UK Energy Saving Glossary

UK Energy Saving - Glossary

Welcome to the UK Energy Saving glossary where you will find definitions to energy saving-related words and phrases.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Air Source Heat Pumps	Air Source Heat Pumps use heat from the air to heat buildings either by heating the air or heating water for central heating and under-floor heating systems.
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Biodiesel	A renewable vehicle fuel produced from the oil of crops or waste cooking oil.
Biogas	A fuel comprising mainly methane and carbon dioxide and produced from organic matter.
Biomass	A renewable source of energy made from organic matter of recent origin.
Bioethanol Fuel	Vehicle fuel produced from starch and sugar plants or trees. Bioethanol has less of a negative environmental impact than traditional fuels.
Black Water	The water used in the toilet, kitchen sink and dishwasher and which cannot be reused without treatment.
British Hydropower Association	Promotes the use of water power and the British hydropower industry. Visit the British Hydropower Association Website
Bokashi Composter	The ‘Bokashi’ in Bokashi composter is Japanese for ‘fermented organic matter’ and this is a relatively new composting system in terms of its use in UK homes.
British Wind Energy Association	The UK’s trade association for wind power.
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Carbon Capture & Storage	This technology is designed to take the large amounts of carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuel power plants and store it in natural storage facilities rather than release it.
Carbon footprint	A description used to describe the effect everyone has on the planet in terms of the carbon emissions they are responsible for.
Carbon Trust	Helps business and the public sector to cut carbon emissions. Visit the Carbon Trust’s website www.carbontrust.co.uk
Cavity wall insulation	Material used to fill the gaps between the inner and outer bricks in order to minimise loss of heat from the building.
Climate Change	A term used to describe the changes going on with the earth’s climate and which are cause for concern for the future of the planet.
Climate Change Agreements	Agreements made by energy intensive industries to implement energy efficiency measures in order to be eligible for an 80% reduction in the Climate Change Levy.
Climate Change Levy	Taxes on commodities such as gas and electricity aimed at encouraging a reduction in their usage by business, commerce and public sectors.
Code for Sustainable Homes	A national standard for the design and construction of sustainable homes.
Compost Toilets	Toilets which do not use water for flushing thus saving water.
Condensing Boiler	A boiler which recovers waste heat in order to increase efficiency.
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Double Glazing	Windows or doors made of two panes of glass with a space in between in order to increase insulation.
Draught Proofing	Filling gaps in the fabric of a building in order to reduce draughts
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Eco Driving	Driving in a more environmentally conscious way.
EcoHomes	the EcoHomes assessment scheme rates the environmental qualities of new and renovated dwellings. See our environmentally friendly housing page for more details.
Electric car	A car which partially or completely runs on battery power.
Energy Saving Blog	The UK Energy Saving Blog where anyone can comment on the articles published, which all relate to energy saving and the other topics covered on UK Energy Saving.
Emissions Trading	The idea behind emissions trading is that a governing body sets a limit on specified pollutants that can be emitted in a given period. Permits and credits (or allowances) are then issued to polluting companies which give the right to emit certain amounts.
Energy Efficient Boiler	Usually a condensing boiler, which recovers waste heat to increase efficiency.
Energy Saving Kettle	Kettle designed to minimise boiling excessive volumes of water.
Energy Saving Light Bulb	Essentially fluorescent tubes bent into smaller shapes. They use significantly less energy than traditional bulbs.
Energy Saving Recommended Logo	A logo assigned to products which meet certain energy efficient guidelines.
Energy Saving Trust	Government and private sector funded body with goals of achieving the sustainable use of energy and cutting carbon dioxide emissions.
Energy saving washing machine	A washing machine rated on its energy efficiency. Use water and power more economically than older models.
Energy Switch	Energy switch sites allow you to save money on gas and electricity bills by comparing tariffs from different suppliers.
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Fairtrade	A term used to describe products which are often bought direct from producers who are given a better deal than they would traditionally expect.
Fairtrade church	A church or synagogue which promotes and used fairtrade products according to the guidelines of the Fairtrade Foundation.
Fairtrade Products	Products which are fairtrade have been a paid a fair price for at producer level. Visit our sitemap for a list of pages on fairtrade.
Fairtrade school	A school which promotes and used fairtrade products according to the guidelines of the Fairtrade Foundation.
Forest Stewardship Council Certification	Forest Stewardship Council certified products are from sustainable forestry sources ensuring that the wood has been harvested in an environmentally friendly manner.
Fossil fuel	A fuel type which has been made over thousands of years and the supplies of which are diminishing, for example coal and oil.
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Geothermal Energy	Using the natural heat of the earth to heat buildings or produce electricity.
Green Banking	Banking which supports sustainable and environmental projects.
Green Electricity	Electricity supplied by energy providers from renewable sources of energy.
Green Festivals	Events which aim to reduce environmental impact.
Green Home Service	A government funded one-stop-shop for energy saving advice.
Green Roofs	Living roofs which have a positive environmental impact.
Green travel	Encompasses a number of ways or making travel greener, such as car sharing, cycling and public transport.
Green Wedding	An eco friendly wedding which takes into account any impact on the environment.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions	Emissions which get ‘caught’ in the earth’s atmosphere increasing the retention of the sun’s heat.
Greywater	the water used in hand basins, showers and baths. This can be reused – see the greywater recycling page for more information.
Ground Source Heat Pump	System designed to ‘extract’ the heat of the earth in order to heat a building.
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Hippo - not the animal	A device fitted into a toilet cistern in order to reduce the amount of water used in flushing.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	This scheme offers grants towards insulating your home and other energy efficiency measures – only available in Wales.
Hybrid car	A car with a fuel-efficient gas engine combined with an electric motor.
Hydro Electric Power	The power produced by harnessing the power of water stored at height.
Hydrogen Fuel	an alternative to petrol and diesel with very little environmental impact.
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International Geothermal Association	Encourages research, development and utilisation of geothermal resources. Visit the website International Geothermal Association’s
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Landfill gas	the gas naturally produced within landfill sites can be used to create power or heating and thus reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
Loft insulation	Material used to insulate a loft against the loss of heat rising from the building below.
Low Carbon Buildings Programme	provides grants for microgeneration technologies. Visit the website Low Carbon Buildings Programme for detailed information.
LPG	Liquid Petroleum Gas, a blend of propane and butane which can be used as vehicle fuel.
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Marine Stewardship Council	The Marine Stewardship Council is a global organisation which promotes responsible fishing practices.
Micro Hydro Power	Small scale hydro electric power.
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National Energy Foundation	Encourages the reduction of carbon emissions through energy efficiency and the use of sustainable energy sources. Visit the National Energy Foundation’s website.
Natural Gas	Usually used for cooking and heating, natural gas can also be used as a vehicle fuel.
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Offset Carbon Emissions	Usually payments towards sustainable projects by way of ‘payback’ for your ‘carbon footprint’ on the world.
Offshore wind energy	Describes wind farms based out to sea.
Organic	Produce which is produced in the most natural way possible with minimal use of chemicals and drugs. Visit our sitemap for a list of various pages covering the organic topic.
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Passive Solar Heating	Using the natural warmth and light of the sun to heat a building by utilising glass to maximise usage.
Peak Oil	the widely recognised theory that, in the near future, oil production will reach its peak resulting in ever-higher prices. Visit Wikipedia for more information.
Photovoltaic Cell	solar panels used to turn the energy of the sun into electricity. See the solar electric power page for more information.
Portable solar power	Can include solar power panels for anything from a caravan to a calculator.
Pure Plant Oil	This vehicle fuel is produced by crushing and filtering oil-based crops.
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Rainwater Harvesting	Collecting rainwater for use in the garden or for flushing the toilet.
Renewable Energy	A term used to describe those energy forms which are constantly renewed and will therefore not run out.
Renewable Energy Association	Represents British renewable energy producers and promotes the use of sustainable energy in the UK. Visit the Renewable Energy Association’s website.
Reusable Cloth Nappies	Nappies which can be washed and reused unlike disposables which are thrown away after one use.
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Solar Electric Power	Electricity created by using the energy of the sun.
Solar Energy Association	There are actually two UK organisations, one for solar thermal power and one for solar photovoltaic power.
Solar Power	The energy created by harnessing the power of the sun.
Solar Power Heating System	Building heating provided by harnessing the energy of the sun.
Solar Power Panel	a panel usually fitted to a roof which captures the energy of the sun for use as heating or electricity. See the Solar Power page for more information.
Solar Trade Association	Members include producers of solar collectors and equipment along with installers of such equipment. Also an information source for the public. Visit the Solar Trade Association’s website.
Sustainable Building	A building which leaves as small an environmental footprint as possible.
Sustainable Energy	Energy which does not have a negative impact on the environment and the wise use of energy.
Sustainable Transport	Transport which absorbs any waste it produces.
Sustainable Tourism	Protecting the natural and cultural heritage of tourist destinations.
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Tidal Power	The generation of electricity by harnessing the power of the tides.
Transition Towns	Communities aiming to reduce their carbon emissions and reliance on oil in order to combat climate change and in preparation for peak oil.
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Utilities Marketplace	A website which allows visitors to compare utilities’ tariffs in order to save money on gas and electricity bills
UK Green Building Council	Launched in 2007, the UKGBC looks at ways to make the construction industry more sustainable.
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Walking Bus	A scheme wherby groups of children walk to school together with parents or volunteers.
Warm Deal Scheme	This scheme offers grants towards insulating your home and other energy efficiency measures – only available in Scotland.
Warm Homes Scheme	This scheme offers grants towards insulating your home and other energy efficiency measures – only available in Northern Ireland.
Warm Front Scheme	this scheme offers grants towards insulating your home and central heating systems – only available in England.
Water Butt	Container for collecting rainwater.
Wave Power	The generation of electricity by harnessing the power of the waves.
WEEE	Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – The WEEE directive is EU legislation set to become UK law and governs the disposal of electrical waste.
Wind Power	The energy created by harnessing the power of the wind.
Wind Turbine	The modern version of a wind mill, which captures the power of the wind in order to turn it into electricity. See the Wind Power page for more information.
Wood Pellet Boiler	A central heating and hot water boiler fuelled with wood pellets.
Wood Pellets	A form of biomass, wood pellets can be used to fuel stoves and boilers.
Wood Pellet Stove	a stove fuelled with wood pellets; an environmentally friendly, highly efficient fuel.
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