Environmental issues glossary

A glossary of words and phrases used in green construction and sustainable development.

H

Habitat II

United Nations Conference to discuss issues and problems faced by cities, the first being 1996 in Istanbul

Hazardous waste

A substance that is potentially damaging to the environment and harmful to humans and other living organisms.

Heat island effect

The rise in ambient temperature that occurs over large built up and paved areas. Strategic placement of trees can reduce this effect and reduce energy consumption for cooling by 15-30%.

Heat pump

A mechanical device used for heating and cooling which operates by pumping heat from a cooler to a warmer location. Heat pumps can draw heat from a number of sources, e.g., air water or earth and are classified as either air, water or ground source units.

Heat recovery ventilator

Exhaust fans that warm the incoming air with the heat from the outgoing air, recovering about 50-70% of the energy. In hot climates the function is reversed so that the cooler inside air passes by the incoming hot air and reduces its temperature.

Heat transfer

The transfer of heat is normally from a high temperature object to a lower temperature object. Heat transfer changes the internal energy of both systems involved according to the First Law of Thermodynamics.

Heavy metal

A high-atomic-weight metal such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury and uranium. Heavy metals can be toxic to plants or animals in relatively low concentrations and tend to accumulate in living tissue.

High density housing

Accommodation housing a large number of people in a small spatial area; often high rise to maximise ground space.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

See - Polyethylene.

Highway drain

A conduit draining the highway. On a highways maintainable at the public expense it is vested in the highway authority.

Holistic education

Education that seeks to develop the whole person and which promotes active global citizenship and environmental responsibility.

Hydrochlorfluorocarbon (HCFC)

Hydrochlorfluorocarbons or hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbons are used as a substitute for CFCs, as they are less destructive to Ozone, although less efficient as refrigerants and sometimes quite toxic.

Hydroflourocarbon (HFC)

A compound consisting of hydrogen, fluorine and carbon. HFCs do not deplete stratospheric Ozone, but they have Global warming potentials anywhere from 90 to 12 000 times that of Carbon dioxide.

Hydrology of soil types (HOST)

A classification used to indicate the permeability of the soil and the percentage Runoff from a particular area.

Human capital

The knowledge, skills, competence and attributes embodied in individuals that facilitate the attainment of personal well-being

Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)

The mechanical systems that heat, cool, ventilate, filter, humidify or treat air in buildings.

Hydrograph

A graph illustrating changes in the rate of flow from a Catchment with time

Hydrology

The study of water and its properties, including its distribution and movement in and through the land areas.

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