Water & Energy Glossary
A
Alternating current
Also known as AC power, alternating current is electricity that reverses direction within a circuit. The electricity we use in our homes does this 120 times per second.
Amperage, amps
A measurement of the amount of electric current.
Appliances
Devices used in the home to perform domestic chores, such as a clothes dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, and toaster.
Aquifer
An underground area made of rock, clay, and sand where water is stored.
Atmosphere
The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.
Atom
The smallest unit of matter. Scientists so far have found 118 different kinds of atoms. Everything in the world is made of different combinations of these atoms.
B
Biomass
Organic materials, such as wood by-products and agricultural wastes, that can be burned to produce energy or converted into a gas and used for fuel.
C
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless, nonpoisonous gas that is a normal part of the air we breathe. Carbon dioxide is exhaled by humans and animals, and is absorbed by green growing plants and by the sea.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
A colorless, odorless gas produced when any fossil fuel is used improperly and burns without sufficient oxygen. CO poisoning causes flu-like symptoms and in rare cases, death. It can be prevented through proper appliance installation, maintenance, and use.
Caulk
A thick paste-like substance used to fill up a crack or seam to make it watertight or airtight.
CFL
Compact fluorescent light.
Chemical energy
Energy that is released by a chemical reaction.
Chemical reaction
A process that changes one substance into another substance. Chemical reactions that take place during digestion change energy in food into substances that the body can use to do work.
Circuit
A closed path or loop that is needed for electricity to flow. Electricity will not flow if a circuit is open
Climate change
Changes in temperature, rainfall, wind, and other aspects of the earth’s climate that last for an extended period.
Coal
A solid fossil fuel found in the earth. Coal is burned to make electricity.
Conductor
A material that allows electricity to flow through it easily. Water and metal are good conductors. So is the human body
Crankshaft
A main rotating shaft running the length of the engine that transmits power to the transmission for turning the wheels of a car.
Current
The flow of electrical charge, measured in amperage (“amps” for short). The amperage in an electric circuit is like the amount of water that comes out when you turn on a faucet.
D
Diesel engine
A type of engine invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel at the end of the 19th century. It was originally designed to run on a variety of fuels, including vegetable oils.
Direct current
Electricity that flows in only one direction in a circuit. Batteries use direct current electricity, also known as DC power.
Distribution wires
Power lines that carry electricity through towns and neighborhoods to homes and businesses. Distribution lines can run overhead or underground.
Drinking water treatment plants
Facilities that clean water to make it safe for people to use and drink.
E
Electrical energy
A form of energy that arises from the flow of electrons.
Electricity
A type of energy created by the movement of electrons.
Electrons
The basic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. An electron has a negative electrical charge. The flow of electrons produces electricity.
Energy
A property of many substances that is associated with heat, light, electricity, mechanical motion, and sound.
Energy efficiency
Using less energy while getting more service from your appliances and equipment. You can do this by practicing energy-efficient behaviors or using energy-efficient technology, such as new energy efficient lights and appliances.
Environment
All the natural and living things around us. The earth, air, weather, plants, and animals all make up our environment.
Evaporates
Turns into vapor. When the sun heats water, it evaporates.
F
Faucets
Devices that let water out of pipes so you can use it. When you wash your hands at a sink, water comes out of the faucet.
Fission
The splitting of an atom’s nucleus to release a large amount of heat energy.
Fluorescent bulb
A light bulb that emits light because the gas inside it glows when it is charged by electricity.
Fuel
Any substance that can be burned to make energy.
Fuel cell
A technology that produces electricity through a chemical reaction similar to that found in a battery.
G
Generator
A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Geothermal energy
Energy that is generated by converting hot water or steam from deep beneath the earth’s surface into electricity.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
GFCIs are safety devices found on appliance cords and power outlets. If a GFCI detects electricity leaving a circuit, it quickly shuts off the electricity to prevent serious shock.
Glaciers
Large bodies of ice that move slowly down a slope or spread outward on a land surface.
Global warming
An increase in the earth’s temperature caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy. Burning these fuels releases carbon dioxide and other gases that make the earth’s natural greenhouse effect much stronger, trapping more of the sun’s heat in our atmosphere. Global warming is causing glaciers to melt and is changing sea levels and weather patterns.
Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere absorb and radiate heat from the sun. This process occurs naturally and has kept the earth’s temperature about 59 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be. Current life on earth could not be sustained without the natural greenhouse effect. Most scientists believe global warming is happening because the greenhouse effect has become intensified by the burning of fossil fuels, which releases an excess of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone. These form a sort of clear layer a gases around the earth that absorbs and radiates heat from the sun.
H
Hydroelectricity or hydropower
Electricity that is generated when falling water makes a turbine spin.
Hydroelectric power plants
The power plants that generate electricity when falling water makes a turbine spin.
Hydrogen
A colorless, odorless gas that is the simplest and most common element in the universe.
I
Incandescent bulb
An older type of light bulb that emits light due to the glowing of a heated filament inside it.
Insulator
Something that does not allow electricity to flow through it easily. Glass and special rubber are good insulators. Insulators do not allow electricity to flow through them easily because the electrons in their atoms do not move easily from atom to atom.
K
Kilowatt
1,000 watts of electricity.
Kilowatt-hour
A unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt of power expended for one hour.
L
Landfills
Places for trash and garbage disposal where the waste is buried between layers of earth.
M
Mechanical energy
The energy of motion that can move objects from place to place.
Megawatt
1,000,000 watts of power or 1,000 kilowatts.
Methane
A hydrocarbon gas that is the main ingredient in natural gas.
N
Natural gas
A fossil fuel found deep in the earth. Natural gas is often found with oil.
Nuclear energy or nuclear power
Energy that is released from the splitting of the atoms of radioactive materials (such as uranium), and then harnessed to generate electricity.
Nucleus
The center of an atom. The nucleus contains tiny particles called protons and neutrons. Orbiting around the nucleus are electrons.
O
Oil
A liquid fuel found deep in the earth. Gasoline and some plastics are made from oil.
P
Photovoltaic cell
A device that changes sunlight directly into electricity.
Polar icecaps
Large areas of ice at the North and South Poles of the earth. Polar icecaps in Antarctica at the South Pole can be up to 7,000 feet thick!
Polyethylene
One of the components found in oil that is used for a variety of products such as containers, kitchenware, tubing, and sheets or films for insulation. Grocery store plastic bags are also made of polyethylene.
Power line
A wire used to carry electricity. Power lines are located high overhead or buried underground.
Power plant
A place where electricity is generated.
Proton
A basic particle in an atom’s nucleus that has a positive electrical charge.
R
Radiant energy
Any form of energy radiating from a source, such as heat from the sun or a campfire, or light from a bulb.
Refining facility
A facility that takes a crude substance (such as oil) and turns it into products such as electricity, fuels, or gases.
Renewable
Replaceable. If something is renewable it can be replaced or remade.
Renewable resources
Fuels that can be easily made or “renewed.” We can never use up renewable fuels. Types of renewable fuels are solar power, wind power, and hydropower.
Reservoirs
Natural or artificial ponds or lakes used for the storage of water.
S
Septic system
A septic system is used to store and clean used water when a pipeline is not available to carry it to a wastewater treatment plant.
Solar cells
Solar cells collect sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Solar energy
Energy from the sun.
Solar hot water collectors
Part of a solar water heating system that allows water to be heated by the sun.
Solar panel
A device that collects energy from the sun and converts it to electricity. Solar panels are also known as “modules”.
Static electricity
A form of electrical energy that results from an imbalance of positive and negative charges.
Substation
A facility where transformers lower electricity’s voltage.
T
Thermostat
A device that controls the temperature of a heating or cooling system.
Transfer of energy
When one energy source moves or changes another source.
Transformer
A device used to increase or decrease electricity’s voltage and current.
Transmission
The system in an automobile that transfers energy from the engine or motor to the wheels, causing the wheels to turn.
Transmission lines
Power lines that carry high-voltage electricity long distances.
Turbine
A device used in the generation of electricity. It has a shaft with blades at one end and electromagnets at the other. Water, steam, or some other energy source pushes the blades, which make the shaft and the magnets spin very fast. The magnet end is surrounded by heavy coils of copper wire, and the spinning magnets cause electrons in the wire to begin to move, creating electricity.
U
Utility
A company or other organization that provides a public service, such as supplying electricity, natural gas, or water.
V
Vapor
Water that exists as gas in the air.
Volts
Short for “voltage,” which is a measure of the force with which electricity flows. The voltage in an electric circuit is like the pressure that pushes water out when you turn on a faucet.
W
Wastewater treatment plants
Places where water is filtered and cleaned after it is used so that it can be safely returned to the environment.
Wattage, watts
A measure of the amount of work done by a certain amount or amperage of electric current at a certain pressure or voltage.
Weatherstripping
A type of material used to seal a door or window around the edges to keep hot or cold air from coming in or out.
Wind energy
A renewable energy source that uses the force of the wind to spin turbines and generate electricity.