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GLOSSARY

biochar (BYE-oh-char): a charcoal made when biomass is burned in an oxygen-free environment

biofuels (BYE-oh-fyoo-uhlz): plant material, manure, and other organic materials used as fuel

biomass (BYE-oh-mass): organic matter; matter that comes from living things, such as plant material and animal waste

ecological footprint (ee-kuh-LOJ-uh-kuhl FUT-print): a measure of how much of the Earth's resources are needed to support a person or a particular nation

fossil fuels (FOSS-uhl FYOO-uhlz): coal, oil, and natural gas, formed from the remains of prehistoric organisms

global warming (GLOH-buhl WORM-ing): a gradual increase in the average global temperature

greenhouse gas (GREEN-houss GASS): a gas such as carbon dioxide or methane that holds heat in the Earth's atmosphere

human footprint (HYOO-muhn FUT-print): the ecological impact of a person's life on Earth

industrial revolution (in-DUHSS-tree-uhl rev-uh-LOO-shuhn): a major change in society that came about when machines, powered by fossil fuels, were used to produce food and other products

non-renewable energy (non-ri-NOO-uh-buhl EN-ur-jee): energy sources that are limited, such as the fossil fuels coal, oil, and natural gas

recycle (ree-SYE-kuhl): to collect waste materials and use them to produce new items

reduce (ri-DOOSS): make smaller

renewable energy (ri-NOO-uh-buhl EN-ur-jee): a source of energy that can never be used up, such as energy from the wind, waves, and the Sun

solar energy (SOH-lur EN-ur-jee): energy from the Sun

solid waste (SOL-id WAYST): discarded solid material; garbage