With reference to ISO standards, the definitions commonly used by professionals at an international level are provided (in alphabetical order). English terminologies are indicated in round brackets, along with references to the corresponding clause in the standard. Literal translations are in italics.
Allocation
(Allocation or Partitioning - ISO 14040, clause 3.1): division of input or output flows of a unified process belonging to the studied product system. Attribution, in this context, of the energy, materials, and emissions load corresponding to an output of the production system under examination according to specific rules and methodologies.
Impact Analysis
(Life Cycle Impact Assessment - ISO 14040, clause 3.10): stage in an LCA aimed at the study and evaluation of the potential environmental impact caused by the product system under examination, with the purpose of highlighting the extent of changes resulting from resource consumption and releases to the environment as calculated in the inventory.
Life Cycle Analysis
(LCA - ISO 14040, clause 3.9): collection and evaluation of inputs, outputs, and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. Represents an objective process for evaluating the energy and environmental burdens related to a process, activity, or service, carried out through the identification and quantification of the energy and materials used and the waste released into the environment. The assessment covers the entire life cycle, including extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, use, reuse, recycling, and final disposal. An LCA consists of the following four main phases:
- Definition of purpose and objectives;
- Inventory analysis;
- Impact analysis;
- Interpretation and improvement.
In Italian, the term LCA is commonly translated as Life Cycle Analysis.
Sensitivity Analysis
(Sensitivity analysis - ISO 14041, clause 3.11): systematic procedure to estimate the effects on results caused by variations in the adopted method or data used.
Energy Analysis
(Energy analysis): technique to examine how energy resources are utilized to perform useful operations.
Environmental Aspect
(ISO 14050): Element of an organization's activity, product, or service that can interact with the environment.
Environmental Audit
(ISO 14050): Systematic and documented verification process to know and objectively evaluate whether specific activities, events, conditions, environmental management systems, or related information comply with audit criteria and to communicate the results of this process to the client.
Barrel
Volume unit corresponding to 159 liters, commonly used for measuring the quantity of oil (a barrel of crude oil is approximately 0.137 tons). International petroleum production is usually identified in barrels per day.
Mass Balance
(Mass balance): mathematical expression where the sum of all inputs in a system equals the sum of all outputs.
Biodiesel
Alternative fuel to petroleum derivatives obtained using vegetable oils; being sulfur-free, it does not emit sulfur dioxide during combustion and is highly biodegradable.
Biomass
(Biomass): biological material of non-fossil origin used for energy purposes. Biomass includes agricultural and forestry residues, agri-food industry waste, livestock farming effluents, organic parts of urban waste, specifically cultivated plant species (e.g., energy crops), other plant species used for organic liquid purification.
BTU
(British Thermal Unit): unit of measure of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1°F when its temperature is about 39.2°F. One BTU is equivalent to approximately 0.252 kcal.
Calorie
Unit of measure of the amount of heat needed to provide to one gram of water to increase its temperature by one degree Celsius. The multiple of the calorie is the kilocalorie (kcal).
Fossil Carbon
Mineral composed of more or less fossilized plant remains that burn with a strongly exothermic reaction. The higher the content of moisture, ash, and sulfur, the better the heat quality. According to geological classification, fossil carbons are divided into peat, lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite.
CFC
Chlorofluorocarbons. Chlorinated and/or fluorinated hydrocarbons artificially produced and used in the industry (refrigeration circuits, spray can propellants, solvents, etc.) for their physical and thermodynamic properties. They can be dissociated by solar radiation, releasing chlorine and fluorine, which combine with atmospheric ozone.
Part 2 follows
