Altener II - The Altener II Programme can support local authority studies aiding planning policy for renewable energy development (e.g. Cork County Council’s project to assist the formulation of planning policies and standards for wind energy development in the county).

Bakeout - A process used to remove volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in a building by operating a building’s HVAC systems at elevated temperatures using 100% outside air after all the furniture and finishes (carpeting, ceiling tiles, etc.) have been installed.

Bioremediation - The use of natural biological processes (microbes, bacteria, plants, etc.) to break down contaminants and restore contaminated land back to productive use.

Black Water - Water containing human waste from toilets and urinals.

BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a comprehensive tool for analyzing and improving the environmental performance of buildings through design and operations.

Building Envelope - Elements (walls, windows, roofs, skylights, etc.) and materials (insulation, vapor barriers, siding, etc.) that enclose a building. The building envelope is a thermal barrier between the indoor and outdoor environment and is a key factor in the “sustainability” of a building.

Biomass CHP - Combined Heat and Power (CHP) uses renewable fuels derived from four main sources: forest residues, agricultural residues, waste and processing residues, and crop processing.

Biofuels - Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels made from plant matter rather than fossil fuels.

Carbon Neutral - A scenario where the net discharge of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is zero. Carbon neutrality can be achieved by planting enough trees so that CO2 emissions as a result of combustion would be offset by CO2 absorption by the plants.

Displacement Ventilation - A method of space conditioning where conditioned air is supplied at or near the floor.

Fly Ash - The fine ash waste collected from flue gases from coal burning power plants, smelters, and waste incinerators. It can be used as a cement substitute in concrete, thereby reducing embodied energy of the concrete.

Fossil Fuels - Fuels found in the earths strata that are derived from the fossilised remains of animal and plant matter over millions of years. Fossil fuels include oil, natural gas, shale, and coal.

Fuel Cell - An electrochemical device in which hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity with heat and water vapor as by products.

Global Warming - An increase of the earth's temperature by a few degrees resulting in an increase in the volume of water which contributes to sea-level rise.

Gray Water - Wastewater from sinks, showers, kitchens, washers, etc. Unlike black water, gray water does not contain human waste.

Geothermal Energy - Geothermal energy refers to heat energy stored in the ground of the earth.

Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) - The total cost of acquiring, owning, operating and disposing of a building or building system over its entire useful life.

Light Shelf - A horizontal device positioned (usually above eye level) to reflect daylight onto the ceiling and beyond.

Microclimate - Localised climate conditions within an urban area or building.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - Gases consisting of one molecule of nitrogen and varying numbers of oxygen molecules.

Non-renewable Energy Resources - Energy resources that cannot be restored or replenished by natural processes and therefore are depleted through use.

District Heating - District heating is where heat from generating plants and specially built facilities is piped to local homes.

Geothermal/Ground Source Heat Pumps - Ground source heat pumps can collect or dispel heat energy through pipes buried just below the ground.

Solar Panels - A collection of solar modules connected in series, in parallel, or in series-parallel combination to provide greater voltage, current or power than be furnished by a single solar module.

Passive Solar - Passive Solar Architecture is a building design approach which maximises solar gains in the building and avoids heat losses through ensuring a high level of insulation and airtightness of the building.

Solar Heating (Active) - Active Solar Heating uses solar collectors to transform sunlight into heat to provide space and/or water heating. It is the most common application of active solar thermal in Europe.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems - Photovoltaic systems use daylight (not necessarily direct sunlight) to convert solar radiation into electricity. The light which shines on the PV cells creates an electric field causing electricity to flow.

Wind Farms - Large open site where wind speeds are consistently high on which a number of wind turbines generate electricity for private or commercial use.

Wind Turbines - A device for converting wind energy into mechanical (windmill) or electrical energy.

Rainwater Harvesting - The collection, storage, and reuse of rainwater.

Renewable Energy Sources - Energy sources that replenish themselves naturally within a short period of time. Sources include solar energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy and wind power.

Thermal Mass - A material used to store heat, thereby slowing the temperature variation within a space. Typical thermal mass materials include concrete, brick, masonry, tile and mortar, water and rock.

Ventilated Façade - A special type of curtain wall consisting of two glazed facades separated by gap through which ambient air is allowed to flow.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - Organic compounds that evaporate at room temperatures and are often hazardous to human health, causing poor indoor air quality.