How Green Minded Are You

These days you hear a lot about sustainable resources, forest degradation and ecosystems. There is just so much talk about these things that it all begins to fade into incomprehensible eco-jargons and signs. Here are a few definitions and explanations of these terminologies and symbols that you read in the news or see in the products that you buy.

Biofuel - Biofuel or biodiesel are fuel that are, in essence, biodegradable and non-toxic. They are manufactured from vegetable oils, waste cooking oils, animal fats or tall oil (a by-product of the pulp and paper industry). These oils undergo a process called transesterification whereby they are subjected to a reaction with an alcohol (usually methanol or ethanol) using a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. The resulting chemical reaction produces an ester called biodiesel and a by-product called glycerin.

Alternative energy - refers to any source of usable energy intended to supplement or replace conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels. These are energy sources that create less environmental damage than fossil fuels, such as wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass. Alternative energy is often synonymous with renewable energy, although alternative energy is not necessarily renewable.

Carbon footprint - is a representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (measured in units of carbon dioxide). So, it is a measure of the impact we make individually on the earth by the choices we make regarding our lifestyles. Many activities generate carbon emissions, which contribute to accelerating global warming and climate change.

Compact fluorescent bulbs – CFBs use 75 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light. An 18-watt CFB can replace a 100-watt incandescent. They last 10 times longer. The life of a CFB is up to 10,000 per bulb, compared to less than 1,000 hours for an incandescent.

Ecologically sustainable development – is development that’s good for today and doesn’t create ecological problems for future generations, whose needs are just as important as our own.

Mobius Loop - The Mobius Loop recycle symbol has no specific meaning but is generally understood to signify the interlocking steps of recycling: reuse, reduce, recycle. Sometimes the Mobius Loop appears enclosed within a circle. This symbol is found in products or packaging and signifies that all parts or a certain percentage (also represented by a percentage figure within the loop) are made with recycled materials. Usually some text message appears with symbol, like “This packaging is made from recycled plastic.”

Energy efficient – simply refers to a process or device that uses as little energy as possible to perform a function. For instance, pedal-powering to work using your legs as an energy source is more energy efficient than a car.

Fossil fuels – are the organic remains of plants and animals, such as coal, oil and natural gas, which once burned can be turned into energy. Coal, oil and gas are called “fossil fuels” because they have been formed from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals.

Global warming – refers to an average increase in the Earth’s temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities.

Greenhouse gases – are natural gases and vapors that trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. They include water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, halogenated fluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorinated carbons.

Hybrid car – offer drivers an innovative, efficient, and affordable option. After years of ‘on the road’ development, gas-electric hybrid cars have become a practical choice for consumers. A hybrid car features a small fuel-efficient gas engine combined with an electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating. The electric motor is powered by batteries that recharge automatically while you drive.

The Kyoto Protocol – The Kyoto Protocol was an agreement negotiated by many countries in December 1997 and came into force with Russia’s ratification on February 16, 2005. The reason for the lengthy time span between the terms of agreement being settled upon and the protocol being engaged was due to terms of Kyoto requiring at least 55 parties to ratify the agreement and for the total of those parties’ emissions to be at least 55 percent of global production of greenhouse gases.

Organic food – is a crop grown with only the assistance of a watchful farmer or producer who doesn’t use chemical pesticides, artificial fertilizers or genetic modification. Chickens, pigs, sheep and cattle that are reared in organic conditions feed off non-pesticide grains and grass and aren’t given antibiotics or growth hormones.

Greenhouse effect - warming effect felt on Earth’s surface, produced by greenhouse gases. These gases allow incoming solar radiation to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere, but trap heat by preventing some of the infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface from escaping to outer space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the Earth’s temperature about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be.

Ecolabels - a labeling system for consumer products (excluding foods and medicine) that are made in a fashion that avoids detrimental effects on the environment. Many (but not all) ecolabels are not directly connected to the firms that manufacture or sell the ecolabeled products. Just as for the quality assurance labeling systems it is of imperative importance that the labeling entity is clearly divided from and independent of the manufacturers. All ecolabeling is voluntary, meaning that they are not mandatory by law.

EcoLabels on products mean they meet the technical standards set by the environmental schemes and initiatives set. Here are some labels found in products made in some Asian Countries that help make consumers environmentally conscious.

All of these are compiled from various sources. This might help you in understanding certain concepts about saving the environment and buying environment friendly products.

So, how “green” minded are you.