What does that mean?

Glossary : www.think-energy.com

Biodegradable

The ability to biodegrade, that is for organic compounds to be converted to inorganic compounds, leaving no toxic or synthetic residues

Biomass

The use of crops and crop residues as a fuel source for the generation of heat and electricity

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

A colourless gas that is a natural part of the atmosphere. However, the increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere as a result of industrial processes is leading to global warming.

Carbon Footprint

Is a way of measuring how much energy we use.

Car Club

Is based around shared ownership of one or more vehicles.

Car Sharing

Sharing a car with other people by giving lifts.

Ecosystem

A collection of plants and animals integrated as a result of the exchange of energy and nutrients between them

Environmental audit

A systematic review of an organization’s environmental performance, measured against a set of agreed criteria

Fuel cell

An energy conversion device that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, producing energy and heat in the process

Global warming

The gradual raising of the temperature of the Earth and its atmosphere

Greenhouse effect

The increasing temperature of the Earth’s surface caused by gases in the atmosphere. These gases allow solar radiation to penetrate, but they absorb the infrared (heat) radiation instead of allowing it to be radiated into space.

Non-renewable resources

Resources of which there is a fixed supply, such as metal ores and fossil fuels, and which will eventually be exhausted

Photovoltaics (PV)

The use of photosensitive semiconductor elements to generate electricity from solar radiation

Recycling

Re-use of a product as a raw material for use in the same or another product

Renewable energy

An energy resource that can be replaced and will not run out

Source: Renewables, Global Status Report 2006 (PDF). Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (2006).

Rising sea levels

As temperatures rise as a result of global warming, the sea absorbs heat from the atmosphere, causing both the sea itself to expand and ice at the poles to melt, thus making sea levels rise.

Small hydro power

The use of small turbines in flowing water (usually rivers) to generate electricity

Solar thermal energy

Solar energy absorbed by building elements for direct space or water heating

Tidal energy

Harnessing the energy in tides using devices such as tidal barrages

Wind energy

Harnessing the power of the wind using wind turbines to generate electricity