Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that contribute to the greenhouse effect. Examples of greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour. When in the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas enables sunlight (solar radiation) to enter the atmosphere where it warms the Earth’s surface and is reradiated back into the atmosphere as longer-wave energy (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this heat and ‘trap’ it in the lower atmosphere. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been examined in recent decades are directly related, in part, to human behaviours such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests. Because of human-caused greenhouse gases, the Earth is heating up, leading to such dramatic effects as global warming and climate change. Most greenhouse gases are remarkably effective at absorbing heat escaping from the
Earth and keeping it trapped. In other words, it only takes small amounts of these gases to significantly change the properties of the atmosphere.

Water vapour is the most common greenhouse gas, but others are very important too. Some occur naturally and some are derived from human activity.

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is the most significant greenhouse gas released by human activities, typically through the burning of fossil fuels. It is the primary contributor to climate change.

Methane is produced when vegetation is burned, digested or rotted with no oxygen present. Garbage dumps, rice paddies, and grazing cows and other livestock release lots of methane.

Nitrous oxide can be found naturally in the environment but human activities are escalating the amounts. Nitrous oxide is released when chemical fertilizers and manure are used in agriculture.

Greenwashing
Greenwashing is a form of corporate perversion where a company tries to take advantage of the public’s growing awareness and concern for environmental issues by presenting a green public image and publicizing green initiatives that are false or misleading. Greenwashing can help companies secure investors interested in socially responsible investing and create a competitive advantage with the growing consumer trend towards greener alternatives. The term is frequently used when significantly more money or time has been wasted advertising being green, as opposed to dedicating resources to environmentally sound practices. A company might release ambiguous claims or even true green initiatives while secretly maintaining environmentally destructive practices.

Hybrid
The term hybrid refers to any engine that operates off of two power sources. Often, it is used for HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), which are vehicles that use gasoline- and electric-powered engines. These deploy gasoline power for high speeds and electric power for low speeds; the gasoline power charges the electric component while in use, and therefore, hybrids do not require charging (like full electric cars). Hybrid cars use approximately half the gas of traditional cars, resulting in reduced emissions and increasing miles per gallon.

Kilowatt-hours
Kilowtt-hours are units of energy found on your utility bill that tell you how much power you are using and how much it’s costing you to use that power. Usually, kWh are used to measure electrical power or natural gas use. This is important because coal is most often used to create electrical power so the more kWh, the more coal is being burned.

Landfills
A landfill is another word for dump or garbage site. Landfills take up land space that could be left for natural purposes and also lead to air and water pollution problems in small local environments.

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