Habitat : (1) the environment in which an organism or population lives and grows; also the specific characteristics (climate, food sources) that make that area suitable for the living populations.
Hazardous Chemical : An EPA term for any hazardous material requiring an MSDS under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Such substances are capable of producing fires and explosions or adverse health effects like cancer and dermatitis. Hazardous chemicals are distinct from hazardous waste. (See: Hazardous Waste)
Hazardous Waste : Solid wastes that pose substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
Hazardous Waste Landfill : A specially permitted, excavated or engineered area where hazardous waste is deposited and covered.
Haze : An atmospheric condition marked by a slight reduction in visibility, resulting from the formation of photochemical smog, radiation of heat from the ground surface on hot days, or the development of a thin mist.
Health Hazard: The term includes chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic agents, reproductive toxins, irritants, corrosives, and agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.
Herbicide : A pesticide that controls or kills plants, weeds, or grasses. Almost 70% of all pesticide used by farmers and ranchers are herbicides.
Home and Farm Wind : Wind energy systems that are generally under 100kW and produce power for on-site use. Differing from commercial, or large scale wind, home and farm wind can be considered for residential, small business, or farm applications. Wind turbines under 100 kilowatts cost roughly $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt of capacity. That means a 10 kilowatt machine (the size needed to power an average home) might cost $35,000-$40,000.
Household Hazardous Waste : Hazardous products used and disposed of by residential consumers. Includes paints, stains, varnishes, solvents, pesticides, or products containing volatile chemicals that can catch fire, react or explode, or that are corrosive or toxic.
Hydroelectric : Electric energy produced by the force of moving water.
Hydrofluorocarbons : Used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2.
Hydropower : Energy or power produced by conversion the power of moving water into energy.
Hypoxia : The depletion of dissolved oxygen in water, resulting from an overabundance of nutrients of human or natural origin that stimulates the growth of algae, which in turn die and require large amounts of oxygen as the algae decompose. It was the most frequently cited direct cause of fish kills in the U.S. from 1980 to 1989.
Wilson Community College | P.O. Box 4305 • 902 Herring Avenue | Wilson, NC 27893 | Phone: (252) 291-1195 | Fax: (252) 243-7148