Glossary of Alternative Energy Terms
Energy Efficiency
Amp
Electrical current; a measure of flowing electrons.
Amp-hour
A measure of flowing electron for a period of time.
Audit
An energy audit seeks energy inefficiencies and
prescribes improvements.
Battery
A collection of cells that store electrical energy; each
cell converts chemical energy into electricity or vice versa,
and is interconnected with other cells to form a battery for
storing useful quantities of electricity.
Btu
British Thermal Unit; the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree
Fahrenheit; 3411 BTUs equals one kilowatt-hour.
Cogeneration
Production of two useful forms of energy such as
high-temperature heat and electricity from the same process.
For example, while boiling water to generate electricity, the
leftover steam can be sold for industrial processes or space
heating.
Combustion
Chemical oxidation accompanied by the generation of
light and heat.
Energy conservation
Reduction or elimination of unnecessary energy use and
waste.
Energy intensity
Ratio between the consumption of energy to a given
quantity of output; usually refers to the amount of primary
or final energy consumed per unit of gross domestic
product.
Energy quality
Ability of a form of energy to do useful work.
High-temperature heat and the chemical energy in fossil fuels
and nuclear fuels are concentrated high quality energy.
Low-quality energy such as low-temperature heat is dispersed
or diluted and cannot do much useful work.
Energy
The capacity for doing work as measured by the capability
of doing work (potential energy) or the conversion of this
capability to motion (kinetic energy). Energy has several
forms, some of which are easily convertible and can be
changed to another form useful for work. Most of the world's
convertible energy comes from fossil fuels that are burned to
produce heat that is then used as a transfer medium to
mechanical or other means in order to accomplish tasks. In
the United States, electrical energy is often measured in
kilowatt-hours (kWh), while heat energy is often measured in
British thermal units (Btu).
Energy-efficiency
The ratio of the useful output of services from an
article of industrial equipment to the energy use by such an
article; for example, vehicle miles traveled per gallon of
fuel (mpg).
Fugitive emissions
Unintended gas leaks from the processing, transmission,
and/or transportation of fossil fuels, CFCs from
refrigeration leaks, SF6 from electrical power
distributor, etc.
Fluidized bed combustion (FBC)
Process for burning coal more efficiently, cleanly, and
cheaply. A stream of hot air is used to suspend a mixture of
powdered coal and limestone during combustion. About 90 to 98
percent of the sulfur dioxide produced during combustion is
removed by reaction with limestone to produce solid calcium
sulfate.
Generator
Any device that produces electricity.
Grid<
A utility term for the network of wires that distribute
electricity from a variety of sources across a large area.
The "grid" powers most homes and offices across the
country.
Heat Exchanger
A device that passes heat from one substance to another;
in a solar hot water heater, for example, the heat exchanger
takes heat harvested by a fluid circulating through the solar
panel and transfers it to domestic hot water.
Insulation
A material that keeps energy from crossing from one place
to another: on electrical wire, it is the plastic or rubber
that covers the conductor; in a building, insulation makes
the walls, floor, and roof more resistant to the outside
(ambient) temperature.
Inverter
The electrical device that changes direct current (DC)
into alternating current (AC).
Kilowatt
1000 watts.
Kilowatt/hour
One kilowatt of power used for one hour. A typical house
uses 750 kW/hrs per month.
Load
An electrical device, or the amount of power required by
such a device.
Megawatt (MW)
1,000,000 watts.
"Off-the-grid"
Not connected to the power lines: electric
self-sufficiency.
Phantom Loads
Appliances that draw power 24 hours a day, even when you
turn them off. TVs, VCRs, microwave ovens with clocks, and
plugs with the integrated little black box all contain
phantom loads.
R-value
Resistance value, used specifically for materials used
for insulating structures. Three inches of fiberglass
insulation has an R-value of 11.
Volt
Measure of electrical potential, 110-volt house
electricity has more potential to do work than an equal flow
of 12-volt electricity.
Watt
Measure of power (or work) equivalent to 1/746 of a
horsepower.
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