Terminology
Terminology
Base Case
The way things are being done today, or the current process (i.e. business as usual).
Behavioural Changes
An energy conservation behaviour (i.e turning off lights when not in a room).
Biomass
Plant or animal matter used as a source of energy to generate electricity or heat.
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e)
A metric measure (usually in metric tons) used to compare emissions of greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). This number is calculated by multiplying the tons of the gas by its associated GWP. Example: The global warming potential for methane over 100 years is 21. This means that emissions of one million metric tons of methane is equivalent to emissions of 21 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Case Study
A detailed description of a particular real-world example of any individual, group, event, or action. In this database, the case studies are about climate actions.
Climate Action
A task or project that should result in a measurable benefit to the environment, while also reducing economic costs.
Electrification
The process of using electricity to power something and often includes switching from another power source to use electricity.
Emission Factor
A value that tells you how much greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere for a particular activity, such as extracting oil, burning gas, or manufacturing plastics.
Energy Audit
An inspection and analysis of energy needs and efficiency of a building. This is used to identify opportunities to reduce energy use and the carbon footprint.
Energy Efficiency
Using less energy to get the same job done – and in the process, cutting energy bills and reducing the carbon footprint.
Energy Efficiency - Energy Demand Reduction - Buildings
Reducing energy demand (the end use of energy) by - for example - implementing energy conserving behaviours, using lifestyle adjustments or modal shifts (i.e. turning lights off when you leave a room, programming a thermostat) and by reducing floor space required or using spaces for more hours and multi-purposes (eliminating need for space elsewhere).
Energy Efficiency - Energy Demand Reduction - Transportation
Replacing driving to work or school with taking a form of transportation that uses fewer fossil fuels (i.e. walking, riding a bike, using public transportation) or implementing energy conserving behaviours (i.e. maintaining tire pressure, driving smoothly, reducing idling).
Energy Efficiency - High Efficiency Technology - Buildings
Substituting high efficiency technologies in place of standard technologies (i.e. building shell, lighting, HVAC, automation, appliance/equipment replacement).
Energy Efficiency - High Efficiency Technology - Industry/Large Commercial
Substituting high efficiency technologies to reduce or re-use waste heat in place of standard technologies in industrial/commercial applications (i.e. cogeneration and waste heat recovery).
Energy Efficiency - High Efficiency Technology - Transportation
Substituting high efficiency technology to improve transportation fuel economy.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)
Gases that trap heat (longwave radiation) in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. Their production or emissions are therefor important to track and reduce.
Lifecycle Analysis
Provides a means of assessing the economic and environmental impact of a process change.
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Deep Source Geothermal
Substituting heat from the earth's core for electricity production, or heat for buildings. (i.e. ground source heat pump).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Electric Vehicle
Substituting electric power train (electric motor and onboard battery storage) to replace an internal combustion engine (ICE) for passenger cars, light trucks, recreational and farm vehicles, such as ATVs, snowmobiles and motor boats. Note: this does not include an e-bike.
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Green Transportation
A municipality substitutes a lower carbon fuel option to replace a fossil fuel option (i.e. electric buses for diesel).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Hydrogen Vehicle
Substituting hydrogen fuel cells powered by green hydrogen to replace an internal combustion engine (ICE).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Small Engine Electrification
Substituting electric power systems for yard and hand tools to replace small internal combustion engines (ICE) (i.e. chainsaw, trimmer, lawnmower).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Solar PV
Substituting solar electricity system to replace fossil fuel sources of electricity.
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Solar Thermal Space Heating
Substituting solar air heating systems for natural convection to replace fossil fuel sources of thermal energy. Active solar air heating uses motors, pumps or fans for natural convection (i.e. solar walls). Passive solar air heating has no moving parts or external energy sources (i.e. passive house designs).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Solar Thermal Water Heating
Substituting solar hot water heating systems to produce hot water to replace fossil fuel sources. Active systems work best in cold climates and use collectors and external energy sources to operate control valves and pumps (i.e. evacuated tube collector). Passive systems use water to transfer heat and do not require an external energy source.
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Sustainable Biomass Fuels
Substituting cord wood or pellet wood or wood chip fuel to replace fossil fuels for space heating and water heating in buildings. This is only a green/sustainable fuel if the wood cut is followed by replanting and involved sustainable forestry practices including replanting and new growth. (i.e. installing a wood stove).
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Wind Electricity Generation
Substituting wind turbines for electricity generation to replace fossil fuel sources of electricity.
Low Carbon Energy Supply - Wind Pumps
Substituting windmills with a pump that doesn't involve electricity, often for pumping water, to replace a fossil fuel source of electricity.
Low Carbon Production and Consumption - Green Low Energy products
Choosing to use products which require less energy to produce.
Low Carbon Production and Consumption - Home and Community Gardening
Specifically, growing food at home or in the community to reduce energy input and reduce transportation.
Low Carbon Production and Consumption - Local Food Production
Growing food at home or sourcing food from places that grow it with a low energy input and making it available with minimal transportation required (i.e. purchasing locally produced food).
Methane Emissions Reduction - Agricultural and Landfill Methane
Implementing organic waste separation at a municipal level and includes capture of existing methane from existing landfills.
Methane Emissions Reduction - Oil Gas and Industrial Methane
Reduction of methane emissions from the oil & gas industry and other industrial applications.
Natural Carbon Sinks - Soil Carbon
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil through agricultural practices and land stewardship that restore organic soils.
Natural Carbon Sinks - Trees and Forests
Taking actions to accelerate regeneration of actively growing forest and preventing logging and destruction of forested areas (i.e. tree planting).
Project Case
The new way of doing things, or the new process.
Quantification
The act of counting and measuring that records observations and experiences as quantities. This is fundamental to the scientific method.
Retrofit
Adding new technologies or functionality to improve efficiency.
Solar Energy
The radiant light and heat from the sun that is captured and used to generate electricity and heat.
Solid Waste Management - Demand Reduction
Selecting products with less packaging, buying fewer products and re-purposing products.
Solid Waste Management - Material/Product Substitution
Choosing materials and products that have the lowest energy inputs over the lifecycle of harvesting, extracting, refining and transporting and that have the highest level of reuse and recycling after their use.
Solid Waste Management - Recycling
Making sure a product does not go to the landfill by collecting and processing the waste materials into a new material (i.e. beverage container recycling, mixed paper, cardboard).
Underground Storage
Removing carbon out of industrial emissions and storing underground.
