Black Water: waste water from toilets, and water that contains food, etc.

Close Loop System: most common type of geothermal system. The loop of is filled with antifreeze and circulates continuously absorbing heat from the earth to heat a home or business. During the warmer months, the antifreeze takes the heat from indoors and transfers it back to the earth. This system has horizontal and vertical loops.

Crop Rotation: selecting a sequence of crops for a field that improves soil quality while it sustains the farmer. The rotation adopts season-to-season and year-to-year. The farmer builds up the soil while producing valuable crops. This also cuts down on the need of pesticides and herbicides.

Energy Efficient: Products and systems that use less energy to perform as well or better than standard products. While energy-efficient products sometimes have higher up-front costs, they tend to cost less over their lifetime when the cost of energy consumed is factored in. An example of this is fluorescent light bulbs vs. incandescent bulbs.

Energy Star: a United States government program created in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal Energy Act of 2005: Congress enacted an act that provided tax breaks for businesses and homeowners that use energy efficient appliances, doors, windows, and heating and cooling.

Geothermal System: alternative energy source to heat and cool a house or business. The system pumps air from the inside the earth which is then transferred to the house to heat the house. During the warmer months, the system pumps the warm air from inside the house back down into the ground to work as a cooling agent.

Grey Water: waste water from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, bathroom sinks, tubs, and showers that are not laden with anything except soap.

Grey Water Recycling: is any household wastewater with the exception of wastewater such as black water that is recycled and used to water plants.

Heat Pump: operates by moving or transferring heat, rather than creating heat from inside a home it transfers it to the outdoor air and then the process is reversed.

Horizontal Loop: uses adequate land area without hard rock available. It is the most economic loop and is used for newly constructed homes. The system used a number of trenches that are normally four feet deep and lay according to the size of the lot.

Open Loop System: pumps water into the heat pump unit where the heat is extracted and the water is then discharged back into the original source.

Vertical Loop: is used when land area is limited or if the land is too rocky for trenches. A drill is used to bore holes into the ground typically 150 to 250 feet. This system is simpler to install and the bore holes tend to be small.