A method for making sheets of polycrystalline silicon in which silicon dendrites are slowly withdrawn from a melt of silicon whereupon a web of silicon forms between the dendrites and solidifies as it rises from the melt and cools.

The production of an electric current in a conductor by the variation of a magnetic field in its vicinity.

A mound of dirt next to exterior walls to provide wind protection and insulation.

A unit of heat containing 100,000 British thermal units (Btu).

A two step process where in the first step natural gas is exposed to a high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The second step is to convert the carbon monoxide with steam to produce additional hydrogen and carbon ...

A large number of thermocouples connected in series.

A type of heat pump that uses sealed horizontal or vertical pipes, buried in the ground, as heat exchangers through which a fluid is circulated to transfer heat.

A device that measures the intensity of direct beam solar radiation.

Ratio of useful energy output of a device to the energy input, averaged over an entire heating season.

The amount of energy service or useful energy delivered per unit of energy input. Often used in reference to lighting systems, where the visible light output of a luminary is relative to power input; expressed in lumens per Watt; the higher the efficacy v ...

A non-crystalline semiconductor material that has no long-range order.

The housing around a motor that supports the active parts and protects them. They come in different varieties (open, protected) depending on the degree of protection required.

An abbreviation for one thousand cubic feet of natural gas with a heat content of 1,000,000 Btus, or 10 therms.

The maximum possible voltage across a photovoltaic cell; the voltage across the cell in sunlight when no current is flowing.

The cutting of a grid pattern of grooves in a semiconductor material, generally for the purpose of making interconnections.

A heat absorbing reaction or a reaction that requires heat.

A total life cycle cost divided into equal amounts.

Those elements of building used to control the interior climate.

Generation of energy at the location where all or most of it will be used.

A tube in which combustion gases from a combustion appliance are vented out of the appliance to the outdoors.