Debt vs. Equity : An amount of money borrowed and owed by one party to another is considered debt, for example: bonds, loans and commercial paper. Equity is a term whose meaning depends very much on the context, but in general, you can think of equity as ownership in any asset after all debts associated with that asset are paid off.
Debt-to-Capital Ratio : A measurement of a company's financial leverage, calculated as long-term debt divided by long-term capital. Total debt includes all short-term and long-term obligations. Total capital includes all common stock, preferred stock and long-term debt. This capital structure ratio can provide a more accurate view of a company's long-term leverage and risk, since it considers long-term debt and capital only. By excluding short-term financing in its calculation, the ratio provides an investor with a more accurate look into the capital structure a company will have if they were to own the stock over a long period of time.
Decomposition : The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi that changes the chemical makeup and physical appearance of materials.
Decontamination : Removal of harmful substances such as noxious chemicals, harmful bacteria or other organisms, from rooms and furnishings in buildings, or the exterior environment.
Demand : The amount of electricity drawn from an electric system at a given time, measured in kilowatts.
Demand-Side Management (DSM) : The process of managing the consumption of energy. DSM programs include, for instance, offering discounts on new, high-efficiency appliances so that consumers get rid of their older, less efficient models.
Deregulation : The process of removing restrictive regulations on previously regulated companies.
Detergent : A synthetic agent that removes dirt and oil. Some contain compounds that kill useful bacteria and encourage algae growth when they are in wastewater that reaches receiving waters.
Diesel Engine: An internal combustion engine wherein fuel is ignited by compression rather than spark that uses diesel as fuel.
Diesel Fuel: A petroleum-based fuel that is burned in engines ignited by compression rather than spark; commonly used for heavy-duty engines including buses and trucks. Boiling point and specific gravity are higher for diesel fuel than for gasoline.
Discharge : The release of any waste into the environment. Also, the release of a liquid waste into a body of water through an outlet such as a pipe, but also refers to air emissions.
Disinfectant : A chemical or physical process that kills pathogenic organisms in water, air, or on surfaces. Chlorine is often used to disinfect sewage treatment, water supplies, wells, and swimming pools.
Disposables : Consumer products and packaging used once or a few times and discarded.
Disposal : Final placement or destruction of toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted soils; and hazardous material drums. Disposal may use approved landfills, land farming, ocean dumping, or incineration.
Disposal Facilities : Repositories for solid waste, including landfills and combustors intended for permanent containment or destruction of waste materials.
Distributed Generation : A small-scale power generation technology that provides electric power at a site closer. The term is commonly used to indicate non-utility sources of electricity, including facilities for self-generation.
Distribution Cooperative : An electric cooperative that purchases wholesale power and delivers it to consumer members.
Distribution System : The poles, wire and transformers used to deliver electric energy from a bulk power supplier to the consumer.
Dredging : Removal of mud from the bottom of water bodies. This can disturb the ecosystem and cause silting that kills aquatic life. Dredging of contaminated mud can expose biota to heavy metals and other toxics. Dredging activities may be subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Wilson Community College | P.O. Box 4305 • 902 Herring Avenue | Wilson, NC 27893 | Phone: (252) 291-1195 | Fax: (252) 243-7148