25 Green Energy Terms and Their Meanings

When something is evolving as quickly as green energy, it can be hard to keep up with the latest jargon. It’s easy to get lost in all the terminology. That’s why we’re here to help by listing 25 green energy terms along with their definitions.

Green Energy Terms

Our mission is to inspire and educate as many people as possible about the possibilities for saving our planet. A large part of that involves explaining the basic concepts and also explaining why we do what we do. You’ll come across the green energy terms listed below on a regular basis. We’re happy to explain what they mean.

Terms Related to Climate Change

Climate change refers to a significant change in temperature and weather conditions that deviates from the norm. It is one of humanity’s greatest crises. It encompasses more than just global warming; it also refers to all the changes taking place on our planet. Terms you may encounter include:

Carbon Footprint

This term describes the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the actions of individuals, organizations, or communities.

Global Warming

This English term refers to the rise in the Earth's overall atmospheric temperature. It is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect, which in turn is caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants in the atmosphere.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chlorofluorocarbons are a group of chemicals composed of chlorine, fluorine, carbon, and hydrogen.  In 1970, it was discovered that these substances caused a chemical reaction that is destroying the ozone layer and contributes significantly to global warming. They were found in refrigerators and aerosol cans and were widely used until the early 2000s. Since then, these substances have been banned.

Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is part of Earth's atmosphere and forms a barrier around the planet. It helps block harmful radiation from the sun.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect refers to the sun's heat that is trapped in the atmosphere. This occurs when the sun's rays reach the atmosphere but cannot be reflected back. The rays are absorbed by greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases are all gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing solar radiation. The best-known greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons.

Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels were formed from the remains of dead organisms over millions of years. They are nonrenewable and finite. That means they cannot be replaced once they are depleted.

Renewable Energy Terms

Renewable energy includes all sustainable energy derived from natural sources, such as wind, sunlight, water, and geothermal heat. It includes biomass, hydroelectric power, solar power and solar heat, geothermal energy, and wind energy.

Biomass

Biomass is a broad umbrella term for all organic materials, such as agricultural crops, organic waste, manure, and wood or wood chips.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy, also known as earth heat, is energy generated by using the heat from steam or hot water reservoirs to power an electric generator.

Hydropower

Hydropower refers to electricity generated by flowing water.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is energy generated by the sun's rays. Solar panels are often used for this purpose.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy harnesses the differences between high and low tides. The energy from the moving water is used in a turbine to generate electricity.

Wave Energy

Wave energy harnesses the rapidly changing water levels at sea—the waves. In this respect, it is very similar to tidal energy.

Wind Energy

Wind energy harnesses the power of the wind. Wind currents set the blades of a wind turbine in motion, thereby generating electricity.

Smart meter

A smart meter tracks electricity usage in your home and shows how much electricity you're currently using and how much it costs. You can also use it to monitor your energy usage remotely.

Low CO2 emissions

Low CO2 emissions mean that a particular technology releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Solar Energy Storage

A solar energy storage system ensures that the electricity you generate with your solar panels but do not use is not automatically fed back into the grid, but is instead stored.

Watt (W)

A watt is a unit of power that indicates how much energy is consumed. For example, your television might consume 80 to 400 watts per hour, and a light bulb might consume around 60 watts.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

A kilowatt-hour is equal to one thousand watts per hour. It indicates how much electricity is consumed.

Electric Car or Electric Vehicle (EV)

An electric car runs entirely on electricity and uses an electric motor to move. These cars emit fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline or diesel cars and do not use finite energy sources.

Photovoltaic (PV)

"Photovoltaic" refers to the process by which sunlight is converted into energy.

Hybrid car

A hybrid car is a combination of an electric car and a gasoline or diesel car in one. It is a more environmentally friendly alternative to gasoline and diesel cars because they emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Battery-powered electric cars, or Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)

A battery-powered electric car is a car that runs solely on a battery. They do not use gasoline or diesel and are 100 percent electric.

Plug-in Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

A plug-in hybrid car is a car that uses a combination of an electric battery and a gasoline or diesel engine. The difference between a plug-in hybrid car and a hybrid car is that the battery in a plug-in hybrid car can be charged. A hybrid car cannot be charged using an external charger and only recharges while driving. A plug-in hybrid car often has a longer range than conventional hybrid cars.

Myenergi Energy Terms

Our mission at myenergi is to create and innovate green energy products that help reduce your CO2 emissions and lower your energy bill.

zappi

Our smart EV charger, zappi, uses energy that you generate yourself with solar panels or your own wind turbine to charge your electric car. It can also be used with energy from the grid at the most favorable rates.

eddi

eddi is an eco-smart energy redirector that uses your excess self-generated energy to heat your home and water.

harvi

Harvi is a self-powered wireless sensor that can be used alongside Zappi and Eddi. This smart device can measure how much energy you use and suggest cheaper, cleaner ways to power your car and home.

Learn more about renewable energy

At myenergi, we continue to develop new products that make the world a lot greener. Together, we’re working toward a green future. Would you like to learn more about our mission? Please contact our green team.