TALKING GR3EN: DEFINITIONS AND TERMS

Great! You want to know more about “going green” and practicing sustainability. Here are some terms to help you. Click on the links inside each definition to get even more information.

Carbon Footprint:the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service. An estimate of how much carbon dioxide an entity (be it person, family or building) produces and releases into the atmosphere can be calculated via the personal calculator found on the EPA's website. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html The resulting figure is used to buy carbon offsets (see definition) or engage in ameliorative activities such as planting trees.


Carbon Neutral: Reducing energy use and compensating for the amount of carbon dioxide an entity generates through either obtaining energy from renewable sources or offsetting.


Carbon Offsets: Credits earned for activities that help balance CO2 emissions, such as planting trees. They can also be bought from a provider who uses the money to plant trees, generate renewable energy or conserve energy.


Climate Change: Refers to changes in modern climate which according to the IPCC are 90-95% likely to have been in part caused by human action.


CO2 Emissions: Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. It is observed that due to human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation, the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by about 20% since 1958.


Global Warming: Refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.


Green: Advocating protection of environment: supporting or promoting the protection of the environment.


Greenhouse Gases: The process by which absorption and emission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases warms a planet's atmosphere and surface.


Rapidly Renewable Materials: Resources that can be rapidly replenished as they are used, such as some woods, grasses and cork.


Recycling: Involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air (from incineration) and water (from landfilling) pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy. Recyclable materials include glass, paper, metal, textiles, electronics (cell phones, computers) and plastics.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The waste hierarchy refers to the "3 Rs" which classify waste management strategies according to their desirability. The 3 Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance.


Solar Energy: Refers to the utilization of the radiant energy from the Sun. Solar power is used interchangeably with solar energy, but refers more specifically to the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either by photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal devices, or by one of several experimental technologies such as thermoelectric converters, solar chimneys or solar ponds.


Sustainability: The potential longevity of vital human ecological support systems, such as the planet's climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, and fisheries, and human communities in general and the various systems on which they depend.


Adapted from Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org