Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In terms of the environment, this refers to the act of not trashing our planet so that our children will have a healthy place to raise their children.
Eco is a prefix that mostly relates to ecological or environmental terms. ‘Eco’ comes from Greek terminology, meaning ‘home’ or ‘dwelling’. As the Earth is our home, ecology is the study of our Earth. Eco has recently evolved to refer to practices or products that are friendly to the Earth.
Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. Organic livestock are reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified. Some countries, like Canada, regulate organic food production.
Green has become the symbolic colour of environmentalism, chosen for its association with nature, health and growth. When something is described as ‘green’ it is considered environmentally- or eco-friendly.
Greenwash is a term used to describe the perception of consumers that they are being misled by a company regarding the environmental practices of the company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.
The concept of buying local is simply to buy food (or any good or service) produced, grown, or raised as close to your home as possible. With industrialization, our food is now grown and processed in fewer and fewer locations, meaning it has to travel further to reach the average consumer’s refrigerator. Although this method of production is considered efficient and economically profitable for large agribusiness corporations, it is harmful to the environment, consumers and rural communities.
Living wage is a term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for a person to achieve some specific standard of living. In developed countries such as the United Kingdom or Switzerland, this standard generally means that a person working forty hours a week, with no additional income, should be able to afford a specified quality or quantity of housing, food, utilities, transport, health care, and recreation. This concept differs from the minimum wage in that the latter is set by law and may fail to meet the requirements of a living wage. It differs somewhat from basic needs in that the basic needs model usually measures a minimum level of consumption, without regard for the source of the income.
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by private organizations or people with no participation or representation of any government.
Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel consisting of short chain alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat (tallow), which can be used (alone, or blended with conventional petro-diesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.
A renewable resource is a natural resource that is replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans or other users. Solar radiation, tides, winds and hydroelectricity are perpetual resources that are in no danger of long-term availability. Renewable resources may also mean commodities such as wood and paper. Some natural renewable resources such as geothermal power, fresh water, timber, and biomass must be carefully managed to avoid exceeding the environment's capacity to replenish them. The term has a connotation of sustainability of the natural environment. Gasoline, coal, natural gas, diesel, and other commodities derived from fossil fuels are non-renewable. Unlike fossil fuels, a renewable resource can have a sustainable yield.
Alternative energy refers to any source of usable energy intended to supplement or replace conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear fission. Alternative energy is often used synonymously with renewable energy, although some non-conventional sources are not renewable, and some renewable sources like hydroelectricity are conventional.
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a hybrid vehicle which combines a conventional propulsion system with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) to achieve better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle.
A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a large area electronic device that converts solar energy (energy from the sun) into electricity by the photovoltaic effect.