The term "thermal insulation" refers to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer in a structure. Note that "heat" is a scientific term that describes the transfer of energy from one part of a substance to another. It includes both "hot" and "cold," which are simply two aspects of molecular motion. In simple terms, heat is energy applied that makes molecules move faster (thus hot water has more energy than cold water). So in terms of HVAC energy management relating to heating and cooling issues, the term "heat" is often used to mean both hot and cold.
Reasonable Accommodation - a legal requirement that ensures that housing features, procedures, etc., are adjusted to the needs of persons with a disability.
Recyclable – A term used to designate that a product or its package can be recycled. The
universal recycling symbol is an internationally-recognized symbol used to designate recyclable materials. It is composed of three chasing arrows that form an unending loop. Note that this symbol is not a trade mark, but in the public domain. The term 'recyclable' may be misleading if there is not a recycling program that takes the identified material in the consumer’s area. Recycling is the process by which materials that would otherwise become solid waste are collected, separated or processed and returned to the economic mainstream to be reused in the form of raw materials or finished goods.
Renewable energy - an energy resource that can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than its rate of depletion; e.g., solar, wind, geothermal and biomass resources. Energy obtained from renewable sources are essentially inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels.
Rent assistance - a non-taxable income supplement payment provided to a qualified person as defined by law to rent in the private rental market. One of the most common programs is the Housing Choice Voucher program, known as Section 8.
Three R’s - a term used to indicate three elements crucial to sustainability: reduce, reuse and recycle. The first step is reducing things like energy use and waste output, then reusing products for a second purpose, and finally recycling them so they are diverted from landfills.
Submetering - the implementation of a system that breaks down one account into several for the purpose of tracking use and promoting conservation. Typical uses are water, electricity and gas submetering in multi-tenant properties which are billed in one general account by the utility but are then broken down into sub-accounts and billed individually by measured usage. It has been amply demonstrated that submetering promotes conserveration and savings by making users accountable for their consumption.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) - the most commonly used measure of the efficiency of consumer central air conditioning systems. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency, which translates into greater energy savings. Today, U.S. regulatory agencies require all new models to have a 13.0 SEER rating or better.
Special needs households - families in which one or more members with personal characteristics that need to be taken into account in designing and/or providing housing, such as different forms of disabilities, cultural needs, etc. Usually these are defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
SPI Symbol - A symbol developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry to identify the type of plastic in a product. SPI codes range from 1 to 7. Containers labeled 1 and 2, such as soda bottles, detergent and shampoo containers, and milk jugs, are the most likely to be accepted for recycling. Note that the SPI symbol does not mean the item can be recycled, only that it's made of a certain kind of plastic. If an item can be recycled depends as much on the molecular structure of the plastic as the kind of polymer. So, consider two SPI Code 2 products made from the same type of resin (High Density Polyethylene, or HDPE):
a yogurt cup and a plastic orange juice bottle. The juice bottle can be recycled because its molecules are long and weak and can be processed by most recovery plant equipment. The plastic molecules in the yogurt cup were formed in short strings so they are strong and not easily broken down. A general rule of thumb is that if it is has a relatively large container area and a small mouth for pouring, it was made in a blow-mold process using long-molecule resin compounds, and so it can be recycled easily.
The issue of 'plastic' is so complicated that by law no claims of recyclability or the word 'recyclable' may be used near the SPI code symbol. This may explain why many organizations dedicated to ecology and conservation hate plastics.
Sustainability - practices that would ensure the continued viability of a product or practice well into the future. Sustainable Development is an approach to progress that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Target group – in this context, the designated group for which a program, product or advertising campaign is intended.
A target group can be people of a certain age group, gender, marital status, financial situation, etc. A certain combination, like women from twenty to thirty, is often a target audience. Discovering the appropriate target market(s) for a product or service is important when developing that product or service. In terms of housing and H2O programs, our target group is working families (including single person households) that are looking for modern, safe, energy efficient and affordable homes in specific communities in the Metropolitan Phoenix area.
Task lighting - a localized, focused light used by a person for a specific job. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, the light is focused where it is needed, saving energy. For example, use of fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for countertops under cabinets, or using a desk lamp for homework instead of a larger, more powerful ceiling fixture light.
Thermal mass - the measure of an objects capacity to store and regulate internal heat. Objects with a high thermal mass take a long time to heat up but also take a long time to cool down. As a result they have a very steady internal temperature. This capacity to absorb and store heat (known as thermal capacity) is a large factor in the process of heating and cooling any environment. Brick, concrete, stone and water have a very high thermal capacity. Walls that are properly isolated with high R-value materials are also efficient thermal barriers. Air, on the other hand, has a very low thermal capacity - it warms up fast but quickly loses its heat. Only when the walls, ceiling, and floors in a building have warmed (or cooled down) up will the air retain the desired temperature. Green buildings are designed to have a high thermal mass with efficient thermal barriers, so to retain daylight heat for night time heating or to maintain early morning cool temperatures during a hot day.
Efficient thermal barriers are essential to prevent heating and cooling energy from escaping, so as not to require additional energy to replace that lost due to leaks and/or improper insulation (low thermal capacity barriers).
Thermostat - a control device that measures the temperature of the air in a home or the water in a hot water tank and activates heating or cooling equipment to cause the air or water temperature to remain at a pre-specified value, normally called the set point temperature.
Title - A legal document proving ownership of a property, also called a deed. A clear title is a signal that a property can be purchased without worrying about old liens or owners coming back to assert claims to the property. This status is also referred to as an 'insurable title," since the property owner can get title insurance to protect against losses if there was an error in checking the title history; and as a "marketable title," since having a clear title facilitates marketing and selling a propert. A lien is a recorded claim against a property whereby the property is security for a debt. Under certain circumstances, the holder of the lien is entitled to have the property sold to satisfy the debt. A lien is an encumbrance against the property.
Toxic waste - garbage or waste that can injure, poison, or harm living things, and is sometimes life-threatening. It is a form of pollution that can be spread quite easily and contribute to the contamination of ground, lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with "hazardous waste", or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or the environment. Although primarily an industrial problem, it can also occur from residential use (e.g. cleaning products, cosmetics, lawn care products, fertilizers, pesticides, and other common household chemicals).
U-Factor or U-Value - a measure of heat flow or conductivity through a material, the reciprocal of R-value. Although R-values are used as for measures of the resistance to heat flow for individual building materials, U-factor is always used to measure the conductive energy of building enclosures. U-values are also used in determining the performance of a glazing system or window assembly. See also "R-Value" above.
Utilities - companies (usually power distributors) permitted by a government agency to provide important public services (such as energy or water) to a region; as utilities are provided with a local monopoly, their prices are regulated by the permitting government agency.
Visitability – a set of standards to allow a person with mobility impairments access into the home, also referred to as "basic accessibility." This term differs from “accessibility” under ADA rules only in that it is primarily used to refer to accessible single-family construction as opposed to multifamily housing. Site grading, design and construction reflect universal design principles such as an accessible entrance into and route through the main floor, and at least one accessible bathroom and bedroom.
VOC Materials - Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals which evaporate into the air during the curing or, in some cases, throughout the life of the material. Volatile organic compounds are known to be carcinogens, that is, substances which under certain conditions may cause cancer. Paints, primers, sealants and varnishes are the most common materials which can have a high VOC content. The use of low or no-VOC materials is a goal in green homes and green living..
W (watt) - One of two (Btu/h is the other) standard units of measure for the rate at which energy is consumed by equipment. It is the standard unit of measure for electrical power.
WaterSense - an EPA program that promotes water conservation and water-efficient products. Not only is water a precious resource subject to shortages, but it also costs money to treat and deliver. For example, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as leaving a 60-watt light bulb on for 14 hours. So a leaky faucet means you are wasting both water and electricity and that you should be shot at dawn. In simple terms, Watersense is a liquid version of EnergyStar.
Weatherization - the practice of protecting a building and its interior from the elements, particularly from sunlight, precipitation, and wind, and of modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency.
Weatherization (also called weatherproofing) procedures may include: sealing cracks, gaps and holes around doors and windows; sealing pipes, wiring, recessed lighting fixtures, electrical receptacles and other fixtures in the ceiling with high potential for heat loss; sealing air ducts, exhaust pipes and replacing dampers to reduce hot-cold infiltration; replacing doors with tightly sealing, foam-core doors; replacing older windows with low-energy, double-glazed windows; and protecting pipes from corrosion and freezing.
Note that weatherization must also consider issues relating to ventilization, both inside the living area for air circulation and renewal as well as in unconditioned spaces to protect a building from the effects of moisture and condensation. The term "whole-house weatherization" extends the traditional definition of weatherization to include optimized thermal insulation and the installation of modern, energy-saving heating and cooling equipment.
Xeriscaping - an environmentally friendly form of landscaping that uses a variety of locally-adapted and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs, and ground cover. Also known as smartscaping, drought-tolerant landscaping, and zeroscaping. Waterwise is a term for landscape design and principles that uses minimal water resources. The main principle of waterwise landscaping is “the right plant for the right place”. This means using plants that are suitable to the geography, soil and climate of the home (for example, cacti in Arizona, not roses). This saves water and reduces the demand for supplemental resources such as fertilizers and pesticides which may have a negative impact on the invironment.
The EPA also has a program known as GreenScapes that provides cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for landscaping.
Zoning - the arrangement or partitioning of land areas for various types of usage in cities, boroughs or townships. Zoning Codes (or ordinances) typically divide a community into land use districts or "zones," represented on zoning maps, and specify the allowable uses within each of those zones. For example, some communities divide land into industrial zones, commercial zones, and one or more residential zones. Some zones also may permit a mix of uses. Zoning codes establish development standards for each zone, such as minimum lot sizes, maximum heights of structures, building setbacks, and yard sizes.
Updated: 09/26/2009
