Glossary

BOMA Go Green

BOMA Go Green is a national environmental recognition and certification program for existing commercial buildings.

CERES (the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, pronounced ‘series’) is an internationally recognized model of a sustainable society located in Melbourne, Australia. CERES shares its name with the Roman Goddess for agriculture.

Certified Organic

Grown without chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and with special attention paid to water and soil conservation. In Canada, there are several certifiers, however Canada’s food inspection agency is working on a certification program. The Organic Products Regulations will require mandatory certification to the revised National Organic Standard for agricultural products represented as organic in import, export and inter-provincial trade, or that bear the federal organic agricultural product legend (or logo). Enforced starting December 14, 2008.

You can also learn more at Canadian Organic Growers.

USDA Organic

The National Organic Program and the Organic Foods Production Act are intended to assure consumers that the organic foods they purchase are produced, processed, and certified to be consistent with national organic standards.

Certified Wildcrafted or Wildharvested

Wildharvesting is the sustainable harvesting of wild plants in their natural setting. SmartWood and the Soil Association, both FSC-accredited certifiers, provide certification.

Energy Star Rated

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Environmental Choice

Environmental Choice is a green labeling program. Each product is independently audited to ensure it meets certain green criteria (varying criteria for different products such as cleaning supplies, construction materials, office, etc.). For a full directory of Environmental Choice products and the accompanying auditing standards, visit the website.

Fair Trade Certified

Fair Trade is similar to a normal supply chain model of business. There are producers, importers, processors, retailers and consumers. The difference is the monitoring and certification at the core of the system that guarantees that the supply chain is built on and functions according to standards of fairness, transparency and accountability.

Forest Stewardship Council Certified

FSC’s mission is to promote and enhance well-managed forests through credible certification that is environmentally responsible, socially acceptable, and economically viable. FSC’s main tool for achieving this mission is a product-labeling system.

Green Building Performance Initiative

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has embarked upon a multi-year development project to introduce the next generation of LEED in Canada through the LEED Canada Initiative. In parallel to this effort, the CaGBC also launched the Green Building Performance Initiative—a focused effort to develop an affordable and easily accessible tool for energy and environmental management for new and existing buildings. Both initiatives will enable large-scale reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings, and other environmental benefits for all building types and communities across Canada.

Green Seal

Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments to “green” the production and purchasing chain. They use a life-cycle approach, evaluating a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including on-site plant visits.

Green-e

Green-e is the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products.

ISO 14000/14001 / Environmental Management Standard

ISO 14000 is actually a SERIES of international standards on environmental management. It provides a framework for the development of both the system and the supporting audit program.

LEED Certification

LEED® Canada for New Construction and Major Renovations version 1.0 is an adaptation of the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED®), tailored specifically for Canadian climates, construction practices and regulations.

Natural Step

The Natural Step Canada is a non-profit organization providing results orientated advisory and training services to help community and business leaders integrate social, environmental and economic decision making into their operations with a holistic, proven and scientifically-rigorous framework.