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Green building glossary

A glossary of words and phrases used in green construction and sustainable development.

O

Off-gassing

Materials may give off gases, some of which are toxic. Implicated in a variety of ailments, some people are more sensitive than others to these gases.

Off-grid electricity

Electricity produced by small generating units that are not connected to high-voltage transmission lines.

Offsetting

A way of compensating for the emissions produced with an equivalent Carbon dioxide saving, by buying carbon offset credits from emission reduction projects; such projects will prevent or have already prevented the emission, or removed an equivalent amount, of carbon dioxide elsewhere in the World.

OHSAS 18001

An International Occupational Health and Safety Management system specification. It is a recognised standard against which operations can be assessed and certified.

Open system

Where there are inputs and outputs from a system, for example Ecosystems, humans and cities.

Option value

The benefits accruing to individuals not from the actual use of an environmental asset, but from the option to use it in the future.

Oriented strand board (OSB)

Wood panels made from wood fibers and chips that are mixed with resin and raked to orient them in the long direction of the panel to maximize strength. OSB can replace plywood, thus saving timber. A concern, similar to many manufactured products, is outgassing from the resin binder. OSB is also known as flakeboard.

ORSE (Observatoire sur la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises)

The Research Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility. A French network designed to study and promote socially responsible investment (SRI) corporate social responsibility and other topics related to Sustainable development. ORSE is a non-profit organisation, set up in June 2000.

Overshoot

The point where human consumption and waste production exceed nature’s capacity to create new resources and absorb waste.

Ozone (O3)

An important Greenhouse gas found in both the stratosphere and the troposphere (lowest region of the atmosphere). In the stratosphere, ozone provides a protective layer shielding the earth from ultraviolet radiation and subsequent harmful health effects on humans and the environment. In the troposphere, oxygen molecules in ozone combine with other chemicals and gases (oxidisation) to cause smog. A chemically unstable and highly reactive gas.

Ozone Depletion

Nitrogen oxides, chlorine oxides, hydrogen oxides, and bromine oxides destroy the ozone layer. Chlorine and bromine reactions are the most detrimental, which include Chlorofluorocarbon reactions.

Ozone layer

The region of the Stratosphere (lying approximately 15-40 km above the Earth's surface) that contains the bulk of the world's atmospheric ozone.

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