Brush up on the Vocabulary

Fuel Poverty

In the UK a household is considered by the Government to be in fuel poverty if they would have to spend more than 10% of their household income on fuel to keep their home in a satisfactory condition. 4 million households in England were classified as being in fuel poverty in 2009 (18% of all households).

Green energy

Energy that can be extracted, generated, and/or consumed without any significant negative impact to the environment.   

Passive House (aka Passivhaus)

A rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. A similar standard, MINERGIE-P, is used in Switzerland. The standard is not confined to residential properties; several office buildings, schools, kindergartens and a supermarket have also been constructed to the standard.

Peak oil

The point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline as the remaining supplies are depleted. This concept is derived from the Hubbert curve. M. King Hubbert created and first used the models behind peak oil in 1956 to accurately predict that United States oil production would peak between 1965 and 1970.

Optimistic estimations of peak production forecast the global decline will begin by 2020 or later. Pessimistic predictions of future oil production operate on the thesis that either the peak has already occurred, that oil production is on the cusp of the peak, or that it will occur shortly.

Renewable energy

Energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished.

Retrofit

The improvement of existing buildings with energy efficiency measures or devices.  

Sustainability

A pattern of growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. 

Suggest more items for this list, or propose a better definition by emailing us at: energy@transitionbath.org .