Abatement
Reducing the degree of
intensity of , or eliminating, pollution.
Acid
A corrosive solution
with a Ph of less than 7
Air pollution
Air is made up of a
number of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen and, in smaller amounts, water
vapour, carbon dioxide and argon and other trace gases. Air pollution occurs
when harmful chemicals and particles are emitted to the air – due to human
activity or natural forces – at a concentration that interferes with human
health or welfare or that harms the environment in other ways.
Air quality
A measure of the level
of pollution in the air.
Algae
Simple rootless plants
that grow in sunlit waters in proportion to the amount of available nutrients.
They can affect water quality adversely by lowering the dissolved oxygen in the
water. They are food for fish and small aquatic animals.
Algal Blooms
Sudden spurts of algal
growth, which can affect water quality adversely and indicate potentially
hazardous changes in local water chemistry.
Alternative energy
sources
Energy that does not
come from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, gas), for example wind, flowing
water, solar energy and biomass.
Amenities
Benefits of a property,
such as nearby playgrounds, swimming pools, community centres or parks.
Atmosphere
The mass of air
surrounding the Earth.
Backyard burning
An illegal method of
getting rid of household waste, possibly in an attempt to save on bin charges,
that releases levels of pollutants into the air, so harming air quality and
risking the health of those burning the waste and of their neighbours.
BER
Short for Building
Energy Rating, which says how much energy a home needs for heating, lighting
and hot water. Homes are placed on a scale from A to G. A-rated homes need the
least amount of energy while G-rated need the most. Since 1 January 2009, all
homes being sold or rented must have a BER certificate. BER ratings are carried
out by BER Assessors registered with the Sustainable Energy Authority
of Ireland.
Biodegradable waste
Organic waste, typically
coming from plant or animal sources (for example food scraps and paper), which
other living organisms can break down.
Biodiversity
A short form of the phrase ‘biological diversity’, which means the
variety of life on this planet and how it interacts within habitats and
ecosystems. Biodiversity covers all plants, animals and micro-organisms on land
and in water. See also ecosystem, habitat and organism.
Bioenergy
All types of energy
derived from biomass, including biofuels.
Biofuels
Liquid transport fuels
made from biomass.
Biomass
A source of fuel made
from living and recently-dead plant materials such as wood, leaves and the
biodegradable part of industrial and municipal waste.
Biosphere
The portion of Earth and
its atmosphere that can support life
Black bin (grey bin)
A wheelie bin used in
certain local authorities to collect waste that cannot be recycled or
composted.
Bring bank
A place where you can
bring materials for recycling, for example glass, newspapers, heavy cardboard
and textiles. See also recycling centre and civic amenity site.
Brown bin
A wheelie bin used in
some local authorities to collect organic waste such as food and light garden
waste (for example grass cuttings).
Carbon count
A measure of the amount
of carbon dioxide you produce through your lifestyle every day, for example
through driving or using electrical appliances and lighting.
Carbon credit
A unit of carbon dioxide
bought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. See carbon offset.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colourless gas that is
naturally produced from animals and people in exhaled air and the decay of
plants. It is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in plants and by
dissolving in water, especially on the surface of oceans. The use of fossil
fuels for energy is increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, which is believed to contribute to global warming. See also
greenhouse gases and photosynthesis.
Carbon emissions
In the context of
climate change, carbon dioxide released when substances, especially oil, gas,
and coal, are burned by vehicles and planes, by factories and by homes.
Carbon footprint
A measure of the impact
our activities have on the environment, especially climate change, often reported
as the units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide each of us produces over a
given period of time.
Carbon monoxide
A highly poisonous,
odourless, tasteless and colourless gas that is formed when carbon material
burns without enough oxygen. Carbon monoxide is toxic when inhaled because it
combines with your blood and prevents oxygen from getting to your organs. If a
person is exposed to carbon monoxide over a period, it can cause illness and
even death. Carbon Monoxide has no smell, taste or colour. This is why it is
sometimes called the “Silent Killer”. The most common causes of carbon monoxide
poisoning in the home are house fires, faulty heating appliances such as
boilers, blocked chimney or flues, and rooms not properly ventilated. Carbon
Monoxide alarms can be used as a backup to provide a warning to householders in
the event of a dangerous build up of carbon monoxide.
Carbon neutral
A situation that arises
when the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air equals the amount of
carbon dioxide removed from the air, for example by planting trees, or the
amount saved by using renewable energy sources to produce the same amount of
energy. See also renewable energy.
Carbon offset
A unit, equal to one ton
of carbon dioxide, that individuals, companies or governments buy to reduce
short-term and long-term emissions of greenhouse gases. The payment usually
funds projects that generate energy from renewable sources such as wind or
flowing water. Individuals can choose whether to buy an offset (for example to compensate
for air travel), but governments and large industries are sometimes required to
buy them to meet international targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
Carbon tax
A tax on fuels according
to their carbon content, which aims to encourage people and businesses to use
fuels with less carbon and reduce the amount of energy they use.
Carpooling
Sharing a car to a
destination to reduce fuel use, pollution and travel costs.
CFCs
Short for
‘chloroflurocarbons’, which are chemicals used in manufacturing and, in the
past, in aerosol cans and refrigerators, which can damage the ozone layer.
CFL bulbs
Short for ‘compact
fluorescent lamp’ bulbs, which are light bulbs that use a fraction of the
energy of traditional filament bulbs and last up to five times longer. CFL
bulbs will completely replace filament bulbs in Ireland by 1 September 2012.
Civic amenity site
A public or private
facility that accepts recyclable and non-recyclable materials such as garden
and household waste and certain hazardous wastes such as paints, batteries and
electrical and electronic devices. See also bring bank, recycling centre and
WEEE.
Climate
The pattern of weather
in a particular region over a set period of time, usually 30 years. The pattern
is affected by the amount of rain or snowfall, average temperatures throughout
the year, humidity, wind speeds and so on. Ireland has a temperate climate, in
which it doesn’t get too hot or too cold.
Climate change
A change in the climate
of a region over time due to natural forces or human activity. In the context
of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, it is the change in climate
caused by higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human
activities as well as natural climate changes. See also global warming, and UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Compost
A rich soil-like
material produced from decayed plants and other organic matter, such as food
and animal waste, that decomposes (breaks down) naturally. Most food waste can
be put into compost, but you should not include meat, bones, cheese, cooking
oils and fish. These may take a long time to break down and attract unwanted
pests.
Compostable
Material from plants or
animals that can be used to create compost because it will decompose naturally
over time.
Composting
The process of
deliberately allowing food, garden and other suitable organic wastes to break
down naturally over time to produce compost.
Conservation
Preserving or protecting animals and resources such as minerals,
water and plants through planned action (such as breeding endangered species)
or non-action (such as not letting taps run unnecessarily).
Cryptosporidium
A tiny parasite that can
infect people if it is present in drinking water.
Deforestation
The reduction of trees
in a wood or forest due to natural forces or human activity such as burning or
logging.
Development plan
A public plan that sets
out the development objectives and policies of a local authority for its area.
It covers a six-year period and states the local authority’s goals for a range
of areas such as maintaining and improving roads and parks, preserving and
enhancing amenities (such as playgrounds or swimming pools), zoning land for
homes, businesses, factories and farming and providing services and facilities
such as waste disposal and sewerage. Members of the public have opportunities
to make submissions on the plan before it is agreed.
Dioxins
Highly toxic chemicals
that can be formed in small amounts from forest fires or volcanoes but more
often are produced unintentionally from industrial activities and from
incinerating waste and burning fossil fuels.
Disposal, dispose of
In this guide, getting
rid of waste by discarding it into a bin and, when it is collected, by
incincerating it or sending it to landfill.
Domestic charges
Fees paid to local
authorities for providing services such as collecting domestic waste.
Domestic waste
Waste produced within
the home, including garden waste. See also household waste.
Draught proofing
A way to stop heat from
escaping a home, for example by sealing window frames and using draught
excluders under doors.
Dumping
Disposing of waste
illegally by not using bins or official recycling centres, civic amenity sites
or landfills.
Ecosystem
A community of organisms
that depend on each other and the environment they inhabit.
Ecotourism
Small-scale tourism in
fragile and protected areas that aims to have a low impact on the environment,
benefit local communities and enable tourists to learn more about the natural
and cultural history of the place. See also sustainable tourism.
Effluent
Liquid wastes such as
sewage and liquid waste from industries.
Electric vehicle
A vehicle that is driven
by an electric motor or battery and is generally less noisy and less polluting
than common combustion engine vehicles.
Emissions
In the context of the atmosphere, gases or particles released into
the air that can contribute to global warming or poor air quality.
End-of-life vehicle
A vehicle such as a car
or small van that is scrapped and sent for recycling.
Energy efficiency
Actions to save fuels,
for example better building design, changing production processes, developing
better transport policies, using better road vehicles and using insulation and
double glazing in homes.
Energy rating
A rating given to
electrical appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dishwashers and
refrigerators according to how much energy they use. Ratings are on a scale
from A to G, with A-rated appliances using the least energy and G-rated needing
the most. The less energy an appliance uses, the better it is for the
environment and the more you will save on your bill.
Energy Star®
A voluntary
international label that identifies appliances that meet certain standards of
energy efficiency. Within the European Union, the label relates to office
equipment such as computers and photocopiers.
Environmental impact
statement
A statement about the
expected effects on the environment of a proposed project or development such
as a new road or waste water treatment plant, including how any severe effects
on the environment will be addressed.
Flora and fauna
The plants and animals
that are native to a particular area or period of time.
Fossil fuels
Fuels – such as coal,
gas, peat and oil – that are formed in the ground over a long time from dead
plants and animals and are used up once they are burned for energy.
Fuel poverty
Being unable to heat a
home to a safe and comfortable level because of low household income or having
to spend more than 10% of household income to heat a home to a comfortable
level because the home is not energy efficient.
Global warming
The gradual increase in
temperature of the Earth’s surface caused by human activities that cause high
levels of carbon dioxide and other gases to be released into the air.
Green bin
A wheelie bin used in
certain local authorities to collect dry cardboard, paper, tins and other
recyclable waste, including certain plastics.
Green design
A design, usually of a
building, that includes environmentally-friendly features such as solar panels,
skylights or recycled building materials.
Greenhouse effect
The warming of the
Earth’s atmosphere caused by increasing levels of gases, such as water vapour
and carbon dioxide. These gases absorb radiation emitted naturally from the
ground, so slowing down the loss of energy from Earth. The greenhouse effect
has always existed; without it, Earth would be too cold for plants, animals and
people to survive. But because of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in
recent years, the greenhouse effect is a lot stronger, so leading to global
warming. See also global warming, greenhouse gases and radiation.
Greenhouse gases
Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which tend to trap heat
radiating from the Earth’s surface, so causing warming in the lower atmosphere.
The major greenhouse gases that cause climate change are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide
(NO2). See also greenhouse effect and global
warming.
Ground water
Water that collects or
flows underground in the small spaces in soil and rock. It might be a source of
water for springs and wells and then used for drinking water.
Habitat
The area occupied by a
community or species (group of animals or plants), such as a forest floor,
desert or sea shore.
Hazardous waste
Waste that poses a risk
to human health or the environment and needs to be handled and disposed of
carefully. Examples include oil-based paints, car batteries, weed killers,
bleach and waste electrical and electronic devices.
Home Energy Saving
Scheme
A scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of
Ireland to provide grants to certain homeowners to improve the energy
efficiency of their home.
Household waste
Waste that contains
paper, cardboard, textiles (for example fabric or carpet), timber, food, garden
clippings, glass, plastic and other manufactured materials.
Incinerator
A furnace that is
designed to burn waste at very high temperatures under controlled conditions
and is licensed by national regulatory authorities. Most modern and efficient
incinerator generate heat and energy from burning waste.
Insulation
In this guide, material
such as foam or glass wool that is used in homes and other buildings to prevent
heat loss, reduce noise and improve comfort.
Kyoto Protocol, Kyoto
agreement
An international
agreement signed in Japan in 1997, attached to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Under the agreement, which has been in force in Ireland since
2005, industrialised countries promised to reduce their combined greenhouse gas
emissions to at least 5 percent below 1990 levels over the period
2008-2012. See also UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Landfill
A site that is specially
designed to dispose of waste and operates with a licence granted by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA reviews licences and, with local
authorities, monitors landfills around the country for emissions.
Litter
Waste that is thrown
away carelessly, mainly made up of plastic, metal, glass, paper or food. Common
examples are chewing gum and cigarette butts.
MBT
Short for ‘mechanical
biological treatment’, which is a way of sorting and treating waste. The waste
is first sorted mechanically into materials that can and cannot be recycled.
Any waste that can be recycled is then broken down biologically, often through
composting, while the rest is usually sent to landfill. See also
composting.
Mulch
Leaves, straw or compost
used to cover growing plants to protect them from the wind or cold.
Municipal waste
Waste produced in urban
areas, mainly made up of household waste but also some small commercial waste
that is similar to household waste.
Noise pollution
Noises that disturb the
environment and people’s ability to enjoy it, for example continually sounding
house alarms, loud music, air conditioning or other electrical units and
aircraft or motor engines.
Noxious gases
Poisonous gases that can
harm people and the environment. Some gases have a strong smell, for example
sulphur dioxide and methane, while others, such as carbon monoxide, do not have
any smell at all.
Oil spill
The harmful release of
oil into the environment, usually through water, which is very difficult to
clean up and often kills birds, fish and other wildlife.
Organic food
Plants and animals that
are grown or reared without the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or
hormones.
Organic
In this guide, matter
from living, or once-living, things.
Organism
Any living thing, from
bacteria and fungi through to insects, plants, animals and humans.
Ozone layer
The thin protective
layer of gas 10 to 50km above the Earth that acts as a filter for ultraviolet
(UV) radiation from the sun. High UV levels can lead to skin cancer and
cataracts and affect the growth of plants.
Particulate matter
Fine solid or liquid
particles that pollute the air and are added to the atmosphere by natural and
man-made processes at the Earth’s surface. Examples of particulate matter
include dust, smoke, soot, pollen and soil particles.
Pesticides
A general term for any
chemicals that are used to kill weeds, fungi, insects or other pests.
Plastic bag levy
An environmental tax
that customers must pay when they accept a plastic or laminated bag from a
retailer. There is no tax on small bags, such as those for fresh meat or loose
fruit and vegetables. Money raised from the tax is put into a special fund that
is used to protect the environment.
Post-consumer waste
Waste collected after a
consumer has disposed of it, for example sweet wrappers or packaging from small
electronic goods such as mobile phones or MP3 players.
Radiation
A form of energy that is
transmitted in waves, rays or particles from a natural source, such as the sun
and the ground, or an artificial source, such as an x-ray machine. Radiation
can be ionising or non-ionising. Ionising radiation includes ultraviolet rays,
radon gas and X-rays. Too much exposure to ionising radiation can be harmful,
leading to increased risk of cancer. Non-ionising radiation includes visible
light, radio waves and microwaves. This type of radiation is less risky to
health because it contains less energy, but it can still be harmful at high
levels for a long time.
Radioactive
A material is said to be
radioactive if it emits radiation.
Radon
A common radioactive gas emitted from ordinary soils and rock.
Radon has no smell, taste or colour and can seep into homes, building up to
dangerous levels if there is not enough ventilation. Being exposed to high
levels of radon gas over a long period of time increases the risk of developing
lung cancer.
Recycle
To break waste items
down into their raw materials, which are then used to re-make the original item
or make new items.
Reforestation
The process of planting
trees in forest lands to replace those that have been cut down.
Refuse
Another name for waste.
Renewable energy
Energy from renewable
resources such as wind power, solar energy or biomass.
Renewable resource
A resource that can be
used again and again without reducing its supply because it is constantly
topped up, for example wind or sun rays.
Reuse
To use an item more than
once for the same purpose, which helps save money, time, energy and resources.
River basin
The portion of land
drained by a river and the streams that flow into it. The quality of a river
basin affects the quality of water, so efforts to protect and improve water
quality must often include plans for managing river basins.
Sewage
Liquid wastes from
communities, which may be a mixture of domestic effluent from homes and liquid
waste from industry.
Smog
Air pollution consisting
of smoke and fog, which occurs in large urban and industrial areas and is
mainly caused by the action of sunlight on burned fuels, mostly from car
exhausts. Smog can cause eye irritations and breathing problems and damage
plant life.
Smokeless fuel
Solid fuel, such as
charcoal, that does not release smoke when it is burned.
Solar panel
A panel fixed to the
roof of a building that uses special cells to collect energy from the sun and
convert it to electricity to heat the building and/or power the lights,
appliances or equipment.
Surface water
Water that is collected
on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland or ocean.
Sustainable development
Development using land
or energy sources in a way that meets the needs of people today without
reducing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable tourism
A form of tourism that
meets the needs of current tourists and host communities while protecting and
enhancing tourism for the future by balancing economic and social needs with a
respect for different cultures and the environment. See also ecotourism.
Toxic
Poisonous or harmful to
the body (ecotoxic relates to damage to the environment).
Toxin
A poisonous substance
that can either be natural (produced by plants, animals or bacteria) or
manufactured.
.
UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change
An international treaty
joined by 192 countries that has the goal of preventing ‘dangerous’ human
interference with the climate system and sets general rules for tackling
climate change.
UNESCO World Heritage
Site
A natural or man-made site that has outstanding universal value
and meets at least one of 10 conditions decided by UNESCO, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Ireland has two World
Heritage Sites: the pre-historic sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in Co.
Meath and Skellig Michael, a religious settlement from the 7 th century off the coast of
Co. Cork.
Ventilation
In this guide, the
movement of air between the inside and outside of a building usually through
windows, doors and air vents built into the building’s walls or ceilings.
Warmer Homes Scheme
A scheme, run by Sustainable Energy Ireland, that aims to improve
the energy efficiency of private owned or rented homes occupied by low income
households. The scheme trains and offers grants to community organisations to
carry out work such as attic insulation, draught proofing, installing lagging
jackets and so on.
Waste management
The management of waste
collection, handling, processing, storage and transport from where it is
produced to where it is finally disposed. See waste prevention.
Waste prevention
An aspect of waste
management that involves reducing the amount of waste we produce and minimising
the potential harm to human health or the environment from packaging or
ingredients in products.
Water vapour
Water in its gas form –
instead of liquid or solid (ice).
WEEE
Short for Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), which are any unwanted devices with a plug or
battery – from a remote control or digital camera to a vacuum cleaner or fridge
freezer. These devices must be disposed of carefully to avoid damage to the
environment. To get rid of an unwanted device, you can bring it to a civic
amenity site or leave it with a retailer when you are buying a new device. All
WEEE left in retail outlets and civic amenity sites are collected for
recycling.
Wind energy
Energy harnessed from
the wind at wind farms and converted to power. See also wind turbine.
Wind turbine
An engine or machine,
usually mounted on a towe, that captures the force of the wind and converts it
to electricity.
Zero emissions
An engine, motor or
other energy source that does not produce any gas or release any harmful gases
directly into the environment.
May 25, 2015
Malini Valley College Kotdwar
