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Energy Use Investigation
Glossary of Terms
Here you will find a list of terms and phrases explained in an easy to understand manner.
A - B | C - D | E - End | Energy - Externality
F - G | H - K | L - M | N | P | R - S | T - W
- Carbon dioxide (formula: CO2)
- A colorless, odorless gas formed during respiration, organic decomposition,
and combustion of fossil and other carbon-based fuels. Carbon dioxide is taken
up by green plants during photosynthesis, dissolved in bodies of water, and
circulated in Earth's atmosphere.
- Carbon monoxide (formula: CO)
- A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas formed by the incomplete burning of
carbon-based fuels such as coal, gasoline, natural gas, and wood and listed as a
criteria pollutant.
- Carbon monoxide (formula: CO)
- A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas formed by the incomplete burning of
carbon-based fuels such as coal, gasoline, natural gas, and wood and listed as a
criteria pollutant.
- Centralized energy system
- Energy system in which large amounts of an energy resource are converted
from one form into another form in a central location. The energy is then
distributed to and used by a large number of consumers located within a large
area. Electricity generated by a nuclear power plant and distributed by
transmission lines to a large number of homes and businesses is an example of a
centralized energy system.
- Coal
- A fossil fuel made of sedimentary organic rock that contains more than 40
percent carbon by weight after moisture has been removed. It is formed from
plant matter that decayed in swamps and bogs that has been compressed and
altered by geological processes over millions of years. Four main types of coal
have been identified and ranked based on how much carbon and energy they
contain: lignite, subbituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite.
- Combustion
- 1. The process of burning. 2. A rapid chemical change in which a substance
reacts with oxygen and generates heat and light.
- Compact fluorescent lamp (abbrev. CFL)
- A small fluorescent lamp designed to fit in light fixtures that use standard
incandescent lamps. See Incandescent lamp.
- Compact fluorescent light bulb
- See Compact fluorescent lamp.
- Conduction
- 1. Heat transfer from particle to particle, occurring most effectively in
solids. 2. Transfer of electrical energy through a material via the flow of
charged particles, usually electrons.
- Conservation
- Wise use and careful management of resources, so as to obtain the maximum
possible social benefits from them for present and future generations. Energy
resources can be conserved by reducing wasteful energy use, using energy for a
given purpose more efficiently, or by reducing energy use altogether. See
Energy conservation.
- Consumer
- 1. An organism that obtains nutrients and energy by eating other organisms.
2. A person or group of persons who buys and uses goods and services.
- Consumption
- The process of using natural resources, materials, or finished products to
satisfy human wants of needs.
- Convection
- Heat transfer by the movement of liquids and gases.
- Customer charge
- A monthly charge that covers the cost of making electric or natural gas
service available to a utility's customers. The customer charge includes the
cost of meters, meter reading, connecting electric lines or natural gas
pipelines to customers, and billing and record-keeping expenses.
- Decentralized energy system
- Energy system in which small amounts of an energy resource are converted
from one form into another form for use by an individual or small number of
consumers. The conversion and consumption of the energy resource usually occurs
in the same location. A solar water heater used to provide hot water for a home
is an example of a decentralized energy system.
- Demand schedule
- A chart or table showing the relationship between the price and the quantity
of a good or service demanded by customers according to the law of demand. See
Law of
demand.
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