Glossary

Energy-efficient alternative to furnaces, air conditioners,and water heaters that transfer heat between an indoor space and the outside air using the same vapor-compression refrigeration process as traditional air conditioners or refrigerators

Applying electricity to satisfy at least one of the following conditions without adversely affecting the others¹:

• Saves money
• Benefits the environment
• Improves quality of life
• Fosters grid resilience

¹Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), https://www.betoolkit.org/intro

Converting building systems that use fossil fuels (gas, oil, or propane) to high efficiency electric equipment increasingly powered by clean and renewable electricity².

²The Building Electrification Primer for City-Utility Coordination

“...the recognition that climate change is a human-made crisis that has primarily been wrought by those with economic power and privilege, while the effects of climate change have a disproportionately negative impact on the historically marginalized and underserved–primarily people of color and low-income communities around the world.”³

³B Corp, The Climate Justice Playbook for Business 2020

A hybrid space heating system that uses an electric heat pump for primary heating down to a set outdoor temperature and then a gas furnace for anything below that temperature (backup heat)

An equitable approach differs from an equality-based approach, which offers all community members the same resources, by recognizing that there are systemic factors that put certain community members at a disadvantage. An equitybased approach seeks to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of age, race or ethnicity, ability, gender, socio-economic status or any other distinguishing factor. Through an equitable lens, decisions are made to meet the needs of marginalized community members as a way to level the playingfield for everyone. ⁴

⁴Equitable Carbon-free Transportation Road Map, 2021.

Equitable climate action refers to local policy and personal habits that reduce climate pollution and increase community resilience in ways that do no harm, and that support all communities according to their needs.⁵

⁵Equitable Climate Action Team group definition, 2020.

Groups most impacted by climate change and most likely to be affected by crises of ecology, economy and democracy, but historically receiving the fewest benefits. This includes low-to medium-income communities, communities of color, those who speak languages other than English, people with disabilities, older adults, young children, people with criminal records, LQBTQ+, and refugees and immigrants. It is important to focus on frontline communities in climate action outreach and program development to ensure that any efforts are equitable and inclusive.⁶

⁶Climate Action Recommendations Report, 2020.

Greenhouse gases are gases that heat the atmosphere by absorbing infrared (longwave) light and ‘trapping’ it in the lower atmosphere. Direct sunlight (shortwave light, i.e., UV and visible) reaches the Earth’s surface unimpeded because greenhouse gases are transparent for shortwave light. Once shortwave light reaches the Earth's surface it is reradiated to the atmosphere as longwave (infrared) light.Greenhouse gases absorb this energy, heating the lower atmosphere. While gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally in the atmosphere, human activity has increased atmospheric concentrations.⁷

⁷National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, What are greenhouse gases? Accessed August 2019.

Operational indicators are directly linked to actions. They report on the progress of the action and how much the city is working towards that action.

Tactical indicators describe an effort that the city tries to increase or decrease with various actions, often these tactical indicators help build toward the overall strategic indicator. An example of a tactical indicator is "vehicle electrification."

Strategic indicators describe Longmont's greenhouse gas emissions and other overarching key indicators. An example of a strategic metric is “building emissions” or "water use".

Power provider that is owned by the cities of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, and generates the electricity that the four cities distribute

Energy that naturally refills and does not deplete (i.e. wind, solar)

Electricity that is powered from renewable energy sources (see renewable energy definition)

Water heaters that use electricity to move heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to heat water in a storage tank

Setting the same goals for all people and allowing different ways to achieve those goals for different groups of people. A targeted universalism approach allows for policy and incentive design to vary based on different starting points while directing everyone toward the same end goal