cleantech Press Glossary
Cleantech
A broad base of processes, practices and tools, in any industry that supports a sustainable business approach, including but not limited to: pollution control, resource reduction and management, end of life strategy, waste reduction, energy efficiency, carbon mitigation and profitability.
Cleantech Cluster
Cleantech clusters are a key instrument to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable solutions addressing the increasing global climate instabilities and resource shortages.
Cleantech Meta-Cluster
An example of a Cleantech Meta-Cluster is the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) that creates momentum and moves the cleantech market by networking disparate clusters together and screening best in class Cleantech companies across the globe. For companies, investors, science and government representatives GCCA offers conduits to harness the tremendous benefits of international cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable network. For cluster management teams, GCCA offers highly valuable benchmarking insights, exchange of best practices and peer-to-peer coaching, thus driving cluster business excellence. Only three years after its launch, already 50 clusters from across the world joined GCCA, representing 10,000 Cleantech companies.
Btu (British thermal unit)
The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree in temperature Fahrenheit. Heating and cooling equipment such as solar thermal or molten salt batteries are commonly rated using Btus they can deliver or absorb.
Carbon Neutral
Balancing CO2 being released with an equal amount offset or sequestered. This may be achieved through planting trees which consume CO2 and release Oxygen. Carbon Neutral businesses or operations or those which release no CO2 or offset their output using some fashion. Though many operations are carbon neutral most net cradle to grave sequences are not, they require the production of CO2 to begin, to build solar panels or wind turbines to then run without producing CO2 from that point forward.
Ecological Citizenship
There are two different scenarios of ecological citizenship that can develop: the ‘mainstream’ scenario involves a change in consumption patterns, whereas the ‘alternative’ scenario involves a change in lifestyle. For example, the mainstream scenario would see increasing use of hybrid cars and public transport. The alternative scenario would see more people walking, cycling and living closer to work and community.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is "using less energy to provide the same service". Energy efficiency is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production processes or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficient_energy_use
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to combat climate change, clean the air we breathe, improve the competitiveness of our businesses and reduce energy costs for consumers. The Department of Energy is working with universities, businesses and the National Labs to develop new, energy-efficient technologies while boosting the efficiency of current technologies on the market.
Fluorescent Light
An energy efficient light source technology that uses an ionization process to produce ultraviolet radiation. This radiation becomes visible light when it hits the coated inner surface of a bulb or tube. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) use 50% to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent light sources.GreenA term used to describe environmentally sustainable or nature friendly people, products, businesses, events and other nouns. Being green is about taking the health of natural systems into account while performing an action.
Greenwashing
A term evolved from the meaning of whitewashing that describes deceitful convincing or lying in order to convince a person that a service is green or nature friendly. Greenwashing implies that little or no true consideration for the environment is truly being given to a product or service that is being promoted with such interests in mind.
Range Anxiety
The anxiety or concern one might encounter when considering the purchase or use of an electric vehicle given the lack of charging infrastructure. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_anxiety
Vampire Draw
The loss of energy through electronic charging devices that overcharge or leak energy in the form of heat. Also referred to as standby power, vampire power loss, phantom load or leaking electricity. Solutions include unplugging chargers, built in shut-off switches and newer smart adapters that auto shut to prevent power loss. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standby_power
A broad base of processes, practices and tools, in any industry that supports a sustainable business approach, including but not limited to: pollution control, resource reduction and management, end of life strategy, waste reduction, energy efficiency, carbon mitigation and profitability.
Cleantech Cluster
Cleantech clusters are a key instrument to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable solutions addressing the increasing global climate instabilities and resource shortages.
Cleantech Meta-Cluster
An example of a Cleantech Meta-Cluster is the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) that creates momentum and moves the cleantech market by networking disparate clusters together and screening best in class Cleantech companies across the globe. For companies, investors, science and government representatives GCCA offers conduits to harness the tremendous benefits of international cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable network. For cluster management teams, GCCA offers highly valuable benchmarking insights, exchange of best practices and peer-to-peer coaching, thus driving cluster business excellence. Only three years after its launch, already 50 clusters from across the world joined GCCA, representing 10,000 Cleantech companies.
Btu (British thermal unit)
The amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree in temperature Fahrenheit. Heating and cooling equipment such as solar thermal or molten salt batteries are commonly rated using Btus they can deliver or absorb.
Carbon Neutral
Balancing CO2 being released with an equal amount offset or sequestered. This may be achieved through planting trees which consume CO2 and release Oxygen. Carbon Neutral businesses or operations or those which release no CO2 or offset their output using some fashion. Though many operations are carbon neutral most net cradle to grave sequences are not, they require the production of CO2 to begin, to build solar panels or wind turbines to then run without producing CO2 from that point forward.
Ecological Citizenship
There are two different scenarios of ecological citizenship that can develop: the ‘mainstream’ scenario involves a change in consumption patterns, whereas the ‘alternative’ scenario involves a change in lifestyle. For example, the mainstream scenario would see increasing use of hybrid cars and public transport. The alternative scenario would see more people walking, cycling and living closer to work and community.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is "using less energy to provide the same service". Energy efficiency is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production processes or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efficient_energy_use
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to combat climate change, clean the air we breathe, improve the competitiveness of our businesses and reduce energy costs for consumers. The Department of Energy is working with universities, businesses and the National Labs to develop new, energy-efficient technologies while boosting the efficiency of current technologies on the market.
Fluorescent Light
An energy efficient light source technology that uses an ionization process to produce ultraviolet radiation. This radiation becomes visible light when it hits the coated inner surface of a bulb or tube. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) use 50% to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent light sources.GreenA term used to describe environmentally sustainable or nature friendly people, products, businesses, events and other nouns. Being green is about taking the health of natural systems into account while performing an action.
Greenwashing
A term evolved from the meaning of whitewashing that describes deceitful convincing or lying in order to convince a person that a service is green or nature friendly. Greenwashing implies that little or no true consideration for the environment is truly being given to a product or service that is being promoted with such interests in mind.
Range Anxiety
The anxiety or concern one might encounter when considering the purchase or use of an electric vehicle given the lack of charging infrastructure. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_anxiety
Vampire Draw
The loss of energy through electronic charging devices that overcharge or leak energy in the form of heat. Also referred to as standby power, vampire power loss, phantom load or leaking electricity. Solutions include unplugging chargers, built in shut-off switches and newer smart adapters that auto shut to prevent power loss. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standby_power