Switched on Schools Glossary
Active solar energy
Capturing the energy from the Sun using solar panels to
provide us with electricity or hot water.
Biomass
Biomass is anything that is alive – all plant and
animals on the Earth.
Boiler
You probably have one of these at home to help keep your
house warm…it will heat up your radiators and
hot water for a bath.
Borehole
A hole dug deep in the ground to help us to take out heat
for a ground source heat pump.
Carbon Footprint
Measure of our impact on the environment.
Cavity Wall
The space between the inside wall and outside wall in a
building – it can be filled with polystyrene balls
to help keep the heat in.
Dams
Barrier to stop water flowing.
Eco Energy Tariff
Eco Energy is electricity which is supplied from wind farms
in Northern Ireland – Eco Energy is available for
homes.
Energy
Energy is the power that makes things work. There
are lots of different forms of energy.
Estuary
A body of water which has one or more streams or rivers
flowing into it – it eventually flows into the sea.
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are coal, oil and gas, which were formed deep
in the Earth millions of years ago – we can use them
to provide heat and electricity.
Fuel
What gives us our energy - food is an example of a fuel
which gives us energy so that we can play and go to school.
Geothermal
Energy from the centre of the Earth which can be used to
provide heat.
Greenhouse Effect
This is the burning of fossil fuels, which release the
carbon stored in them into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is harmful and
acts like a blanket around the earth, keeping the heat
in.
Ground Loop
This is made up of lengths of pipe buried in the ground
which helps to move heat from the ground to a building.
Heat Pump
A fridge is an example of a heat pump but a ground source
heat pump can take heat from the ground to provide heating
in our homes and schools.
Hot water jacket
A cosy jacket for a hot water cylinder which keeps the
water warm.
Hydro
Latin for ‘Water’
Passive solar energy
This is simply using the heat from the Sun without having
to change anything at home or at school – the heat
from the Sun which comes in through windows is an example
of passive solar energy.
Photosynthesis
Plants take the energy from the sunlight to change carbon
dioxide into oxygen which is released into the atmosphere.
Reflector Panels
A silver panel which you put down the back of your radiators
to help move the heat back into the room.
Renewable Energy
Energy that will never run out – it is clean, free
and safer for the environment.
Reservoir
A place where anything is collected, like water.
Solar energy
‘Solar’ is the Latin word for Sun so solar
energy means energy from the Sun.
Solar photovoltaic cells (or PV for short!)
These use the energy from the Sun to make electricity for
your home or school.
Stove
A device to burn wood pellets in and heat a room.
Willow
A tree which can be used to provide energy – it grows
quickly so is a good source of renewable energy.
Wind Farm
A group of wind turbines – sometimes just one or
two but it can be as many as 150.
Wind turbines
Wind turbines are the opposite of fans that you use to
keep you cool - instead of using electricity to make
wind, a wind turbine uses the wind to make electricity. |
