Ecobabble

Baffled by green jargon? Start here...

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

This is fuel made from organic material. It can include wood from sustainable sources, biodegradable waste and plants – for example, hemp. We have two biomass boilers, serving Callow Drive and Carwood Place.

Carbon Dioxide

This gas is otherwise known as CO2. Whilst it is naturally emitted by the earth, humans have massively increased amounts in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil.

Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide generated by the activities of an individual, building or industry.

Climate Change

This is the physical change to the earth’s climate caused by global warming. Whilst there has been a long history of natural changes, human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, have sped this up significantly. The consequences of climate change include increased levels of drought in Australia and Ethiopia, more powerful hurricanes hitting the Americas and Asia and, most notably, the melting of polar ice.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) 

These are energy saving bulbs that produce the same amount of light as a normal bulb whilst using less energy to do so.

Condensing Boilers

These are more energy efficient than conventional boilers, as they reuse the energy produced to heat hot water to cut the amount of fuel required to heat your home. They are available either as conventional boilers that heat a hot water cylinder or as 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 (EPCs)

Since October 2008, all social and private landlord have been required to issue an EPC to new tenants. 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.

Fossil Fuels

These are energy sources such as coal, oil and gas. They are made from organic material, like dead plants and animals, which degrade under pressure over thousands of years to form deposits under the earth’s surface. They can be used to create electricity and power vehicles such as cars - but 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 per cent of its income on indoor heating, cooking and lighting.

If you think you're suffering from fuel poverty, find out how we can help [link].

 Alternatively, contact one of these organisations for support and advice [link].

Global Warming 

Is 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 and has been blamed on human activities emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases

Are emitted naturally and by humans.  As a result, they form a barrier around the earth’s atmosphere that 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

Use the temperature of the ground to create hot water. Pipes are buried underground to capture the earth’s natural warmth, which stays at around 7ºc all year round. This 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. We have installed one of these pumps at one of our sheltered schemes.

Micro Combined Heat and Power

Works like a normal boiler but produces electricity - as well as heating and hot water.

Microgeneration

Is when electricity is produced on a small scale on or around the building where it is used.

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 shown to be viable in an urban environment.

Renewable Energy 

Is generated from sources that will last forever, such as wind or solar power.

Sustainable Energy

Is a term for energy sources, developments and lifestyles that have a minimal impact on the earth.