Terms/Glossary 

Biological diversity – the variety of life on earth including all species

Built environment – our physical, cultural, and social conditions that influence the life of an individual or community

Conservation – careful preservation and protection of human and natural resources to ensure their highest economic or social benefits

Collaborative planning – to work jointly with others, to cooperate for the greater good

Energy efficiency – production without waste, the ratio of useful energy delivered o a dynamic system to the energy supplied to it

Energy efficient vehicles – vehicles (cars, buses, trucks, boats, airplanes) which use the least amount of energy while being environmentally friendly (produce the least amount of negative effects, i.e. Pollution

Environmental education – interdisciplinary academics that incorporate ecological literacy (citizens who understand natural systems) with the traditional disciplines of learning, i.e., mathematics, science, reading, etc.

Environmentally literate citizens – citizens who are knowledgeable in ecological and natural systems so to make choices about everyday living while respecting the need for a sustainable future

Green products – goods that are produced to provide the most efficient use of natural resources while aiming to produce the least amount of negative effects on the environment

Native species – plants or animals belonging to a particular area, occurring naturally in a particular environment

Natural resources – anything that comes from the earth and made valuable by man

Non-renewable resources- any natural resource that the earth will be unable to reproduce within one persons lifetime

Open spaces – a physical area, available for multiple uses

Pedestrian and bicycle friendly pathways – sidewalks, paths, trails, roadways that are safe for walkers and people riding bikes

Principle – comprehensive and fundamental law, a rule or code of conduct

Regionally produced goods – goods that are produced and transported within a specified area

Settings for learning – a special place for acquiring knowledge or skills by way of instruction or study

Source reduction – reducing the amount of natural resources needed to produce (provide) goods and services

Stewards –acting in the name of something with proper regard for the rights of others

Sustainability – to give support or relief to, to carry, withstand, to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future to meet their needs.

Sustainable energy sources – sources for power or energy that do not impact the supply of natural resources i.e., trees, soy powered fuel, solar energy

Transportation demands – to call for, or having urgent need for moving goods and people

Urban forests – the sum total of trees in areas characterized by lots of people, built environments, and little space such as cities, suburbs, metropolitan areas