A method of preventing oxidation of the exposed metal in structures by imposing between the structure and the ground a small electrical voltage.

A unit of apparent power, equal to 1,000 volt-amperes; the mathematical product of the volts and amperes in an electrical circuit.

Water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.

The weight of a material per unit of volume compared to the weight of the same volume of water.

The negative pole or electrode of an electrolytic cell, vacuum tube, etc., where electrons enter (current leaves) the system; the opposite of an anode.

An air distribution outlet, typically located in the ceiling, which mixes conditioned air with room air.

The pressure corresponding to the outlet velocity of a fan; the kinetic energy per unit volume of flowing air.

A building structural element that is built onto a building's exterior along the inner edges of all the windows, and extending from the ground to the eaves. Wingwalls help ventilate rooms that have only one exterior wall which leads to poor cross ventilat ...

Energy available as a result of motion that varies directly in proportion to an object's mass and the square of its velocity.

The transparent or opaque sphere in an electric light that the electric light transmits through.

The transformation on a compound or material into one or more substances by heat alone (without oxidation). Often called destructive distillation. Pyrolysis of biomass is the thermal degradation of the material in the absence of reacting gases, and occus ...

Heat stored above room temperature (in a solar heating system).

Energy terms

The angular position of the sun at solar noon with respect to the plane of the equator.

A device that moves and/or circulates air and provides ventilation for a room or a building.

The purpose for which useful energy or work is consumed.

That portion of supply air that is drawn from outside, plus any recirculated air that has been treated to maintain a desired air quality.

A generic term for liquefied and pressurized gas, ordinarily butane, propane, or a mixture of the two, contained in a cylinder for domestic use.

A material used to seal areas of potential air leakage into or out of a building envelope.

A long, underground metal or plastic pipe through which air is drawn. As air travels through the pipe it gives up some of its heat to the soil, and enters the house as cooler air.