Following is a glossary that should help define unfamiliar words
you encounter when you read about Green Power.
Acid Rain
Rain mixed with sulphuric, nitric and other acids, which arise
from emissions released during the burning of fossil fuels.
Alternate Fuels
Other energy sources that can be substituted for the fuel in use.
For example, renewable energy sources represent viable alternatives
to fossil fuels.
Ampere(Amp)
The measure of the number of electrons flowing past a given point
in an electrical conductor in a given amount of time; this is the
electrical current.
Asthma
A chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies and
agitated by pollution, which can cause laboured breathing, chest
constriction and coughing.
Biomass
Solar energy that is stored in green plants and other organic
matter. Wood and forest residues, animal manure and waste, grains,
crops and aquatic plants are some common living materials grown or
produced expressly for use as biomass fuels. Biomass facilities burn
wood, agricultural wastes and/or methane gases from landfills to
spin a turbine that then generates electricity.
BTU
British Thermal Unit - A measure of heat energy; the amount needed
to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree
Fahrenheit.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
A colourless, odourless, incombustible gas formed during normal
human breathing. It is also emitted by the combustion activities
used to produce electricity, as well as other natural and manmade
processes. CO2 is a major cause of the greenhouse effect that traps
harmful radiant energy close to the earth's surface.
CFCS (ChloroFloroCarbons)
Any of various compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine
and fluorine. CFCs are widely produced by aerosol spray products and
refrigerants, and are a major cause of the greenhouse effect that
traps harmful radiant energy close to the earth's surface.
Clean Energy
A term synonymous with renewable energy resource products. See
Green Power.
Cogeneration
A process by which both electric energy and thermal (heat or
steam) energy are produced simultaneously from a single, common fuel
source. The energy produced at a cogeneration facility can be used
to meet its own electrical needs or may be sold to an electric
utility.
Conservation
Actions taken to reduce or more efficiently use energy, in an
effort to preserve the environment and avoid depletion of energy
resources.
EcoLogo®
Certification
The Federal Government's EcoLogo® certification of
facilities is based on the following characteristics: limits on
emissions of air pollutants such as sulphur, nitrogen, hydrocarbons
and particulates, as well as greenhouse gases and production of
hazardous or solid wastes; maintenance of water quality and
watershed integrity; mitigation of impacts on plants and animals;
and, sustainability of feedstock/fuel and minimal water consumption.
Efficiency
The ration of desired work-type output to the necessary energy
input, in any given energy transformation device. An efficient light
bulb, for example, uses most of the input electrical energy to
produce light, not heat. An efficient heat bulb uses most of its
input to produce heat, not light.
Energy-Efficient
The term for electrical devices which produce the same amount of
power using less electrical energy. For example, a fluorescent type
light bulb produces the same amount of light using less electrical
energy than incandescent electric light bulbs. Efficiency programs
reduce energy in order to lower electrical bills.
Energy Sources
The primary categories of energy sources are 1. fossil fuels
(coal, oil, gas); 2. nuclear (fission and fusion);
and 3. renewables (solar, wind, geothermal,
biomass, hydro).
Environmental Controls
Regulations requiring utilities to build and operate facilities in
such a way as to preserve a healthy environment and to conform to
aesthetic, historic and recreational patterns established within a
community.
Fossil Resources / Fossil Fuels
Electric generation using natural gas, oil, coal, or petroleum
coke or other petroleum based fuels; called fossil fuels because
they are formed by the decayed remains of prehistoric plants and
animals.
Fuel
A material that is consumed, giving up its molecularly-stored
energy, which is then used for other purposes, such as to do work
(run a machine).
Fuel Cell
A device that produces electricity with high efficiency (little
heat) by using a fuel and a chemical that reacts with it (an
oxidizer) at two separate electrical terminals. An electric current
is thereby produced.
Fuel Efficiency
The amount of work obtained for the amount of fuel consumed. In
cars, an efficient fuel allows more miles per gallon of gas than a
less efficient fuel.
Generation
The act of producing electricity by changing other forms of
energy, such as fossil fuels, nuclear or renewable energy.
Generation also is sometimes used as a noun to refer to electricity
that has been produced.
Geothermal
Heat energy extracted from reservoirs in the earth's interior, as
is the use of geysers, molten rock and steam spouts.
Geothermal Power
Geothermal energy is generated by utilizing steam that lies below
the surface of the earth in certain locations to generate
electricity. Geothermal plants emit little air pollution and can
have minimal impacts on the environment.
Global Warming
The gradual warming of the earth due to the "greenhouse effect".
Greenhouse Effect
Solar radiation absorbed by the earth, converted to heat, and
trapped close to the earth's surface. In greenhouse buildings used
to grow plants, the radiant energy is trapped by glass; in the
earth's atmosphere, dangerous radiant energy is trapped by gases
such as CFCs and carbon dioxide.
Greenhouse Gases
Substances that can adversely effect human health and the
environment when they accumulate in the atmosphere and trap radiant
energy. Greenhouse gases include sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide and
carbon dioxide.
Green Power
A term synonymous with renewable energy resource products.
Resulting in lower air pollution emissions and no nuclear waste,
Green Power is cleaner than electricity from traditional sources.
Green Power is also more environmentally friendly, because it comes
from electricity resources that are renewable. Examples include the
sun, water, wind, biomass (the burning of agriculture or other
wastes) and geothermal (heat from the earth).
Green Tags
- See
RECs
below
Hydro
A prefix meaning produced by or derived from water or the movement
of water, as in hydroelectricity.
Hydroelectric Power
Power obtained from the natural movement of masses of water.
Hydroelectric power plants convert the energy contained in flowing
water, like rivers and streams, into electricity. Low impact hydro
plants also called 'run of river' plants, are considered renewable
sources of electricity. Larger hydro projects, known as storage
hydro or high impact, cause concern because dams can change natural
river flows, degrade water quality and block fish migration.
Hydropower currently provides about 10 per cent of the electricity
generated in the United States - a percentage unlikely to increase
dramatically, both because few new sites remain for the construction
of large dams and because of general opposition to building large
new facilities on environmental grounds. Hydropower currently
provides almost 60 per cent of electricity generated in Canada.
Kilowatt Hour (KWH)
The standard unit to measure electricity; it is the energy
equivalent to that expended in one hour by one kilowatt of power. A
kilowatt is 1,000 watts of power. For example, ten 100-watt light
bulbs lit for one hour use one kilowatt-hour (1,000 watt-hours) of
electricity. Your electricity use determines the total number of
kilowatt-hours on your bill. The average home in North America uses
about 850 kwh each month.
Methane
A colourless, odourless, flammable gas forming the major portion
of natural gas.
Natural Gas
A dry, combustible mix of methane and hydrocarbons used in
heating, lighting and other utility services. New Natural Gas power
plants, called combined cycle combustion turbines, are very
efficient and only produce a fraction of the air pollution of other
types of fossil fuel fired power plants. Old Natural Gas plants that
are simply converted (fossil fuel fired facilities) emit carbon
dioxide and greenhouse gases. Some environmental advocates do not
consider natural gas a 'green' technology, because the exploration
for and extraction of natural gas can severely damage ecosystems.
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX)
A by-product of electricity generation and a contributor to ozone
pollution, smog and the greenhouse effect.
Nuclear Fision
Atomic nuclear processes that involve the splitting of nuclei with
the accompanying release of energy.
Nuclear Fusion
Atomic nuclear processes, which involve the fusing of nuclei with
an accompanying release of energy.
Nuclear Power
Energy produced in the form of heat by causing changes in the
nucleus of the atom, which can then be converted into electrical
power.
Ozone
Resulting from photochemical reactions involving automobile and
industrial emissions, ozone is a form of oxygen that is a major
agent in the formation of air pollution. Ozone also occurs naturally
in the upper atmosphere (the ozone layer) where it serves as a
barrier against the harmful effects of the sun's radiation.
Emissions from ozone involve pollution close to the earth's surface,
where accumulation of this substance is harmful. Ozone depletion
occurs in the upper atmosphere, where preserving the shrinking ozone
layer is essential to protecting the planet.
Particulates
Microscopic particles of dust found in the air. Industrial
activities including electricity generation are the focus of
proposals to limit particulates, which are said to cause health and
environmental problems.
Photovoltaic / PV
Pertaining to the production of electricity from light (see Solar
Cell).
Recycling
The conversion of solid waste into new products using resources
contained in the discarded materials.
RECs - (Renewable Energy
Certificates)
There are two products available from low-impact renewable energy.
One product is the actual electricity, which is supplied to the
power grid. The other is the associated benefits or environmental
attributes created by a reduction in carbon, mercury, nitrogen and
sulphur emissions in comparison with hydrocarbon based power
generation.
A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is the "Green" in Green
Power and represents beneficial ownership of the environmental
attributes of low-impact renewable energy. These certificates
are accumulated, accounted for and transferred separately from
the supply of electricity. This allows consumers to purchase
electricity and RECs from separate organizations.
RECs are purchased annually to offset the buyers' indirect
emissions associated with hydrocarbon based power generation. In
the United States, RECs are also known as Green Tags.
Renewables
Sustainable energy sources that cause relatively few environmental
impacts and pose a low risk to human health. Renewables include
technologies such as solar photovoltaic energy, solar thermal
energy, wind power, low-impact or run of river hydro power,
geothermal energy and biomass energy.
Run-of-River
Hydroelectric power that has a low environmental footprint and
usually refers to plants that have little or no water storage in a
head-pond. Refers to plants where naturally flowing water is used to
generate electricity while it continues to flow downstream, and
where the use of storage is limited to 48 hours or less.
Scrubbers
Equipment designed to reduce sulphur emissions from coal-fired
power plants.
Smog
Fog that has become mixed with smoke to form a type of pollution
that adversely affects human health and the environment.
Social and Environmental Programs
Programs designed to benefit the public and maintain the quality
of life, such as energy efficiency and low-income assistance
programs.
Solar Cell
Made of semiconductor materials, a solar cell is a device that
produces a voltage when exposed to light.
Solar Energy
Power produced by technology that collects solar radiation to
produce electricity. The two most common forms of solar energy are
photovoltaic panels, which are semiconductors that directly generate
electricity, and solar thermal plants, which use the sun to create
steam to turn a turbine.
Solar Thermal Energy Systems
Systems using concentrating collectors to focus the sun's radiant
energy onto or into a receiver to produce heat.
Stand Alone System
A solar energy installation not connected to a utility power line.
A direct system uses the PV-produced electricity as it is produced,
e.g. a solar-powered water-pumping station. A battery storage system
stores the PV-produced electricity for use a later time, e.g. at
night or on cloudy days.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
A pungent toxic gas that is a major pollutant associated with
electric generation through non-renewable sources.
Thermal Plants - See
Geothermal Power
Universal Service
The provision of a basic level of service to all persons at
affordable rates.
Watt
A unit of electric power equal to a current of one ampere flowing
across an electrical circuit with a potential of one volt. A
kilowatt is a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts.
Weatherization
Modifying a home or structure to conserve energy. Methods include:
sealing window and door frames with caulking or gaskets, installing
storm doors and windows and adding or increasing the insulation.
Wind Energy
Electricity produced when wind power is captured by turbines and
converted into electricity. This is the cheapest and fastest growing
renewable energy technology.
Wind Plant
A facility at which many devices powered by the wind produce
mechanical or electrical power on a large scale
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