"Environmentally Friendly Lingo"

By Victor @Oxygenics Canada

visit us @ www.oxygenics.ca 



With so many new trends and developments in the “Environmental World” navigating articles and information can be a daunting task.  With so many new environmental catch words and phrases, becoming eco-friendly is an ongoing learning process; here are some more words to expand your "Green language".

Of course this is not a complete list but it is enough to get you started as a backseat environmentalist.

Abiotic

Non-living; devoid of life.

Acid Rain

The precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing in the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants (primarily sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapour.

Agritainment                                                                                                                

Farm-based tourism. Includes family style activities, such as corn mazes, haunted hay rides, pick-your-own pumpkins, etc. This growing phenomenon is giving  city folk a taste of rural life while helping farmers diversify their revenue stream.

Air Pollution

The presence of contaminants or pollutants substances in the air that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects.

Alternative Energy

Energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels).

Ancient Forest

A forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife.

Appropriate Technology

Technology that creates minimal environmental impact while serving basic human needs. Uses the simplest level of technology that can effectively achieve the intended purpose in a particular location.

Aquaculture

The controlled rearing of fish or shellfish by people or corporations who own the harvestable product, often involving the capture of the eggs or young of a species from wild sources, followed by rearing more intensively than possible in nature.

BioAccumulate

Exposure to dangerous chemicals adds up over time. This term refers to just that-the gradual buildup, in an organism, of a substance that is not easily metabolized and eliminated. Toxic chemicals such as dioxins can bioaccumulate in the systems of cattle, fish, and chicken, for example, and enter the systems of humans when they digest these foods. In a human, repeated exposure to toxins considered safe in small amounts can bioaccumulate and may become hazardous to one’s health.

Biodegradable

Waste material composed primarily of naturally-occurring constituent parts, able to be broken down and absorbed into the ecosystem.  Wood, for example, is biodegradable while plastics are not.

Biodiesel

An alternative fuel made from virgin vegetable oil or used vegetable oil. Even animal fats like beef tallow and fish oil can be used to make biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel may be blended with conventional diesel to get different blends such as B2 (2 percent biodiesel and 98 percent conventional diesel) or B20 (20 percent biodiesel) or it can be used as 100 percent biodiesel (B100).

Biofuels

Any fuel derived from biomass. Agricultural products specifically grown for conversion to biofuels include corn and soybeans.

Biomass

Any organic material made from plants or animals. Domestic biomass resources include agricultural and forestry residues, municipal solid wastes, industrial wastes, and terrestrial and aquatic crops grown solely for energy purposes.

Check back as I will be adding more catch words and phrases in upcoming blogs with the hopes of getting you to the letter "Z". 

Approximately 70% of water used in the shower is hot water. Oxygenics showerheads use less water overall in the shower which means less energy is being used to heat excess water. Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.