Glossary of Environmental Terms
# | 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
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100-Mile Diet - The 100 mile diet is a term that emerged in 2005 from a Canadian couple's year long experiment to only eat foods that were grown or raised within a 100 mile radius of their residence. The couple's experience was chronicled on their Web site and spawned a nationwide movement of individuals who pledge to eat only locally produced foods. Adhering to the 100-Mile diet helps people to reduce their carbon and ecological footprints while supporting local farmers and food systems.
100% Vegetarian Feed - Animals fed with 100% vegetarian feed are not fed any animal byproducts. This does not guarantee they were raised outdoors or on pasture, but it should indicate that they were raised on grasses, hay, silage and other feed found on pasture or in a field. Grain, like corn, is vegetarian and fall into this category. Producers feeding their animals a 100% vegetarian diet should not administer supplements or additives, but it is always best to check with the farmer.
A
Active Solar - Active solar is an application, that uses electrical or mechanical equipment (typically pumps and/or fans) to assist in the collection and storage of solar energy for the purpose of heating, cooling (buildings, liquids, or gases), or making electricity.
Agri-Tourism - Agri-tourism is the practice of attracting travelers or visitors to an area or areas used primarily for agricultural purposes. Many agri-tourism activities, like farm tours, bed and breakfasts, hay rides and petting zoos, require only a small farm crew in order to be successful, and are very similar to eco-tourism activities in that they are small-scale, low-impact, and, in most cases, education-focused.
Alternative energy - Alternative energy substitutes for traditional, often non-renewable sources of energy such as oil and coal. Alternative energy includes, but is not limited to solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power, as well as mixtures of alcohol-based fuels with methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas and others. Learn more about alternative energy.
Alternative transportation - Alternative transportation is any form of transportation that requires less fuel than cars, airplanes, boats, etc. Examples of alternative forms of transportation include: hybrid vehicles, bicycles, skateboards, high-efficiency motorized scooters or bikes, and natural gas or biodiesel powered mass transit. Learn more about alternative transportation.
B
Biodynamics - Biodynamics is a holistic method of agriculture certified by a third-party agency and is based on the philosophy that all aspects of the farm should be treated as an interrelated whole. Having emerged as the first non-chemical agriculture movement approximately 20 years before the development or "organic" agriculture, biodynamics has now spread throughout the world. Biodynamic farmers work in harmony with nature and use a variety of techniques, such as crop rotation and on-farm composting, to foster a sustainable and productive environment.
Black Water - Black Water is containing human waste from toilets and urinals. Black water contains pathogens that must be neutralized before the water can be safely reused. Typically black water, after neutralization, is used for non-potable uses such as flushing or irrigation.
C
Carbon credits - A carbon credit is a system of exchange between businesses or individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capping total annual emissions and letting the market assign a monetary value to any shortfall through trading. Learn about carbon offsetting.
Carbon Footprint - A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels. A carbon footprint is often expressed as tons of carbon dioxide or tons of carbon emitted, usually on an annual basis.
Carbon neutral - Carbon neutral indicates that a person or business has achieved a zero carbon release either by balancing total carbon emission with the use of renewable energy that produces similar useful energy, or through only using alternative energy, whereby no carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere.
Cogeneration - Cogeneration is a process in which power is produced by a gas-fired engine and generator set. Heat produced as part of this process is used as heating and/or cooling media. A cogeneration plant is often referred to as a combined heat and power plant.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) - A CSA is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a local farm, and also a way for that farm to fund its operations. People become "members" or "shareholders" of the CSA by making a financial committment to the farm in exchange for regular "shares" of the farm's produce. Some CSAs may require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season.
Compost/Composting - Compost refers to the dark, soil-like matter produced when organic matter, like yard trimmings, food waste, or manure, is combined with air and heat, and allowed to decompose. Natural composting, also called biological decomposition occurs when vegetation falls to the ground and slowly decays, providing minerals and nutrients needed for plants, animals, and microorganisms. Home composting can be performed through a variety of methods that may utilize open piles, trenches or drums/bins. Compost produces a product rich in minerals that is an ideal soil conditioner, mulch, resurfacing material or landfill cover for gardening and farming.
Cradle to cradle - Cradle to cradle is the application of environmentally safe materials in the production of goods. It also involves implementing strategies for material reutilization, including, but not limited to, recycling and composting, the efficient use of water and energy and the use of clean, renewable energy. And lastly, cradle-to-cradle means practicing social responsibility. This process traces the production of one product through its life cycle and plans for its reuse as a product in a new form.
D
Daylighting - Daylighting is the use of natural light to supplement or replace artificial lighting.
E
Ecological Footprint - An ecological footprint is the area of land and water needed to produce the resources to entirely sustain a human population and absorb its waste products with prevailing technology. The concept of an ecological footprint is used as a resource management and community-planning tool.
Embodied Energy - Embodied energy is the total energy used to create a product, including the energy used in mining or harvesting, processing, fabricating, and transporting the product.
Environmental stewardship - Environmental stewardship has a number of wide ranging objectives, which include: the protection of water and soil, the prevention of erosion and water pollution, flood management, wildlife conservation, protecting archaeological sites and historic features, providing public access to the countryside and conserving rare traditional livestock breeds and varieties.
F
Free-range/Free-roaming - 'Free Range' or 'Free Roaming' means that an animal had some access to the outdoors each day. However, this doesn't guarantee that the animal actually spent any time outside. As long as a door to the outdoors is left open for some period of time, the animal can be considered Free Range. Although the USDA has defined this term for chicken raised for meat consumption, no standards have been set for egg-laying chickens or for other animals. If you are looking to buy eggs, poultry or meat that was raised outdoors, look for a label that says 'Pastured' or 'Pasture-raised.'
Fossil Fuels - Fossil fuels are fuels found in the earth's strata that are derived from the fossilized remains of animal and plant matter over millions of years. Fossil fuels include oil, natural gas, shale, and coal. Fossil fuels are considered to be non-renewable since they are consumed faster than their natural production. Learn about renewable fuels.
Fuel Cell - A fuel cell is an electrochemical device in which hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity with heat and water vapor as by products. Natural gas is often used as the source of hydrogen with air as the source of oxygen. Since electricity is produced by a chemical reaction and not by combustion, fuel cells are considered to be green power producers. Fuel cell technology is quite old, dating back to the early days of the space program. Commercial use of fuel cells has been sporadic, however, the use of fuel cells in automobiles and buildings is expected to increase in the next decade.
G
Geothermal Energy - Geothermal energy is a form of energy produced through drilling and harvesting heat trapped deep within the earth. Extraction methods include bringing water that has been superheated below ground to the surface, or pumping water deep into the earth to become heated and then pumped out again.
Grass-fed - Grass-fed animals eat grasses from start to finish. As a standard, they should not be supplemented with grain, animal by-products, and synthetic hormones or be given antibiotics to promote growth or prevent disease (though they might be given antibiotics to treat disease). Note that 'grass-fed' does not guarantee that the animal was pastured or pasture-raised. While most grass-fed animals are pasture-raised, some may still be confined and fed a steady diet of grasses.
Gray Water - Gray Water, often called "waste water," is any water that has been used (with the exception of toilet water), whether for washing dishes, showering, laundry, etc., that can then be redirected and used for other purposes such as landscape irrigation. Using gray water is a viable solution for drought-ridden areas.
Green Building - Green building is a building method that minimizes impact on the environment through resource (energy, water, etc.) conservation and contributes to the health of its occupants. Comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and healthful environments characterize green buildings. Common methods and techniques used in green building include indoor water conservation, Xeriscaping, passive solar design, photovoltaic systems. Many green buildings also utilize renewable or recycled materials like cellulose, hay bale or rockwool insulation, organic asphalt shingles, low VOC paints, and reclaimed appliances, flooring, windows, doors and more. Learn more about green building.
Green fatigue - Green fatigue is exhaustion from hearing the word green used to describe anything related to the environment, or from hearing discussion of environmental topics in general.
H
Heat Island Effect - The heat island effect is a phenomenon that occurs in developed areas where the replacement of natural land cover with paving, buildings, roads, parking lots, etc. result in an increase in outdoor temperatures. Vegetation, green roofs and light colored materials that reflect heat can mitigate the heat island effect. Urban heat islands can be as much as 10 degrees Farenheit hotter than the surrounding undeveloped areas.
Heritage - Heritage foods are derived from rare and endangered breeds of livestock and crops. Heritage animals are purebreds; a specific breed of animal that is near extinction. Production standards are not required by law, but true heritage farmers use sustainable production methods. This method of production saves animal breeds from extinction and preserves genetic diversity.
Hybrid - Hybrid means a combination of two or more different technologies. In the case of environmentally sensitive products, examples of this could refer to the use of a battery and gasoline-powered vehicle or a solar and electric-powered device.
Hydro Energy - Hydro power is generated by harnessing energy made from moving water. Rivers and streams are channeled through hydro generators to produce energy. Learn more about alternative energy.
L
Land Trust - A land trust is a non-profit organization that manages a piece of land, often for conservation purposes, to ensure that the land will not be sold or developed for a set amount of time.
LEED - LEED is an acronym that refers to the The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(TM); a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Learn more about green building.
Life cycle - Life cycle refers to the process of a product or material beginning with the accumulation of raw materials, then the design, manufacturing process and management of the waste involved in the manufacturing process. It also includes the usable life span of the product and its disposal or recycling.
Light Shelf - A light shelf is a horizontal device positioned (usually above eye level) to conserve energy by reflecting daylight onto the ceiling and beyond. The light shelf may project into the room, beyond the exterior wall plane, or both. The upper surface of the shelf is highly reflective, i.e. having 80 percent or greater reflectance. Light shelves are also effective shading devices for windows located below them.
Locavore - A locavore is a person who prefers to eat only foods that are grown locally. Locavores often shun conventional grocery stores as the transportation of food over long distances is detrimental to the environment. Many locavores grow their own food or purchase food only from farmers' markets or similar outlets.
Low-flow toilets - Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less when flushing away waste versus the standard 6-7 gallons. Low-flow toilets can be found in single or dual flush (less water used for flushing liquids than solids) varieties. Learn more about water conservation.
N
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - Nitrogen oxides are gases consisting of one molecule of nitrogen and varying numbers of oxygen molecules. Nitrogen oxides are by-products of combustion processes and are commonly found in the automobile exhaust and emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. NOx is a greenhouse gas and is an ingredient of acid rain and smog.
O
Organic - Organic is a term used to label goods that were produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and that support the health and biodiversity of soil, water, plants, animals and humans. Any product bearing a certified organic label must undergo regular testing and abide by specific regulations during the production process. Learn more about organic and natural products.
P
Passive solar - Passive solar is the use of sunlight for energy without the need for mechanical devices. Capturing sunlight in this way can be used to create heat for stored or immediate use, and to create air movement for ventilation.
Pastured or Pasture-Raised - 'Pastured' indicates that an animal was raised outdoors on a pasture and that it ate grasses and food found in a pasture, rather than being fattened on grain in a feedlot or barn. Pasturing livestock and poultry is a traditional farming technique that allows animals to be raised in a humane, ecologically sustainable manner. This term is basically the same as grass-fed, though the term "pasture-raised" indicates more clearly that the animal was raised outdoors on pasture.
Photovoltaic Cell - A photovoltaic cell device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are silicon-based semiconductors and are often referred to as solar cells. PV cells were developed in the mid-1950's and have become cost effective where it is difficult to extend conventional power lines. PV cells are often used for remote motorist call aid boxes, irrigation systems and navigational lights.
Phthalates - Phthalates are chemicals often found in plastics used for many consumer products, including: water bottles, cosmetics and children's toys that have been linked to reproductive dysfunction and other health problems in laboratory tests.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - PET is considered one of the safer plastics and is often used as a food packaging material. However, the more it is used, the more it breaks down and releases a carcinogen known as DEHA. PET is regulated in drinking water because it has been found to cause weight loss, liver problems, possible reproductive difficulties, and cancer in humans.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - PVC is used in many consumer products from dog toys to food wrapping. The chemical properties of chlorine make the plastic particularly toxic to humans as well as animals. It has been labeled by the EPA as a "probable carcinogen". Look for the #1 when trying to identify this plastic for recycling purposes.
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Regeneration - Regeneration refers to the renewal of sites or habitats that have become unfit for human, animal, or plant habitation, bringing them back into productive use. The term most commonly refers to urban and industrial land.
Renewable Energy - Renewable energy refers to sources of energy that utilize natural resources, such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from Photovoltaic systems which convert sunlight directly into electricity to plant based fuels for transportation. Learn more about renewable fuels.
Renewable resources - A renewable resource is any resource that is harvested at a rate less than or equal to the rate of regeneration. Wind, solar radiation, tides and geothermal heat are examples of resources that are perpetually available and therefore are not in danger of being used at a greater than regenerative rate.
Resource conservation - Resource conservation is the management of materials to eliminate unnecessary waste and ensure efficient use of such materials. Learn more about water conservation.
S
Sequestration - Sequestration refers to a process whereby carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in a sink either naturally or through industrial processes. Sequestration allows CO2 and other greenhouse gases to be captured and stored to prevent their release into the atmosphere.
Social responsibility - Social responsibility is the voluntary duty to refrain from any reckless activity such as corruption or unethical behavior that could impose harm to any business, community, individual or the environment.
Solar Energy - Solar energy is obtained by capturing the suns rays and is utilized for heating and powering. The three most common methods of using solar energy are: Passive Solar, Active Solar, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems. Learn more about alternative energy.
Solar Insolation - Solar insolation is the amount of direct, diffuse and reflected sunlight reaching an area exposed to the sky. Solar insolation maps of your area can be used to help you size a solar electric (PV) system to meet your energy needs during the periods of the year with the shortest amount of sunshine for your location.
Straight Vegetable Oil Vehicles - Straigt Vegetable Oil Vehicles run on fuel consisting of new or recycled unmodified plant oils. SVOs are often equipped with modified diesel engines which are used to heat the oil prior to combustion for a cleaner more efficient burn.
T
Triple bottom line - The triple bottom line represents a company's responsibility to stakeholders, as well as shareholders. This means a company must not only consider its economic bottom line, but also the social and environmental successes and consequences of its actions.
V
Vermicomposting - Also known as 'worm composting,' vermicomposting can be accomplished in bins or pits and adapted for indoor or outdoor composting. It can be ideal for persons with small yards or apartment dwellers who want to derive some of the benefits of composting and reduce solid waste. Worm bins are easy to construct and can be adapted to accommodate the food scraps generated within the household.
Volatile Organic Compounds - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs evaporate at room temperatures and can cause poor air quality, and can be harmful to humans (Adapted from toxics.usgs.gov).
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Wind Energy - The Sun heats the earth unevenly, creating thermal air pockets. In order to achieve equal temperatures around the earth these air pockets move about the earth as wind. The energy that travels in the wind can be captured through the use of wind turbines and converted to provide electricity. Learn more about alternative energy.
Wind Turbine - A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy that can be used to drive equipment such as pumps. The addition of a generator allows the wind's kinetic energy to be converted into electricity. Learn more about alternative energy.
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