Transcript Econary
ECONARY I.T.S. “E. MATTEI” DECIMOMANNU ITALY COMENIUS – HELP 2012-1-RO1-COM06-22185 5 Ecolabel Ecolabel in English words, is a European mark used to certify (in accordance with EC Regulation no. 66/2010) the reduced environmental impact of the products or services offered by companies that have obtained their use. It is represented by a stylized daisy having the twelve stars of the EU flag as petals and in the center a curved “E”. The required certification can be requested on a voluntary basis, from any firm or company belonging to the 27 EU Member States as well as in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. ecological footprint The ecological footprint is an indicator used to assess the human consumption of natural resources compared to the Earth's capacity to regenerate them. The ecological footprint measures the area of biologically productive land and sea needed to regenerate the resources consumed by a human population and to absorb the waste products. Using the ecological footprint, you can estimate how many "planet Earth" are needed to support humanity (currently to meet the world demand we would require the surface of at least two planets). To calculate the ecological footprint we relate the quantity of each consumed good (eg agricultural products, meat rearing, but also surface to build homes, factories, landfills etc..) with the surface that is served for the production of such goods. The result is a surface expressed in the numeber of acres each citizen would need. The ecological footprint is much higher in the richest and most industrialized countries, where there is an “ecological deficit”. Eco-incentives Eco-incentives are the tax cuts provided in different forms, in favor of those investing in technologies with low environmental impact. For example, if you decide to install solar panels or buy a car with low emissions you can get tax deductions or discounts on the purchase of the panels or of the vehicle. Ecosystem A group of living organisms that, along with their abiotic environment (e.g. air, water, rocks), interact with each other over a period of time. Emissions Emissions are particles and gases released into the air as byproducts. There are many types of emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions, for example, contribute to global warming and is not sustainable to the health of the Earth. Global Warming The term global warming is the result of climate change. When the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans increases too much it is called Global Warming (as opposed to "global cooling" during the Ice Age) . GASIFICATION The process by which an organic material, such as biomass, is converted into synthetic gas, a mixture of hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. The synthetic gas can then be used to produce various synthetic fuel constituents. Greenhouse effect The effect of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trapping a certain amount of the sun's heat as it reflects back off the surface of the earth towards space. The greenhouse effect is what makes the earth's atmosphere warmer than space, and is thus essential to make the earth habitable. However, if the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, it can increase the amount of heat reflected back into the atmosphere, increasing temperatures in an enhanced greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases They are those gases present in the atmosphere, which are transparent for the incoming solar radiation on the Earth but which fail to retain, in a consistent manner, a certain amount of heat emitted from the Earth surface and to prevent it from dispersing into the atmosphere, creating the wellknown greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases can be both natural and anthropic and they have always existed but, currently, due to human activity, they have increased significantly enough to cause the "overheating" of the planet, with all the negative consequences that it entails (eg reduction of biodiversity). Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) are the main greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere. Greenpeace Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental and pacifist organization founded in Vancouver in 1971. It is famous for its non-violent direct action for climate protection, ecosystems protection (for example: whales) interruption of nuclear testing and environmental protection in general. In recent years the activities of the organization has turned to other environmental issues such as global warming, genetic engineering and trawling. Incinerators Incinerators are plants mainly used for the disposal of waste by a process of high-temperature combustion (incineration), which gives as final products a gaseous highly polluted effluent, ash and dust. In most modern systems, the heat developed during the combustion of the waste is recovered and used to produce steam, then used for the production of electricity or as a heat carrier, but remains the gaseous and solid component which is pollutant if dispersed in the Atmosphere. These plants with technologies for the recovery of heat are indicated with the name of "incinerators with energy recovery", or more commonly incinerators. The term incinerator is criticized because it would be misleading: in fact, according to the most modern theories of waste management the only ways to "enhance" a refusal would, first of all, reuse and then recycle it in order to reduce significantly or to exclude the production of pollutant emissions. The incineration is, on the contrary ,a simple disposal for "combustion". Industrial waste For industrial waste we mean the manufacture of nearly everything producing waste, some of it hazardous waste, and some of it merely taking up space and polluting the environment (everything from scrap metal to water tainted with chemicals). The United States alone generate nearly eight billion tons of industrial waste every year; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that 97 percent of that is in wastewaters. Efforts to reduce this number involve diverting materials for reuse and recycling, and creating more efficient manufacturing methods that reduce the waste generated. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC The IPCC is comprised of experts from all over the world tasked to assess current developments in the area of climate science. The panel was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Untied Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to help mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change. Integrated Waste Management The systematic use of different methods for handling solid waste safely and effectively. Techniques must complement each other and include recycling, reuse, source reduction, composting and landfill depositing. Insulation Insulation products provide barriers against heat, air and even sound leakages in building structures. In a home, for example, proper insulation keeps the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, with minimal waste and electricity cost. Well designed insulation enhances weather-proofing and eliminates moisture problems. Some types of insulation also have soundproofing qualities.