Ecobabble - A glossary of environmental terms
Air Source Heat Pumps
These act in a similar way to air conditioning, but create hot air by working like a fridge in reverse. Whilst they require a small amount of electricity to work, they can produce up to four times the quantity of energy that is consumed.
Biomass
Biomass is fuel made from organic material. Includes wood from sustainable sources, biodegradable waste and plants (e.g. hemp). Sheffield Homes has two biomass boilers serving Callow Drive and Carwood Place.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a gas otherwise known as CO2. Whilst CO2 is naturally emitted by the earth, humans have massively increased the amount of it in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide generated by the activities of an individual, building or industry.
Climate Change
This term is used to describe the physical changes to the earth’s climate caused by global warming. Whilst there has been a history of natural changes to the earth’s environment, human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, has sped this up significantly.
The consequences of climate change include increased levels of drought in Australia and Ethiopia, larger hurricanes hitting the Americas and Asia, and most notably, the melting of the polar ice.
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL's)
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs are energy saving bulbs that produce the same amount of light as a normal bulb whilst using less energy to do so.
Condensing Boilers
Condensing boilers are more energy efficient than conventional boilers as they reuse the energy produced to heat hot water to decrease the amount of fuel required to heat your home. They are available either as conventional boilers that heat a hot water cylinder or combination boilers that heat water directly when you turn on your hot water taps.
Condensing boilers (new window) are rated as Grade A energy efficient devices.
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's)
As of the 1st October 2008 all social and private landlords are required to issue an EPC to all new tenancies. An EPC assesses the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a dwelling with an A-G scale, such as those used on white electrical goods. It provides the property with a current rating, and a potential rating that could be achieved if recommended works are carried out.
Find out more about Energy Performance Certificates.
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels are energy sources such as coal, oil and gas. They are made from organic material like dead plants and animals, that over thousands of years degrade under pressure to form deposits under the earth’s surface. They can be used to create electricity and power transport e.g. cars, however they emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burnt.
Fuel Poverty
A household is defined as suffering from fuel poverty if it spends more than 10% of its income on indoor heating, cooking and lighting.
Alternatively contact one of these organisations for help and advice (new window).
Global Warming
The term used to describe the rapid increase in the earth’s temperature over the past 30 years or so.
According to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Earth has warmed by 0.74°C over the last hundred years. Around 0.4°C of this warming has occurred since the 1970s. This has been blamed on human activities emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Gases
These are gases that are emitted naturally and by humans. As a result they form a barrier around the earth’s atmosphere.
This barrier acts in a similar way to a greenhouse, warming up the earth by preventing heat from escaping. This in turn has sped up the process of global warming.
Carbon dioxide is the most widely known greenhouse gas, which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Other greenhouse gases can be produced naturally such as methane, which is emitted by cows.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground Suorce Heat Pumps uses the temperature of the ground to create hot water. Pipes are buried under the ground to capture the earth’s natural warmth, which stays at around 7ºc all year round. This warmth is then fed back to a heating unit that works like a fridge in reverse. From this process, hot water can be produced at a much lower cost than using gas or electricity.
Micro Combined Heat and Power
This works like a normal boiler but produces electricity as well as heating and hot water.
Microgeneration
This is when electricity is produced on a small scale on or around the building where it is used.
Micro-Wind
Micro-wind uses the power of wind to generate electricity via a turbine. Whilst wind power is proven to work on a large scale, it has not yet been proven to be viable in an urban environment.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is generated from sources that will last forever, such as wind or solar power.
Sustainable Energy
This term is used to describe energy sources, developments and lifestyles that have a minimal impact on the earth.