Environmental A to Z

air pollution
particulates or introduced into the atmosphere

alternative energy
form of energy that is not yet widely adopted and is usually more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels or other traditional energy sources (for example, solar or wind energy)

ancient forest
a forest that is usually hundreds of years old and has large mature trees and a diverse ecosystem

biodegradable
waste that is able to be broken down into natural substances and absorbed into the ecosystem (e.g. wood is biodegradable, but plastic is not)

carbon dioxide
a chemical compound often referred to as CO2, which is present in the Earth's atmosphere and is a key contributor to greenhouse gases

carbon footprint
the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by the activities of a person or process in a given time frame

climate change
a regional change in temperature and weather patterns which may be linked to human activity over the last century, specifically the use of fossil fuels

compact fluorescents (CFLs)
fluorescent light bulbs that fit standard light sockets and are more energy efficient than regular incandescent light bulbs

energy efficiency
ways of reducing how much electricity or other energy it takes to perform the same function

forest certification
a process for identifying wood that has been sourced from responsibly managed forests

global warming
the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
a long-term, multi-stakeholder, international process whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines

greenhouse effect
the process that increases the air temperature in the lower atmosphere as a result of heat trapped by greenhouse gases

greenhouse gas (GHG)
a gas in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, either as a natural occurrence or as a result of human actions

landfill
place where garbage is stored and then covered with dirt

life cycle assessment
method of assessing the environmental costs of a product, from raw material to final disposal

low emissivity (low-E) windows
window technology that reduces how much energy is lost through windows by reducing heat transmission

old growth forests
see ancient forests

recycling
the reprocessing of previously used material to create usable raw materials

urban planning
the science of managing the growth of cities and communities

virgin forest
a forest that has never been used for logging

volatile organic compound (VOC)
gases emitted from certain solids or liquids into the atmosphere, some of which may have short- or long-term adverse health effects

water filters
substances or mechanisms that remove impurities from water

water quality
the safety or purity of drinking water

waste minimization
methods of reducing how much waste is generated by a process