Renewable Glossary

Biomass energy: Changing farming wastes, grasses, trees, bark, sawdust, and other things into energy by burning it, changing it to a gas, or converting it to a liquid fuel.

Energy crops: Crops grown specifically for their fuel value, including food crops such as corn and sugarcane, and nonfood crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass.

Fossil fuels: Energy sources formed by the decay of plants, dinosaurs, and other animals over millions of years; coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels.

Geothermal energy: Using the heat from the earth to produce power.

Hydropower: Using the energy in flowing water to make electricity.

Municipal solid waste: Using waste to produce energy by burning it or by capturing the gasses it gives off and using them as fuel.

Nonrenewable fuels: Fuels that cannot be easily made or "renewed." We can use up non-renewable fuels. Oil, natural gas, and coal are nonrenewable fuels.

Passive solar heater: A solar water-heating or space-heating system that moves heated air or water without using pumps or fans.

Passive solar home: A house that uses a room or another part of the building as a solar collector.

Photovoltaic energy: A type of solar energy that converts sunshine into electricity.

Renewable energy: Types of energy that are "renewed" as we use them; solar, wind, and geothermal energy are forms of renewable energy.

Solar collectors: Boxes, frames, or rooms that trap the sun's rays to produce heat.

Solar energy: Energy from the sun. The heat that builds up in your car when it is parked in the sun is an example of solar energy.

Solar heating: Using the sun's energy to heat our homes and water.

Sunspace: A room that faces south, or a small structure attached to the south side of a house.

Wind power: Using the wind to produce electricity by turning blades on a wind turbine.

Wind power plant: A group of wind turbines interconnected to a common electricity system.