Effects, processes, objects, or materials derived from human activities, as opposed to those occurring in natural environments without human influences. 

The primary commodity produced by the anaerobic digestion process is biogas. Biogas refers to the gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel.

The process of anaerobic digestion naturally lowers the BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in the effluent waste stream. Depending on the waste stream the typical BOD & COD reduction levels achieved are over 90% of the original levels and the TSS (Total Suspended Solids) levels of waste stream are typically reduced over 50%.

A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas. BioStar facilities qualify for Greenhouse Gas emission offsets created by collecting, destroying and utilizing biogas produced by anaerobic treatment of animal manure, and managing waste using sustainable methods.

Carbon sequestration is one of the most promising means of reducing greenhouse emissions. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, even under the most optimistic scenarios for energy efficiency gains and the greater use of low- or no-carbon fuels, carbon sequestration will likely be essential if the world is to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at acceptable levels. BioStar's anaerobic digestion technology utilizes naturally-occurring bacteria and is a prime example of a commercially viable carbon sequestration technology.

Carbon Intensity (CI) is used to measure all greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, distribution and consumption of a fuel. Each year new CI benchmarks are set to reach LCFS program goals.

A measurement of the mass of something when completely dried. The dry matter of plant and animal material consists of all its constituents excluding water. 

Effluent is an outflowing of water or gas to a natural body of water, from a structure such as a wastewater treatment plant, sewer pipe, or industrial outfall.

One by-product of the digestive process that is expelled by the animal through burping. While other by-products (acetate, propionate and butyrate) are absorbed by the animal and used as energy precursors to produce milk, meat and wool. Enteric methane production is directly related to the level of intake, the type and quality of feed, the amount of energy consumed, animal size, growth rate, level of production, and environmental temperature.

Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts are the most common form of contract used to undertake construction works by the private sector on large-scale and complex infrastructure projects.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device to produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen into water. Like batteries, fuel cells convert potential chemical energy into electrical energy and generate heat as a by-product. Fuel cell power plants can directly harness the methane in the biogas to fuel the power system in lieu of using natural gas, thus making the biogas a renewable energy source. Fuel cell systems can be 47% efficient in the generation of electrical power and up to 80% efficient overall in Combined Heat and Power ( CHP ) applications when the available waste heat is recovered and used. Typical fossil fuel-powered plants operate at about 35% mechanical to electrical conversion efficiency.

Global warming potential (GWP) is the heat absorbed by any greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, as a multiple of the heat that would be absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide.

A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Methane produced in BioStar facilities replaces methane derived from fossil fuels. The carbon in the biodegradable waste is part of a carbon cycle and, as such, the carbon released from the combustion of biogas can be thought of as having been removed by plants in the recent past, for instance within the last decade, but typically within the last growing season. If these plants are re-grown, as is the case with crops, it can be argued that the systems can be considered to be carbon neutral. This contrasts with carbon in fossil fuels that have been sequestered in the earth for many thousands of years.

Waste diversion or landfill diversion is the process of diverting waste from landfills. The success of landfill diversion can be measured by comparison of the size of the landfill from one year to the next.

A low-carbon fuel standard (LCSF) is a rule enacted to reduce carbon intensity in transportation fuels as compared to conventional petroleum fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. The most common low-carbon fuels are alternative fuels and cleaner fossil fuels, such as natural gas.

 Methane and nitrous oxide are two important greenhouse gases. Important anthropogenic sources of biogenic methane are wet rice fields, cattle, animal waste, landfills and biomass burning. Important anthropogenic sources of biogenic nitrous oxide are land-use change, fertilizer production and use and manure application.

MMBtu (Metric Million British Thermal Unit), is a unit traditionally used to measure heat content or energy value. It is widely associated with measurement of natural gas in the energy terms globally.

The National Organic Program (NOP) is the federal regulatory framework in the United States of America governing organic food. It is also the name of the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service program responsible for administering and enforcing the regulatory framework.

The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is an international nonprofit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production and processing. OMRI Listed® products are allowed for use in certified organic operations under the USDA National Organic Program.

The elimination of pathogens and E. coli is a primary benefit of the anaerobic digestion process. Poultry and other livestock wastes are known to contain many pathogens that could potentially contaminate both surface water and groundwater resources.

A Renewable Identification Number is a serial number assigned to a batch of biofuel for the purpose of tracking its production, use, and trading as required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's RFS (Renewable Fuel Standard).

Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), also known as Sustainable Natural Gas or biomethane, is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and having a methane concentration of 90% or greater.