Glossary of terms
Alternative technologies
Manufacturing or production methods that are
less polluting and more resource efficient than the traditional
methods.
Carbon emissions
Carbon dioxide emissions that are released
into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil,
coal and gas.
Carbon Trust
A non-profit
making company providing specialist support to help business
and the public sector cut carbon emissions, saving energy and invest in low carbon
technologies.
Carbon footprint
A person or businesses' carbon footprint
refers to the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere
for which they are responsible - whether directly, via their home
energy use, their transport use, or indirectly via the products
and services they buy and use.
Climate change
The change in the earth’s atmosphere that
affects temperature, weather patterns and environments. This change
can be natural and influenced by the global warming effect.
Energy efficient
Machines and equipment that use the least
possible amount of energy in the performance of their
job, while still performing that job successfully.
European Social Fund
A European initiative set up to improve
employment opportunities in the European Union and so help raise
standards of living. It aims to help people fulfil their potential
by giving them better skills and better job prospects.
Global warming
Global warming refers to the increase in the
earth's surface temperature due to higher levels of greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide and methane which trap heat within the
atmosphere, and the projected worsening of this effect over
time.
Landfill site
Landfill sites are where local authorities and
industry can take waste to be buried and compacted with other
wastes.
Low carbon jobs
‘Low-carbon jobs’ refer to employment in
sectors that include such aspects as energy efficiency, renewable
energy techologies, alternative transport and fuels. Defined
primarily according to industry rather than occupation, they
include a range of medium and high-skilled activities; in design,
production, marketing and retail, transport and distribution,
assembly, installation, maintenance and support services including
legal, IT and technical consultancy.
Low carbon economy
An area whose economic status means
that they can support low carbon initiatives, businesses and
societies. (is an economy that has a minimal output of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the environment biosphere.)
Low carbon skills
Working skills held in the subjects
of energy efficiency, renewables, alternative transport and
fuels.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.