Definitions - r

Rapid growth and occupation through early reproduction, short life spans, low biomass, and lots of offspring. See K-Selection.

A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.

A device designed to reduce or stop the flow of radiant energy.

A heating system that warms the floor, which radiates heat to the whole house. Often either electrical or hot water based.

An increase in temperature with height due to radiational cooling of the earth's surface. Also called a nocturnal inversion.

A change in the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation. Without any radiative forcing, solar radiation coming to the Earth would continue to be approximately equal to the infrared radiation emitted from the Earth. The addition of greenhouse gases traps an increased fraction of the infrared radiation, radiating it back toward the surface and creating a warming influence.

An area of diminished precipitation on the lee (downwind) side of a mountain or mountain range.

A general term that describes environmentally-conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world. In the broad context, sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space. Most simply, the idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our actions and decisions today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations.

This term can be used to describe an energy and ecologically conscious approach to the design of the built environment.

Wikipedia Entry

Range Anxiety is the fear that an electric vehicle (EV) will run out of battery before reaching its destination or a compatible charging station. This fear is made worse when travelling large distances or when there is limited available charging infrastructure. This is made worse by the fact, that unlike other energy sources (like petrol or diesel), it's often not possible to recharge in place, the EV has to go to a specific charging station, rather than the charge being bought to it.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.

In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate. It may be qualified as anthropogenic climate change, more generally known as global warming.

Wikipedia - Climate Change entry

Reused heat or energy that otherwise would be lost. For example, a combined cycle power plant recaptures some of its own waste heat and reuses it to make extra electric power.

Fragments of products or finished products of a manufacturing process, which has converted a resource into a commodity of real economic value, and includes pre-consumer and post-consumer material but does not include excess resources of the manufacturing process.

A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.

The redox (reduction–oxidation) cell is a reversible cell in which electrochemical components are dissolved in the electrolyte. Redox flow batteries are rechargeable.

A sequence of organisms, each of which uses the next, lower member of the sequence as a food source.

A product that has been completely disassembled and restored to its original working order while maximizing the reuse of its original materials.

Regenerative braking is a system that converts kinetic energy (energy of motion) back into electricity when a vehicle slows down or brakes. This captured energy is then stored in the battery for later use, effectively increasing the vehicle's range and efficiency. In electric and hybrid vehicles, the electric motor is used as a generator, turning it into a way to recover energy that would otherwise be lost as heat. 

Ability of an ecosystem to maintain relative ecological integrity indefinitely.

Carbon Footprint refers to the the total greenhouse gas emissions that result from a person, organization, product or service over a given time.

It tends to act as an umbrella term for any attempt to measure greenhouse gas emissions and as a result can refer to simply the emissions that result from a single activity, such as flying; the emissions that result from an organization or building over the course of a year; or the full lifetime emissions of a product or organization, including emissions from the supply chain or disposal of resources.

While carbon footprints colloquially refer to the amount of CO2 emitted, the UK Carbon Trust endorses a wider definition and considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases - Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydro fluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, and Sulfur hexafluoride - when measuring a carbon footprint.

Any product diverted from the supply of discarded materials by refurbishing and marketing said product without substantial change to its original form.

The release of a substance (usually a gas when referring to the subject of climate change) into the atmosphere.

Fish species that complete their entire life cycle in freshwater. Non-anadromous fish. An example is rainbow trout.

Carbon Pollution refers to the human produced Co2 that is meant to be harming the environment.

A practice in which the primary consideration of material use begins with the concept of "Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Repair" stated in descending order of priority.

This concept may be applied in everyday life to help promote a sustainable society. In design, begin by reducing the amount of material that is specified; find ways to reuse materials, recycle products or product waste; specify products made from recycled materials; and repair or restore products instead of replacing them.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.

In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate. It may be qualified as anthropogenic climate change, more generally known as global warming.

Wikipedia - Climate Change entry

A form of outdoor advertising with a clean is green message.Essentially it is created by power washing a message into a dirty surface such as a side-walk or an outdoor concrete wall. A specific form of green graffiti.

How legal such graffiti is depends on the laws in force for the area concerned. Some local governments require any form of advertising to require prior permission before placement. Also careful consideration needs to be given to the effect of power cleaning on the actual material being cleaned, it could well promote breaking down the exposed surface quicker than would have otherwise being the case.

Rewilding is the act of reintroducing species to areas where they previously went extinct. The assumption being that by them being reintroduced it makes the areas more 'wild' and therefore natural compared to what it was previously.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.

In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate. It may be qualified as anthropogenic climate change, more generally known as global warming.

Wikipedia - Climate Change entry

Riparian areas that are managed to protect the aquatic and riparian ecosystem. A riparian buffer protects water quality and temperature, habitat along the banks, upland habitat for aquatic and riparian species, and some or all of the floodplain.

The rights of water use possessed by a person owning land containing or bordering a water course or lake.

A rotating, cigar-shaped cloud that sometimes precedes a thunderstorm. Often seen in UFO photographs.

Fish not prized for sport or eating, such as gar and suckers. Most are more tolerant of changing environmental conditions than are game or food species.