Agriculture
The production of crops and livestock.
Air pollution
Contamination of the air by smoke, smog, carbon, nitrogen and
sulfers.
Atmosphere
A combination of all the gases surrounding planet Earth.
Biomass
A form of electricity derived from the burning of plant and
organic matter. Landfill gas is one of the most widely used forms
of biomass energy generation.
Budget billing
Energy customers tend to have higher electricity bills during the
warm summer months and higher natural gas bills during cooler
winter months. Many people find budgeting their energy bills a lot
easier if they are able to make the same payment amount from
month-to-month. Budget Billing evens out charges over 11 months and
then reconciles the account in the 12th month. It does not change
your total annual energy costs, but balances them out throughout
the year.
Carbon calculator
A tool that measures an individual's (or business') carbon
footprint based on the emission levels in their day to day
activities. Click here to
calculate your carbon footprint.
Carbon emissions
Carbon monoxide and dioxide released in the atmosphere from
vehicles and industrial processes.
Carbon footprint
This refers to the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into
the atmosphere in a given period (usually a year) as a result of an
individual's (or business') activities such as
heating/cooling/lighting our homes, driving our cars, etc.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless greenhouse gas that is naturally present in
the air. It is produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and
by respiration.
Centum Cubic-feet (CCF)
A unit of measurement typically associated with
industrial-consumption of natural gas or water. One CCF is
equivalent to 100 cubic-feet.
Climate
The weather conditions of a region, including: temperature, air
pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness and winds.
It is measured throughout the year, averaged over a series of
years.
Climate change
The change in global climate patterns over time.
Coal
A fossil fuel mostly made up of carbon that is a sedimentary rock.
It has been underground for millions of years and is usually
extracted through mining.
Commercial
A building or property that is made up of retail, industrial or
office space.
Commodity
A unit of commerce or trade that is of value and may be a raw
material. Natural Gas and Electricity are examples of
commodities.
Conservation
To save or preserve energy and reducing our negative impact on the
environment.
Cubic feet
A unit of measurement commonly used to express volume of natural
gas. One cubic foot is equal to the volume of a substance
that could fit within a space that is one foot times one foot time
one foot.
Deregulation
The removal of pricing and competition barriers for natural gas
and electricity providers in a given market, encouraging
competition and customer choice.
Dispose
To get rid of or destroy waste or garbage.
Distribution
The delivery of natural gas or electricity to your home or
business through local gas pipelines or electrical lines.
Drought
An extended period of time (6 months or longer) with a lack of
rain in a region.
Economy
A system of trade, commerce and business of goods and services in
a region.
Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction between organisms (and people)
within the environment.
Electricity
A controllable form of energy that is used for power, lighting,
appliances, electronics, heating and cooling. It is a secondary
energy source, which means that we get it from the conversion of
other primary sources including fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable
sources.
Emission reduction projects
Facilities and processes designed to reduce emissions and the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Energy
The capacity or power to do work by the application of force,
pressure or movement. Energy can exist in a variety of forms, such
as electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear and can be
transformed from one form to another.
Environment
Your complete surroundings including: nature, the atmosphere,
ecosystems and social/societal networks.
Ethanol
A clean-burning, renewable fuel made from agricultural products
such as wheat or corn.
Extreme weather
Dangerously cold or hot temperatures that can cause damage to
material goods and your well being.
Fixed Rate Plan
A fixed rate plan ensures your supply rate is fixed over a period
of time. This type of plan provides protection from market price
volatility.
Fossil fuels
Primary sources of energy including: coal, natural gas and oil
that are used to create heat and electricity. They are not
renewable sources and cause harmful emissions through the energy
creation process.
Gasification
The process of converting material into gas. Fossil fuels and
organic waste go through this process.
Generation
The production of electricity or heat.
Gigajoule (GJ) - A metric term used for measuring energy use. A single Gigajoule is equivalent to: 277.8 kWh of electricity, 26.1 m3 of natural gas, or 25.8 litres of heating oil.
Global warming
The gradual increase in the temperature of the earth's atmosphere.
It's mainly driven by rising levels of carbon dioxide in our
atmosphere, caused by our day-to-day activities and energy
consumption.
Green projects
Facilities and processes that reduce the negative environmental
impact of our energy consumption. These include renewable energy
and carbon offset projects. Click here to see projects in
your area!
Greenhouse gas Effect
The greenhouse effect is the result of heat absorption by gases in
the atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases absorb heat in the earth's lower
atmosphere and re-radiate some of the heat downward. This is known
as the Greenhouse Effect.
Habitat destruction
When habitats are damaged to an extent that they are no longer
capable of supporting the species and ecological communities that
naturally occur there.
Heat stress
A group of conditions due to overexposure to or overexertion in
excess environmental temperature.
Heat wave
A period of abnormally hot and usually humid weather.
Hurricane
A tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed
upwards of 74 miles per hour. The eye of a hurricane is usually
20-30 miles wide. Dangers associated with a hurricane include:
torrential rains, high winds and storm surges. These tropical
storms can last for over two weeks over open water and run a path
across the entire length of the Eastern Seaboard.
Hydro facility
A building/project that is used to harness and generate hydro
power. These include dams, mills and high-powered underground
wells.
Hydro power
Electricity generated by the force of water such as waterfalls,
rivers and streams.
Irrigation
The artificial application of water to land to assist in the
production of crops.
JustClean
A Just Energy product that allows you to offset up to 100% of your
household and vehicle pollution by supporting emission reduction
and renewable energy projects.
JustGreen
A Just Energy product that is tied to your commodity usage. With
JustGreen Power, the equivalent of up to 100% of the power you
consume is offset by renewable energy. With JustGreen Natural Gas,
up to 100% of the emissions caused by your natural gas consumption
is offset by emission reduction projects.
Kilowatt (kW)
A unit of measure commonly used in reference of electricity
whereby one kilowatt is equal to one thousand watts.
Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
A Kilowatt Hour is the standard unit of measuring electricity
consumption. More specifically, it is a measure of electrical
energy equivalent to the consumption of one thousand watts per
hour.
Kilometers
A metric unit of length equal to 1000 meters
Landfill gas (LFG)
Gas generated by the decomposition of organic material at landfill
disposal sites.
Landfill Gas Capture/Recovery
The process whereby landfill gas is captured, converted, and used
as an energy source.
MCF
A unit of measurement commonly used in low volume sectors of the
natural gas industry. MCF is equivalent to 1,000 cubic feet.
Megawatt
A unit of power equal to one million watts.
Metric Ton
A unit of weight equivalent to 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lb).
Methane gas
Also known as CH4, Methane is a colorless, odorless, gaseous
saturated hydrocarbon. Methane is formed by the decomposition of
plant and animal matter.
Natural gas
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless gas in its pure form
composed of mainly methane. It is used to heat homes and buildings,
cook food, dry clothes, warm water and produce
electricity.
Oil
Any mineral, vegetable and synthetic substance or animal and
vegetable fat that is generally slippery, combustible, viscous,
liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various
organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a
great variety of products, especially fuels.
Pipeline
A channel of pipe, especially one used for the transport of water,
gas, or petroleum products.
Pollution
To make unfit for or harmful to living things, especially by the
addition of waste matter.
Renewable energy
A form of energy generated from a natural source, such as the sun,
wind, tides, or waves
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
Are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities that represent proof
that a megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from a
renewable energy resource.
Renewable energy production projects
Projects that participate in the generation of renewable energy
such as windmill farm, hydro power plant or solar power plant.
Residential
A property or building that is made up of living space, such as
houses, apartments or condos.
Smog
A fog or haze that is intensified by smoke or other atmospheric
pollutants.
Solar panels
A panel exposed to radiation from the sun that is used to heat
water or, when mounted with solar cells, to produce electricity
Solar power
Electricity generated by the collection and transformation of the
sun's energy, ultraviolet (UV) ray.
Sustainable
Being capable of existing or functioning with minimal long-term
effect on the environment.
Therm
A unit of measurement often used when referencing natural gas that
is equivalent to 100 cubic feet.
Thermostat
A device commonly found in a home heating system, refrigerator, or
air conditioner, that automatically responds to temperature changes
and activates switches controlling the equipment.
Turbines
A machine that converts the kinetic energy of a moving fluid to
mechanical power by the impulse or reaction of the fluid with a
series of buckets, paddles, or blades.
Variable Rate
Also known as a month-to-month rate is a rate that fluctuates
based on changes in the commodity market.
Waste
Garbage; trash.
Water pollution
The contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and
groundwater).
Watt
An international system unit of power equal to one joule per
second.
Wind Plant/Farm
Typically consists of several hundred individual wind turbines
which are connected to the electric power transmission network.
Wind Power
Wind power is electricity obtained by harnessing the energy of
wind.
