GEF

243 Glossary KEYSTONE SPECIES  A species that has a vital regu- latory influence on its ecosystem. KILOWATT-HOUR  A measurement of energy con- sumption that is used by electric utility companies for billing energy to consumers. LEAN MANUFACTURING  A set of manufacturing practices that prioritize efficiency and the minimiza- tion of waste. LED LIGHTING  Light Emitting Diodes, which are highly energy efficient lighting sources and are increasingly used in green building. LEED STANDARDS  A widespread rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council that certifies buildings based on their sustainability in terms of water and energy use, materials, and occu- pant health. LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT  An analysis of the entire energy, materials, and waste parameters of prod- ucts and services throughout their entire life. LIFE-CYCLE COSTING  An accounting method that considers costs and cost savings of products and ser- vices for their entire life cycle. LINEAR ECONOMY  A traditional approach to the production and use of products and services in which resources are used and then discarded. LITHOSPHERE  The Earth’s crust and upper mantle. MARKET FAILURE  In economics, a situation where free markets fail to allocate resources efficiently, producing a negative result for society, such as resource depletion or pollution. MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS  A set of eight development goals outlined by the United Nations to increase global well-being and improve global health by 2015. MOLECULES  Groups of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. MONOPOLY  An economic situation where there is a single provider of a good or service. MONTREAL PROTOCOL  An international treaty signed in 1987 to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer, specifically CFCs. NANOPARTICLE  A microscopic particle of matter that is measured on the nanoscale, usually one that measures less than 100 nanometers. NEGAWATT  A negative megawatt; a megawatt of power saved by increasing efficiency or reducing consumption. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO)  An organization that is not a government entity or a for-profit business. NO-TILL FARMING  An agricultural practice in which seeds are planted without plowing, leading to many environmental benefits. NUCLEAR FISSION  A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom continuously splits into smaller parts which releases an enormous amount of sustained energy; this is the basis of the energy- producing process in nuclear power plants. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION  An ongoing decrease in the pH of the oceans, due to uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE  Agriculture that does not permit the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesti- cides or genetically modified organisms. OZONE DEPLETION  Damage to the ozone layer of the atmosphere, causing increased levels of ultravio- let radiation to reach the Earth’s surface. OZONE LAYER  The portion of the atmosphere that protects life on Earth from harm by absorbing incoming ultraviolet (UV) radiation.