Glossary for the Environmental Engineering course

Word Meaning
Clean technologies Techniques and processes applied by industries to reduce their emissions, the
generation of contaminants and the use of energy.
Climate change Process caused from human activities which has caused increases in the
average temperature of the Earth each year.
Contaminants The chemical and/or biological process of removing or breaking down the
degradation contaminants in air, water or soil.
Emissions Chemical compounds in gas phase released by industries, factories, cars and
other activities.
Green energy An alternative source of energy to that provided by the combustion of fossil
fuels, which generates fewer emissions; for instance: solar energy or wind
energy.
Greenhouse effect Constant process that has been derived from an increase in the gas emissions
(CO2, CO, NO2 among others) from industries and human activities causing the
retention of contaminants in air and therefore more pollution and the increase
of temperatures.
Pollution Environmental contamination.
Residue Any subproduct from a process that has no further use and causes pollution if it
is not degraded or removed before its release to the environment.
Sewage system The system located in pipes underground where wastewaters are received or
captured.
Urban solids Contaminants in solid phase, mainly trash, that are produced in urban zones
such as cities.
Wastewater Water after being used, which is generated from human activities such as
domestic, industrial and farming.
Wastewater treatment The process carried out to clean or treat water (remove contaminants) for its
use in industries, houses, for irrigation or human consumption.