Fresnel LensAn optical device for concentrating light that is made of concentric rings that are faced at different angles so that light falling on any ring is focused…
FriableA term commonly used to describe a crumb-like callus. In this state, the callus is easily dissected and readily dispersed into single cells or clumps of…
Friction HeadThe energy lost from the movement of a fluid in a conduit (pipe) due to the disturbances created by the contact of the moving fluid with the surfaces of…
FrontageThe continuous linear distance along any approved way, measured on the street line, between the side lot lines.
Fuel cellA holding tank for a race car's supply of gasoline. Consists of a metal box that contains a flexible, tear-resistant bladder and foam baffling.
Fuel CellsElectro-chemical devices (similar to batteries) that use a continuous supply of hydrogen to produce electricity.
Fuel cycleThe series of steps required to produce electricity. The fuel cycle includes mining or otherwise acquiring the raw fuel source, processing and cleaning…
Fuel EfficiencyThe ratio of heat produced by a fuel for doing work to the available heat in the fuel.
Fuel handling systemA system for unloading wood fuel from vans or trucks, transporting the fuel to a storage pile or bin, and conveying the fuel from storage to the boiler or…
Fuel OilAny liquid petroleum product burned for the generation of heat in a furnace or firebox, or for the generation of power in an engine.
Fuel RateThe amount of fuel necessary to generate one kilowatt-hour of electricity.
Fuel-adjustment clauseA provision of a power sales agreement or rate schedule that allows for the electricity price to be changed based on changes in the price of the fuel used…
Fuel-cell furnaceA variation of the Dutch oven design, that usually incorporates a primary and secondary combustion chamber (cell).
Fugitive DustThe dust released from any source other than a definable point source such as stack, chimney, or vent.
Fujita ScaleThe official classification system for tornado damage. The scale ranges from F0 (gale tornado, minor damage, winds up to 72 mph) to F5 (devastating…
Full SunThe amount of power density in sunlight received at the earth's surface at noon on a clear day (about 1,000 Watts/square meter).
Full-time equivalent (FTE)(FTE)Equivalent to a full-time worker/employee. For example, two people, each working half time, constitute one FTE.
FungiPlant-like organisms with cells with distinct nuclei surrounded by nuclear membranes, incapable of photosynthesis.
FurbearerAn animal that is hunted or farmed for its fur.
furfuralAn aldehyde derivative of certain biomass conversion processes; used as a solvent.
FurlingThe process of forcing, either manually or automatically, a wind turbine's blades out of the direction of the wind in order to stop the blades from…
FurnaceAn enclosed chamber or container used to burn biomass in a controlled manner to produce heat for space or process heating.
Furnace (Residential)A combustion heating appliance in which heat is captured from the burning of a fuel for distribution, comprised mainly of a combustion chamber and heat…
FuseA safety device consisting of a short length of relatively fine wire, mounted in a holder or contained in a cartridge and connected as part of an…
Futures marketA market in which contracts for future delivery of a commodity or a security are bought and sold.
galactanThe polymer of galactose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5. Found in hemicellulose it can be hydrolyzed to galactose.
galactoseA six-carbon sugar with the formula C6H1206. A product of hydrolysis of galactan found in the hemicellulose fraction of biomass.
Gallium (Ga)(Ga)A chemical element, metallic in nature, used in making certain kinds of solar cells and semiconductor devices.
Gallium ArsenideA compound used to make certain types of solar photovoltaic cells.
gapA missing section on one of the strands of double-stranded DNA. The DNA will therefore have a single-stranded region.
Gas engineA piston engine that uses gaseous fuel rather than gasoline. Fuel and air are mixed before they enter cylinders; ignition occurs with a spark.
Gas shift processA process in which carbon monoxide and hydrogen react in the presence of a catalyst to form methane and water.
Gas turbineA type of turbine in which combusted, pressurized gas is directed against a series of blades connected to a shaft, which forces the shaft to turn to…
GasificationThe process in which a solid fuel is converted into a gas; also known as pyrolitic distillation or pyrolysis.
GasifierA device for converting a solid fuel to a gaseous fuel.
Gasket/SealA seal used to prevent the leakage of fluids, and also maintain the pressure in an enclosure.
GasoholA registered trademark of an agency of the state of Nebraska, for an automotive fuel containing a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.
GasolineA refined petroleum product suitable for use as a fuel in internal combustion engines.
GaussThe unit of magnetic field intensity equal to 1 dyne per unit pole.
GDAsSee Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas
Generalist (species)An organism that can survive under a wide variety of conditions, and does not specialize to live under any particular set of circumstances.
GenerationThe electricity generated by a system as recorded by a KWH meter, recorded in KWH or MWH.
GeneratorA device for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
GeoglyphsGround markings of a figure or shape produced by the clearing or alignment of stones.
Geographic air basin: A land area with generally similar meteorological and geographic conditions throughout.
Geographic Information System (GIS)(GIS)A set of computer tools and procedures used to collect, manage, analyze and display information associated with a specific location; a computerized…
GeologyThe science that deals with the study of the materials, processes, environments, and history of the Earth, including the rocks and their formation and…
Geometric spreadingAs the sound moves away from the source, the area that the sound energy covers becomes larger and thus sound intensity decreases.
GeomorphicPertaining to those processes that affect the form or shape of the surface of the earth.
Geopressurized BrinesThese brines are hot (300 F to 400 F) (149 C to 204 C) pressurized waters that contain dissolved methane and lie at depths of 10,000 ft (3048 m) to more…
GeotechnicalRefers to the use of scientific methods and engineering principles to acquire, interpret, and apply knowledge of earth materials for solving engineering…
Geotextile matsPermeable fabrics that interact with soils in manners used to reinforce soil surfaces for erosion, as well as act as filters for water, solutes, and fine…
Geothermal energyEnergy produced by the internal heat of the earth; geothermal heat sources include: hydrothermal convective systems; pressurized water reservoirs; hot dry…
Geothermal generating plantA plant in which the prime mover is a steam turbine. The turbine is driven either by steam produced from hot water or by natural steam that derives its…
Geothermal Heat PumpA type of heat pump that uses the ground, ground water, or ponds as a heat source and heat sink, rather than outside air.
Geothermal resourcesTypically underground reservoirs of hot water or steam created by heat from the Earth, but also include subsurface areas of dry hot rock.
Glacial tillAn unsorted, unstratified mixture of fine and coarse rock debris deposited by a glacier.
GlareThe excessive brightness from a direct light source that makes it difficult to see what one wishes to see.
Glauber's SaltA salt, sodium sulfate decahydrate, that melts at 90 degrees Fahrenheit; a component of eutectic salts that can be used for storing heat.
GlazingThe material, usually glass, that fills spaces between sash members (rails, stiles and muntins), commonly referred to as panes or lights.
GlintA momentary flash of light resulting from a spatially localized reflection of sunlight. See also Glare
Global WarmingA popular term used to describe the increase in average global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect.
Globex (GW)(GW)The electronic trading platform for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Since Sept.
glucanThe polymer of glucose with a repeating unit of C6H10O5. Cellulose is a form of glucan. Can be hydrolyzed to glucose. (Source: Voet, D.; Voet, J. G.
glucoseA type of sugar; the chief source of energy for living organisms.
glycerin(C3H8O3) A liquid by-product of biodiesel production. Glycerin is used in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants.
GovernorA device used to regulate motor speed, or, in a wind energy conversion system, to control the rotational speed of the rotor.
gr/SCFGrains of pollutant per standard cubic foot of gas. A measure of dust particles in a gas stream.
Graben (fault-bounded basins)An elongated crustal block that is relatively depressed (down dropped) between two parallel normal faults or horsts. See also Half-graben
Graminoid herbaceousA grass or plant of similar growth form, such as sedges, rushes, and others.
Grandfathered rightsIn Arizona, grandfathered water rights are based on historic use of groundwater for five years prior to the designation of an Active Management Area.
GraniteA coarse-grained felsic intrusive (or plutonic) igneous rock with at least 65% silica.
GranodioritesA plutonic igneous rock, formed by an intrusion of silica-rich magma, which cools in batholiths or stocks below the Earth's surface.
Graphic Information Systems (GIS)(GIS)GIS technology is used to develop maps that depict resources or features such as soil types, population densities, land uses, transportation corridors…
GrasslandsGrasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees.
GraverA small tool with a sharp tip that was used to engrave bone, stone, wood, or other materials.
GrazingConsumption of native forage from rangelands or pastures by livestock or wildlife.
Grazing allotmentAn area where one or more livestock operators graze their livestock. An allotment generally consists of federal land but may include parcels of private or…
Grazing leaseAn authorization that permits the grazing of livestock on public lands outside the grazing districts during a specified period of time (Section 15 of the…
Great BasinAn area covering most of Nevada and much of western Utah, as well as portions of southern Oregon and southeastern California, consisting primarily of…
Green Building or Green DesignBuilding design that yields environmental benefits, such as savings in energy, building materials, and water consumption, or reduced waste generation.
Green CertificatesGreen certificates represent the environmental attributes of power produced from renewable resources.
Green loggingThe logging of timber that is still alive.
Green PowerA popular term for energy produced from clean, renewable energy resources.
Green PricingA practice engaged in by some regulated utilities (i.e. power providers) where electricity produced from clean, renewable resources is sold at a higher…
Green ton2,000 pounds of undried biomass material. Moisture content must be specified if green tons are used as a measure of fuel energy.
GreenfieldsNewly developed commercial real estate on what was previously undeveloped open space.
Greenhouse EffectA popular term used to describe the heating effect due to the trapping of long wave (length) radiation by greenhouse gases produced from natural and human…