Reduction Terms Glossary

When it comes to reducing, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around as second nature. Without an environmental dictionary, it may be a little overwhelming to learn how to reduce. So here’s a comprehensive list of terms and what they mean:

A

Air Pollution — This is the process by which the air we breathe is contaminated by man-made or natural particles, liquids or gases. Pollution can effect the look and smell of air. It also contributes to climate change or global warming, as well as health effects for those who breathe in this air.

Air Quality — This is a rating for the amount of pollution found in the air of a specific area. It is monitored by alerts that are sent out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in coordination with the Clean Air Act.

B

Beach Water Quality — This is a rating for the amount of pollution found in the water at a specific beach. It is monitored by state and local health and environmental agencies and alerts are sent out by Earth 911’s sister site, Beaches 911, to make sure that people are not swimming in potentially contaminated water.

Biodegradable — This is a description for anything that is able to be broken down by living organisms, such as the ingredients of compost. Most packaging takes a long time to biodegrade, meaning that contents of landfills can survive hundreds of years.

Biofuel — This is a type of renewable resource that is produced from biomass, a recently living element such as animals, plantlife or wood. It can provide electricity from unexpected sources, such as the gas from landfills. One of the biggest potential forms of biofuel is biodiesel, as 80 percent of trucks and buses currently run on diesel engines.

C

Carbon Footprint — This is a measure of the impact that someone’s activities will have on the environment, measured in units of carbon dioxide produced. To reduce a carbon footprint is beneficial to the environment, which is why there are calculators to measure and reduce these footprints.

Carbon Neutral — This is the term for an activity or event that has successfully balanced the carbon footprint with carbon offsets, thereby negating the environmental impact. Many businesses have attempted to achieve carbon neutrality as a business practice.

Carbon Offset — This is one way to compensate for a carbon footprint, essentially by investing money in a project that will benefit the environment and cancel out the emission of carbon dioxide from a certain activity. The most common form of carbon offset is planting trees because they will absorb CO2.

Carpool — This a form of transportation by which two or more people travel to the same destination together to reduce the emissions of traveling. Many cities have separate lanes set up for carpoolers so they can avoid traffic jams, and these systems are utilized by schools and businesses as well.

Climate Change — This is used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another, such as temperature of the Earth over time. In some cases, it has been used synonymously with the term “global warming;” scientists tend to use the term in the wider sense to also include natural changes in climate.

Clean Air Act — This is a law originally passed in 1970 (amended in 1990) to help clean up air pollution. It has resulted in the implementation of tougher policies designed to reduce emissions of chemicals from businesses and automobiles into the air.

Clean Energy Act — This is a law originally passed in 2007 to reduce the dependency on non-renewable energy sources such as coal and oil. It requires the investment in energy technology including solar and wind power, while reducing the United States’ dependence on foreign oil for energy.

Clean Water Act — This is a law originally passed in 1972 (amended many times since) to help clean up water pollution. It has set wastewater standards for businesses and boats, as well as water quality standards for any potential water contaminants, and funded the construction of sewage treatment plants to reuse wastewater.

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb — Commonly referred to as a CFL, these bulbs are spiraled in appearance and can be used in place of an incandescent bulb. CFLs are more energy efficient than other bulbs, can last much longer and will reduce the costs of an energy bill. These bulbs also contain traces of mercury, which means they should be recycled instead of disposed of in the trash.

Compost — This is a process by which food scraps from the home are disposed of naturally to produce nutrient rich fertilizer for gardening and other uses. Compost reduces solid waste output as well as the need for fertilizers that may contain harmful materials.

D

Dam — This is a barrier that separates two different bodies of water, usually for the purpose of providing drinking water to a city or town from a natural water source. Dams are also instrumental to hydroelectric power, which is a renewable source of energy that generates electricity from the hydrogen atoms of water.

Deforestation — This is a process by which forested areas are cut down, usually to make room for urban development or wasteland. The reduction of trees prevents the consumption of carbon dioxide and pollutants from the air, and also affects the condition of soil and groundwater in the area.

Drought — This is an extended period of time with a reduced level of water, usually brought on by the absence of rainfall. Drought has been linked to issues such as deforestation and global warming, as the natural state of these affected ecosystems has been altered. It has a significant impact on an area’s water supply.

E

Energy Audit — Similar to a carbon footprint, this is a way to determine how much energy certain activities are expending in order to figure out ways to reduce this. Energy audits can often be done with the help of a utility company that measures a building’s energy use from month to month.

ENERGY STAR — This is a rating system that showcases the energy efficiency of appliances, electronic products and lighting. It was developed by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy in 1992 and is also a rating system for buildings in the United States.

F

Fossil Fuel — This is the remains of plant and animal life that can be used to provide energy by combustion, such as coal, oil or natural gas. It is a non-renewable resource, and the burning of fossil fuels results in carbon dioxide emissions.

Fuel Economy — This is a number that corresponds to the amount of miles that a vehicle can travel on a gallon of gasoline, referred to as miles per gallon (MPG). The higher the MPG of a vehicle, the more eco-friendly it is considered and the less it is dependent on non-renewable resources.

G

Global Warming — This is a term used to describe an increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. It is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Scientists generally agree that the Earth’s surface has warmed by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 140 years.

Gray Water — This is any water that has been used in the home, except for toilet water. Examples include cooking water and shower water, and this water is capable of being captured before it goes down the drain. Gray water can be reused for other purposes, like watering plants, and cuts down on use of fresh water.

Green Building — This is the process of constructing a new building while taking into account energy and water efficiency, as well as things like recycled construction materials. It is sanctioned by the EPA and the U.S. Green Building Council with levels of certification for qualified buildings.

Greenhouse Gas — Any gas that absorbs infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Grid Electricity — This is any electricity that is transmitted to a building from the public electricity network. Buildings that don’t rely on alternative forms of energy tap into the grid for electricity. Those that don’t tap into this source are referred to as “off the grid.”

Groundwater — This is any water that is contained within the ground of the Earth, such as in soil moisture or dew from plants. It is naturally replenished by rainfall and waterways such as rivers and streams, and makes up about 20 percent of the world’s fresh water supply. It is highly subject to pollution.

H

Household Hazardous Waste — Commonly referred to as HHW, this is a product that is in the house and either ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic (e.g. used motor oil, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pesticides, etc.). Many of these products have eco-friendly alternatives that reduce their impact on the environment.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle — Commonly referred to as a hybrid, this is a form of car that combines both a traditional gasoline-powered engine with a rechargeable energy storage system to achieve better fuel economy. These vehicles are able to charge while in motion so they do not need to be plugged in, and result in lower emissions.

K

Kyoto Protocol — This is an international agreement between 137 (and growing) developed countries to work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. It was originally passed in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and is set to expire in 2012; the United States has signed but not ratified the agreement, meaning it is non-binding in the U.S.

L

Lead — This is a metal with the atomic symbol Pb, commonly found in television glass tubes, artificial Christmas trees and other household items. It is harmful to humans if inhaled or ingested (particularly young children), and can leak into soil or the water supply if items that contain lead are improperly disposed of.

Light-emitting Diode — Commonly referred to as an LED, this is a form of light source that provides the energy efficiency of a CFL without the fragile state or harmful chemicals. These lights are frequently seen in Christmas lights and flashlights, as well as scoreboards. They can be used as a household light source.

Litter — This is any form of waste that is disposed of in a natural setting, such as a park, a river or on a sidewalk. Much of this waste takes a long time to biodegrade, meaning that it will pollute these settings long after wildlife has passed on. Many states have laws against litter in public places.

Low-Flow — This is a description for water-using products that require less water per use. The two most common examples are low-flow showers and low-flow toilets. Showers can also become low-flow by adjusting the shower head to allow less water to come out, and toilets can be low-flow by installing a glass filled with water in the tank.

M

Mercury — This is a metal with the atomic symbol Hg, commonly found in thermometers, electronic switches and other household devices. It is toxic to humans if inhaled or ingested, and (similar to lead) can leak into soil or the water supply if items that contain mercury are improperly disposed of.

Municipal Solid Waste — This is a term for garbage or refuse generated by households, commercial establishments, industrial offices or lunchrooms not regulated as a residual or hazardous waste. It constitutes anything thrown in a garbage can that will end up in a landfill, regardless of whether it is eligible for recycling or reuse.

N

Non-Renewable Resource — This is a resource that is not capable of being naturally restored or replenished and is thus in limited supply. It is most commonly used to describe energy sources such as coal and oil. The use of these materials and energy sources leads to depletion of the Earth’s reserves.

O

Organic Food — This is a way of growing food that is more beneficial to the environment, since it reduces the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides. It is generally thought of as a healthier alternative as it is less treated with chemicals, but this food tends to not last as long as foods with preservatives.

P

Packaging — This is the wrapping material around a consumer item that serves to contain, identify, describe, protect, display, promote and otherwise make the product marketable and keep it clean. Packaging is often difficult to biodegrade, meaning that a reduction in the amount of packaging used is better for the environment.

Public Transportation — This is any form of transportation offered by a city or town to reduce the congestion of streets and the pollution of air. Whether it’s airplanes, buses, ferries or trains, these transports often utilize renewable resources to reduce the environmental impact of traveling on them. They also serve as an alternative to carpooling.

R

Rain Barrel — This is a device designed to capture rain water that drips from rooftops during/after a storm, which can then be used for other purposes around the house similar to gray water.

Renewable Resource — This is a resource that is capable of being naturally restored or replenished, such as a tree. It is most commonly used to describe alternative forms of energy such as solar and wind power, which can be continually reproduced using natural resources.

S

Solar Panel — This is a device that is able to harness the power of the sun and turn this energy into electricity for a building or home. Because these buildings are powered by an alternative form of energy, they are often referred to as “off the grid” since they don’t consume power from the utility company’s electricity grid.

Source Reduction — This is the act of reducing the amount and/or toxicity of an item before it is ever generated, such as buying an item with less packaging or using a non-toxic alternative to clean with.

Sustainability — This is a term for a system that has potential longevity in our current ecosystem, and is usually applied to the use of renewable vs. non-renewable resources. For a system to be sustainable, it must be able to survive indefinitely, which would imply the use of renewable resources because they are in infinite supply.

T

Toxicity — This is the amount of a poisonous substance that exists in a given material. Toxins can be naturally occurring or man-made, and often are linked to pollution of air and water.

U

Urban Sprawl — This is a term for the phenomenon that happens when cities expand and take over the land and resources of nearby areas. It is usually characterized by the dependence of cars for transportation, increased building of houses and shops and increased air and water pollution.

W

Wastewater — This is any water that has been used for any business or residential purpose, including any human waste, rainfall that travels down a drain and discharge from factories. Wastewater can be treated in a certified plant and reused for human consumption.

Wind Turbine — This is a device that absorbs wind through a propeller system which is transferred into renewable energy. The most common type of turbine is a windmill, which is pointed toward the wind and rotates when a gust comes.