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Environmental Science Ch. 16 Flashcards

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1964973730active solar technologythe use of mechanical devices to heat water and buildings or to power electrical devices to generate electricity0
1964973731biomass energythe energy contained in firewood and other plant matter1
1964973732biofuelsliquid fuel derived from biomass that can be used in diesel and internal combustion engines2
1964973733biodiesela biofuel derived from plant oils and animal fats that can be burned in diesel engines3
1964973734cellulosic ethanolethanol that is produced from agricultural residues, wood, grasses, or other cellulose-rich feedstocks4
1964973735compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)lights in which an electric current causes a gas to glow; emit 3-5 times more light that incandescent fixtures5
1964973736concentrating solar power (CSP) systemsa method of generating electricity from sunlight that relies on mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays on a tower or a series of pipes that hold water or another fluid. The concentrated sunlight heats the fluid to boiling. The produced steam is then used to spin a turbine and generate electricity6
1964973737conservation supply curvegraph used to compare the amount of energy saved by each action to the cost of that energy7
1964973738cost of saved energy (CSE)a measure that compares the costs and benefits of energy alternatives by dividing the cost of an energy investment by the energy savings resulting from that investment8
1964973739economic energy intensitya measure of overall energy use efficiency by a country or group of countries that considers the amount of energy used per dollar of economic output9
1964973740geothermal energyheat energy that is generated and stored in Earth itself10
1964973741ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs)method of using Earth's heat for energy by taking advantage of the fact that the upper 10 ft of Earth's crust maintains a nearly constant temperature regardless of the time of year11
1964973742hydroelectric powerelectricity generated by using the kinetic energy of moving water to turn a turbine12
1964973743hydropowerthe energy of water moving under the force of gravity13
1964973744incandescent lightslights in which an electric current causes a thin metal filament to glow14
1964973745impoundment hydroelectricity plantelectricity generated by impounded water, such as water behind a dam, flowing downhill through a turbine15
1964973746light-emitting diodes (LEDs)lights in which an electric current passes through silicone-rich materials; more efficient and long-lasting than CFLs and incandescent lightbulbs16
1964973747ocean thermal energy conversiona technique that exploits the sharp differences in temperature between surface water and deeper water to generate electricity17
1964973748photovoltaic (PV) technologya method of generating solar power that converts light into energy through the photovoltaic effect, in which light energy causes certain materials to emit electrons18
1964973749passive solar technologythe use of the energy of sunlight without relying on electrical or mechanical devices19
1964973750renewable portfolio standard (RPS)a government mandate that a certain percentage of energy use come from renewable energy resources20
1964973751run-of-river hydroelectric planta hydropower facility that uses the force of river water diverted into a series of pipes to spin a turbine to generate electricity21
1964973752solar photovoltaic farmsin areas with high solar potential, thousands of PV panels are arranged to generate electricity on a large scale22
1964973753tidal barragea dam across the narrow outlet of a tidal basin that uses the ebb and flow of tidal waters to power turbines and dynamos to generate electricity23
1964973754tidal fencean array of underwater turnstiles or revolving doors set across a narrow channel. As water moves through the channel, its energy is used to generate electricity24
1964973755tidal powerthe kinetic energy of ocean tides used to generate electricity25
1964973756tidal turbinesturbines operating underwater that are spun by the movement of tides and currents26

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