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- afforestation
- carbon dioxide (Co2), carbon dioxide equivalent (Co2-e)
- carbon footprint
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- carbon sequestration
- carbon sink(s)
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- eco-footprint, ecological footprint
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- Fourth IPCC Assessment Report
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- greenhouse gases (GHG), greenhouse gas emissions, carbon emissions, emissions
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- saving water, water conservation, water efficiency
- solar panels, photovoltaics, PVs, solar array, solar cells
- standby power
- thermal mass
- triple bottom line (TBL, 3BL, or people, profit, planet)
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS)
- Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS)
carbon sink(s)
Refers to carbon reservoirs and conditions that absorb and store more carbon than they release. Trees and plants, for example, absorb carbon dioxide, release the oxygen and store the carbon. Fossil fuels were at one time biomass and continue to store the carbon until burned. Carbon sinks can be natural (forests, oceans, soils) or artificial (carbon capture and storage technology).
Developing carbon sinks is considered part of the long-term solution to reducing global warming and the effects of climate change. Increasing carbon sinks through afforestation (planting new forests) enhances one of the Earth’s natural ways to absorb additional carbon dioxide (Co2) in the atmosphere.