Climate Change
Greenhouse emission
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect of absorbing
infrared radiation
Source: www.thefreedictionary.com/greenhouse+emissions
Greenhouse gas
Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse
effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of
the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and water vapor. Although greenhouse
gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels
especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in
recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human
activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the
deforestation of tropical forests.
CFC, chlorofluorocarbon
A fluorocarbon with chlorine; formerly used as a refrigerant and
as a propellant in aerosol cans; "the chlorine in CFCs causes
depletion of atmospheric ozone"
Carbon dioxide, carbonic acid gas, CO2
A heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by
the decomposition of organic substances; absorbed from the air by
plants in photosynthesis
Gas
A fluid in the gaseous state having neither independent shape
nor volume and being able to expand indefinitely
HFC, hydrofluorocarbon
A fluorocarbon emitted as a by-product of industrial
manufacturing
perfluorocarbon, PFC - a powerful greenhouse gas emitted during
the production of aluminium
Sulfur hexafluoride, sulphur hexafluoride
A colorless gas that is soluble in alcohol and ether; a powerful
greenhouse gas widely used in the electrical utility industry
More information on greenhouse emissions in
Energy Information Administration - official energy statistics
from the US government
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm
Pacific Hydro has already abated more than 7 million tonnes of
greenhouse gas pollution and, each year, produces enough clean
electricity to power more than 600,000 homes*.
* Based on average electricity consumption per household in
the countries in which the projects are located.
Greenhouse effect
Is the heating of the surface of a planet or moon due to the
presence of an atmosphere containing gases that absorb and emit
infrared red Thus, greenhouse gases trap heat within the
surface-troposphere system. This mechanism is fundamentally
different from that of an actual greenhouse, which works by
isolating warm air inside the structure so that heat is not lost by
convection. The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier
in 1824, first reliably experimented on by John Tyndall in 1858,
and first reported quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
Global warming
In its 2001 assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) concluded that, "an increasing body of observations
gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in
the climate system."
Megawatt: is a measure of power.
Watts, Kilowatts, Megawatts and Gigawatts (terms go up in
measures of 1,000)
| 1 Kilowatt (kW) |
= 1,000 watts |
| 1 megawatt (MW) |
= 1,000 kW |
| 1 gig watt (GW) |
= 1,000 MW |
Source: www.thesolarguide.com
Kilowatt hour (KWh)
This is a measure of energy. This is what you pay for when you
buy energy from the local utility company.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit for measuring energy. It is, as
its name suggests, one kilowatt of power used over a period of one
hour.
Examples
A light bulb is typically 60 watts; leave it on for an hour you
have used 60 watt hours, or .06 kWh
A typical personal computer uses approximately 70 watts. In
addition, a 17" monitor uses another 80 watts. That comes to 150
watts in an hour, or .15 kWh. If you have the same computer on for
only 4 minutes (say, to check your e-mail), that would come to .01
kWh.
Source: www.thesolarguide.com