Terms starting with ...    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

EarlywoodThe portion of the growth ring that is formed during the early part of the growing season. It is usually less dense and weaker mechanically than latewood.
Eco-Industrial Networking (EIN)Notion of taking Integrated Design Charrette to an industrial community (see Integrated Design and Charrette). EIN builds relationships among businesses, governments, and the community to share and more efficiently use resources such as energy, material, water, land, capital, infrastructure, and people.
Ecological CostThe total impact on the environment including source depletion, pollution and degradation of habitats. That which impacts the least, costs the least.
EcoroofA roof covered with soil mix and vegetation. Stormwater is absorbed by the soil and vegetation, reducing and detaining stormwater from overloading sewer systems.
EcoSmart(tm) ConcreteThis concrete is produced by replacing cement with a maximum percentage of supplementary cementing materials (see SCMs) within the parameters of cost-effectiveness, constructability, and performance. www.ecosmart.ca
EcosystemA complex and interdependent set of natural conditions and elements. Habitat survival depends directly and/or indirectly on ecosystem health.
Edge Jointjoint made by bonding two pieces of wood together edge to edge, commonly by gluing. The joints may be made by gluing two squared edges as in a plain edge joint or by using machined joints of various kinds, such as tongued-and-grooved joints.
Edge-Grained Lumber GrainLumber that has been sawed so that the wide surfaces extend approximately at right angles to the annual growth rings. Lumber is considered edge grained when the rings form an angle of 45¡ to 90¡ with the wide surface of the piece.
EfficacyThe amount of light output (lumen) per watt of input electricity to a lamp.
El NinoEl Nino is a warm surface current that usually appears in the Pacific Ocean off Ecuador and Peru around Christmas, and lasts about three months. Every three to seven years it remains for as long as a year-and-a-half as part of a southern oscillation. In North America, this contributes to warmer temperatures along the Pacific coast and weaker hurricanes on the Atlantic.
ElastomerA macromolecular material that, at room temperature, is deformed by application of a relatively low force and is capable of recovering substantially in size and shape after removal of the force.
Embodied EnergyA representation of the energy used to grow, harvest, extract, manufacture, transport, and dispose of a material.
Embodied Energy (MJ/kg)Embodied energy can be defined as the quantity of energy required by all of the activities associated with a production process including the acquisition of primary material, transportation, manufacturing and handling. A useful measure of ecological cost.
EmbrittlementA loss in strength or energy absorption without a corresponding loss in stiffness. Clear, straight-grained wood is generally considered a ductile material; chemical treatments and elevated temperatures can alter the original chemical composition of wood, thereby embrittling the wood.
Emission RateAn emission rate mathematically describes how a product's emissions change with time.
Encased KnotA knot whose rings of annual growth are not intergrown with those of the surrounding wood.
End JointA joint made by bonding two pieces of wood together end to end, commonly by finger or scarf joint.
End-Grained Wood GrainThe grain as seen on a cut made at a right angle to the direction of the fibers (such as on a cross section of a tree).
EnerGuide(r) for HousesThe tool through which NRCan will deliver the existing home retrofit incentive program. EnerGuide(r) provides a rating of a homes energy performance and establishes the benchmark against which improvements may be made that will be eligible for a grant.
Engineered Wood ProductsA composite wood product using glued fiber, lumber and/or veneer to meet specific design criteria.
Environmental Sustainability(See Sustainability)
EPPThe Composite Panel Association (CPA) Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) Grademark Program has been developed to provide independent certification of wood composite products that are demonstrably environmentally preferable through their use of recycled and/or recovered furnish and adherence to voluntarily lower formaldehyde emission standards than government regulations. The Program includes requirements for initial qualification for product certification, plant quality control procedures and periodic inspections by CPA - all designed to reasonably assure that certified composite panel products meet the Program’s specifications.
EQ4.1USGBC LEED, Intent: Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants. Requirements: All materials listed below that are used in the building interior, (i.e., inside of the exterior moisture barrier) must not exceed the following requirements: Adhesives, Sealants and Sealant Primers: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168 requirements in effect on January 1, 2003 and rule amendment dated October 3, 2003. Aerosol Adhesives: Green Seal Standard GC-36 requirements in effect on October 19, 2000.
EQ4.2USGBC LEED Intent: Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants. Requirements: Interior paints and coating applied on-site must meet the limitations and restrictions concerning chemical components set by the following standards: Topcoat Paints: Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints, First Edition, May 20, 1993. Anti-Corrosive and Anti-Rust Paints: Green Seal Standard GS-03, Anti-Corrosive Paints, Second Edition, January 7, 1997. For applications on ferrous metal substrates. All other Architectural Coatings, Primers and Undercoats: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings, rules in effect on January 1, 2004.
EQ4.4EQ Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials. Indoor Environmental Quality. INTENT: Improves indoor air quality. REQUIREMENTS: Wood products used shall contain no added urea- formaldehyde
Equilibrium Moisture ContentThe moisture content at which wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded by air at a given relative humidity and temperature.
Expanded and Extruded Polystyrene (EPS)Polystyrene, a plastic that is formed with CFCs or HCFCs into pellets and compressed into sheets, or extruded into closed cell sheets and used for insulation. It is sometimes called by the trade name "Styrofoam".
ExposedTerm used to Identifacation of Parts. As defined by AWI Quality Statrdards 400-G-3: A. Exposed Parts - Surfaces visible when: 1. Drawer fronts and doors are closed; 2. Cabinets and shelving are open-type or behind clear glass doors; 3. Cabinet bottoms, scribes, or fillers are seen 1220 mm [48"] or more above finished floor; 4. Cabinet tops, scribes, or fillers are seen below 1830 mm [72"] above finished floor, or are visible from an upper floor or staircase after installation; 5. Portions of cabinets are visible after fixed appliances are installed; 6. Front edges of cabinet body members are visible or seenthrough a gap of greater than 3.2 mm [1/8"] with doors and drawers closed (sim. Tests 400A-C-1 & 400B-C-1).
ExtenderA substance, generally having some adhesive action, added to an adhesive to reduce the amount of the primary binder required per unit area.
Extensive Green RoofsA low maintenance roof covering with thin layer of soil with little or no irrigation. It is lightweight, suitable for large areas and can be used for roofs with slopes up to 30 degrees.
Exterior PlywoodA general term for plywood bonded with a type of adhesive that by systematic tests and service records has proved highly resistant to weather; micro-organisms; cold, hot, and boiling water; steam; and dry heat.
ExtractiveSubstances in wood, not an integral part of the cellular structure, that can be removed by solution in hot or cold water, ether, benzene, or other solvents that do not react chemically with wood components.
Extruded ParticleboardA particleboard made by ramming bindercoated particles into a heated die, which subsequently cures the binder and forms a rigid mass as the material is moved through the die.
Extrusion SpreadingA method of adhesive application in which adhesive is forced through small openings in the spreader head.