Definitions - l

A nearly level land area that was formed as a lake bed.

A wind blowing onshore from the surface of a lake.

A nocturnal coastal breeze that blows from land to sea. In the evening the water may be warmer than the land, causing pressure differences. The land breeze is the flow of air from land to sea equalizing these pressure differences. See sea breeze.

This is usually defined as the act of replacing stale or noxious air with fresh air.

In the eco field it is also important to differentiate between what are termed passive ventilation and active ventilation. Passive ventilation is where no additional electrical or mechanical energy is required to make the ventilation work. Active ventilation on the other hand won't work without using additional energy.

Passive ventilation is an aspect of passive building design and often utilizes heat chimneys and natural air flows across the land to achieve adequate ventilation.

Gas that is generated by decomposition of organic material at landfill disposal sites. Landfill gas is approximately 50 percent methane.

The study of the distribution patterns of communities and ecosystems, the ecological processes that affect those patterns, and changes in pattern and process over time.

Water that collects contaminants as it trickles through wastes, pesticides or fertilizers. Leaching may occur in farming areas, feedlots, and landfills, and may result in hazardous substances entering surface water, ground water, or soil.

This is usually defined as the act of replacing stale or noxious air with fresh air.

In the eco field it is also important to differentiate between what are termed passive ventilation and active ventilation. Passive ventilation is where no additional electrical or mechanical energy is required to make the ventilation work. Active ventilation on the other hand won't work without using additional energy.

Passive ventilation is an aspect of passive building design and often utilizes heat chimneys and natural air flows across the land to achieve adequate ventilation.

LED lighting is often a replacement to old filament light bulbs. It often has much better power efficiency and can last a lot longer, as long as they have good cooling.

The comprehensive examination of a product's environmental and economic effects throughout its lifetime, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, use and disposal.

The estimated cost of owning and operating a system for the period of its useful life. usually applied to photo voltaic systems and renewable energy systems.

The view that society can be made sustainable without transforming the fundamentals of our current economic and social system. Alternatively, the view that environmental, social and economic needs should be given fairly equal weight. Compare against deep green and dark green.

Manufacturing activities that use moderate amounts of partially processed materials to produce items of relatively high value per unit weight (see Heavy Industry).

A type of fast acting fuse used to protect the solar power system in the event of a lightning strike.

A turbine having a large vaned wheel rotated by the wind to generate electricity. Often collected together to form 'farms'.

Use of a limestone and water solution to remove gaseous stack-pipe sulfur before it reaches the atmosphere.

A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.

A pesticide that causes adverse health effects in domestic water supplies and is toxic to freshwater fish and aquatic life.

A seed that comes from flax that is used to produce oil and environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.

The component of the Earth's surface comprising the rock, soil, and sediments.

Localvore describes someone who adheres to a locally sourced diet. A localvore only eats food grown within a given nearby area, buying fresh and usually organic produce directly from farmers and small markets. Localvores often have direct relationships with local farmers, whose presence is essential to the ecological diversity and sustainability of the region, and their avoidance of large-scale farms and transportation costs reduces the environmental impact of their eating.

A turbine having a large vaned wheel rotated by the wind to generate electricity. Often collected together to form 'farms'.

A toilet that uses less water than a traditional unit, thereby lowering costs. Dual-flush toilets are a good example a low-flush technology.