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K
Kilowatt (kW)
One thousand watts of electrical power.
Kilowatt hour (kWh)
A measure of electricity defined as a unit of energy, measured as 1 kilowatt (or 1,000
watts) of power consumed for 1 hour.
Kyoto Protocol
First adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, at the 3rd session of the Conference of Parties
(COP3), the Kyoto Protocol contains legally binding commitments about reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. It first stated greenhouse gas emissions must be at least
5% lower than 1990 levels by the commitment period, 2008 - 2012. In 2012 at
COP18, a second commitment period was established that said parties committed
must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 18% lower than 1990 levels from
2013 to 2020. However, this second commitment did not receive enough
ratifications to go into force.
L
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
A life cycle assessment is a compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and
potential environmental impacts that a product or service has throughout its full
lifecycle.
Load (electric)
A load is an electrical component or portion of an electrical circuit that consumes
power. It can refer to an individual consumer's usage or an electrical appliance's
usage.
