It seems that many of us are still struggling with coming to terms with climate change. With this being a fairly recent phenomenon, not experienced previously, it is little wonder why so many people remain perplexed. To add to the confusion, climate change comes with its own language … many of these terms have yet to make it into your copy of the Webster’s Dictionary. To help you better understand, here are a collection of the most-often used “green” terms and phrases along with a definition:
Alternative Energy – Energy drawn from atypical sources including wind power, solar heating and geothermal energy. Alternative energy is usually far more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
Carbon Footprint – Your accumulated impact on the environment. Although these footprints are not quite as conspicuous as your impressions left while walking along a sandy beach, they are still highly measurable.
Fossil Fuels – The most common examples of these include coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels are created through the decomposition of fossilized plants and animals.
Greenhouse effect – The process that raises the temperature of air in our Earth’s lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases. You can think of the Greenhouse effect as a giant blanket floating above our planet and keeping the heat in.
Vermicomposting – A decomposition process where worms feed on various materials. This passes through the worm’s body to become nutrient-rich soil.
WEEE – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. This could include that old cellular telephone in your kitchen drawer and/or the discarded computer game terminal.
Now that you know a little bit of the language with global warming, hopefully, this will help you better understand the concept and realize how potentially dangerous this can become.
