Green Glossary – I
- In-vessel Composting
- In-vessel composting involves treating organic materials inside an enclosed container varying in size from a 55-gallon drum to a silo. Temperature, moisture and aeration are closely controlled to minimize leachate and odor.
- Incineration
- A treatment technology involving destruction of waste by controlled burning at high temperatures.
- Indoor Air Pollution
- Air contaminants present inside homes and buildings. Many think that air pollution is only a problem outdoors, however, indoor air pollution is actually responsible for many human health problems.
- Indoor Air Quality or IAQ
- Indoor air quality or IAQ refers to the level of environmental pollutants inside homes and buildings.
- Industrial Ecology
- A study or discipline that aims to follow energy and material use throughout the manufacturing process.
- Industrial Metabolism
- Industrial ecologist, economist and physicist Robert Ayres describes it as "the whole integrated collection of physical processes that convert raw materials and energy, plus labor, into finished products and wastes."
- Industrial Waste
- Unwanted materials from an industrial operation; may be liquid, sludge, solid, or hazardous waste.
- Injection Wells
- Injection wells have a range of uses including waste disposal, enhancing oil production, mining, and preventing salt water intrusion.
- Inorganic Mulch
- Materials not derived from plants but are used as protective mulch over soil. Plastic, ground rubber, gravel, pebbles and crushed stone are examples of inorganic materials that can be used as protective soil cover.
- Insulated Concrete Forms or ICF
- A building wall material and insulator that makes use of concrete and recycled components.
- Insulation
- Insulation products provide barriers against heat, air and even sound leakages in building structures.
- Integrated Design
- A concept in engineering and architecture that considers the many aspects of a building project and examines the interaction between aesthetics, construction and operations to optimize energy use and sustainability while minimizing environmental impact.
- Integrated Waste Management
- The systematic use of different methods for handling solid waste safely and effectively.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC
- The IPCC is comprised of experts from all over the world tasked to assess current developments in the area of climate science.
- International Association for Impact Assessment of IAIA
- An international forum that aims to develop, innovate and communicate the best practice approaches in environmental impact assessments.
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources or ICUN
- The world's oldest and biggest environmental advocacy network with more than one thousand government and NGO member organizations and almost eleven thousand volunteer scientists from more than 160 countries in its realm.
- Ionizer
- A device that generates negative electrical charges attracting airborne particles--including smoke, dust and other allergens--which are then trapped, thus cleaning the air. Ionizers are gaining popularity for improving indoor air quality.
