ECO DEFINITIONS

Greenwashing:
The practice of companies marketing their products and policies as environmentally friendly in a deceptive way to present a positive public image, usually hiding it’s abuse to the environment.

Renewable Resources:
Natural resources that regenerate by a natural process at a rate comparable or faster than the rate of consumption by humans, such as, wind, sunlight, water and trees.

Nonrenewable Resources:
Resources we use that are limited in supply, such as, oil, coal and natural gas.  Nonrenewable recourses are not sustainable, which means we could run out of them.

Pollution:
When harmful contaminants are released into the environment causing damage to the physical systems or living organisms.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh):
Units of energy found on your energy bill that tell you how much power you are using (usually used to measure electrical power or natural gas use). Coal is most often used to create electrical power and burning coal is a major source of pollution and carbon emissions that can lead to global warming.  So the more kWh used, the more harmful pollutions are emitted.

Global Warming:
Global warming, also called climate change, is when the earth’s average temperature increases.  This can cause sea levels to rise, create extreme storms and weather patterns and increase the likelihood that diseases will spread quicker and farther.

E-waste (Electronic Waste):
Discarded electronic appliances.  Electronic appliances contain parts made from hazardous materials and chemical that can leak into our water or pollute our air.