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Glossary of Terms
Walk the walk…AND talk the talk! The following is a helpful list of “green” terminology.
A
Alternating Current
An electric current that reverses direction in a circuit at regular intervals.
Ampere
A unit of electric current. One ampere of current is equal to one coulomb (6.25 x 1,018) of electrons passing a point in an electric circuit in one second. Abbr. amp
B
Battery
A device for generating electric current by a chemical reaction.
Biomass
Plant or animal matter. Biomass can be burned directly as a source of heat or converted to a more convenient gaseous or liquid fuel. Examples include wood and animal waste.
British Thermal Unit
a) A unit of energy equal to 1,055 joules or 252 calories. b) The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. c) The approximate amount of energy stored in one match tip.
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Abbr. btu
C
Circuit
A closed path through which an electric current flows.
Coal
A fossil fuel made up of a combustible mineral substance consisting of carbonized vegetable matter. Coal is the largest source of electrical energy in the United States.
Compact Flourescent Lamp
A small flourescent lamp designed to fit in light fixtures that use standard incandescent lamps. Abbr. CFL
Conservation
The careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion.
Consumption
The act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.
Current
The time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measured in amperes.
D
E
Energy Conservation
Wise use and careful management of energy resources by reducing wasteful energy use or using energy more efficiently.
F
Fossil Fuel
Any combustible organic material, as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of former life.
Fuel
Combustible matter used to maintain fire, as coal, wood, oil, or gas, in order to create heat or power.
Fuel Oil
An oil used for fuel, esp. one used as a substitute for coal, as crude petroleum.
G
Gasoline
A volatile, flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum, and used as fuel for internal-combustion engines, as a solvent, etc.
Geothermal Energy
A form of energy obtained from within the earth, originating in its core; also, energy produced by extracting the earth's internal heat.
H
Heat
A nonmechanical energy transfer with reference to a temperature difference between a system and its surroundings or between two parts of the same system.
Horsepower
A foot-pound-second unit of power, equivalent to 550 foot-pounds per second, or 745.7 watts.
Hydroelectric Power
A form of energy generated by the conversion of free-falling water to electricity.
Hydropower
Hydroelectric power.
I
Incandescent Lamp
A lamp that emits light due to the glowing of a heated material, esp. the common device in which a tungsten filament enclosed within an evacuated glass bulb is rendered luminous by the passage of an electric current through it.
J
K
Kilowatt
A unit of power, equal to 1000 watts. Abbr. kW, kw
Kilowatt-hour
A unit of energy, equivalent to the energy transferred or expended in one hour by one kilowatt of power; approximately 1.34 horsepower-hours. Abbr. kWh, kwhr
L
Leaking Electricity
Energy that is used by an appliance or equipment when they are off or on stand-by; also known as "phantom load."
Life Cycle Cost
An item, product, or finished good's total cost, including energy and maintenance costs, over its useful life.
M
Megawatt
A unit of power, equal to one million watts. Abbr. MW
N
Natural Gas
A combustible mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons that accumulates in porous sedimentary rocks, esp. those yielding petroleum, consisting usually of over 80 percent methane together with minor amounts of ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen, and, sometimes, helium: used as a fuel and to make carbon black, acetylene, and synthesis gas.
Nonrenewable Energy Resource
Those energy sources that have a finite quantity in nature (e.g. fossil fuels).
Nuclear Energy
Energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion.
O
P
Petroleum
An oily, thick, flammable, usually dark-colored liquid that is a form of bitumen or a mixture of various hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in various parts of the world and commonly obtained by drilling.
Phantom Load
Energy that is used by an appliance or equipment when they are off or on stand-by; also known as "leaking energy."
Photovoltaic Cell
A device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric energy. Also called solar cell.
Power
The rate in which energy is transferred or converted per unit of time.
Primary Energy Source
Source of energy either found or stored in nature, such as the sun or fossil fuels.
Propane
A colorless, flammable gas, of the alkane series, occurring in petroleum and natural gas: used chiefly as a fuel and in organic synthesis.
Q
R
Rate
The cost per unit of electricity or natural gas charged to a utility customer.
Renewable Energy Resource
Energy resource that can be quickly replenished (e.g. solar, wood, wind, hyrdopower).
R-Value
R-value is a term predominantly used in the building industry to describe the insulation properties of certain building insulation materials; the ability to insulate against heat loss. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation.
S
Secondary Energy Source
Energy resource that is produced from a primary energy resource using technology.
Solar Cell
A device that converts the energy of sunlight into electric energy. Also called photovoltaic cell.
Solar Energy
Energy derived from the sun in the form of solar radiation.
Sustainability
As defined by the Burndtland Commission, 1987: Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
T
Therm
Any of several units of heat, as one equivalent to 1000 large calories or 100,000 British thermal units. Natural gas is measured in therms.
U
V
Volt
The SI unit of potential difference and electromotive force, formally defined to be the difference of electric potential between two points of a conductor carrying a constant current of one ampere, when the power dissipated between these points is equal to one watt. Abbr. V
W
Watt
The SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second and equal to the power in a circuit in which a current of one ampere flows across a potential difference of one volt. Abbr. W, w.