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

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

A group of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; a series of molecules composed of a hydrocarbon plus a hydroxyl group; includes methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and others.

A type of insulation material with fine, closed cells, containing a mixture of air and refrigerant gas. This insulation has a high R-value, good moisture resistance, and high structural strength compared to other rigid insulation materials.

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

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

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

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 ...

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

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

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 total life cycle cost divided into equal amounts.

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

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.

Those elements of building used to control the interior climate.

Any light source designed specifically to direct light a task or work performed by a person or machine.

These are state government agencies responsible for the regulation of public utilities within a state or region. A state legislature oversees the PUC by reviewing changes to utility laws, rules and regulations and approving the PUC's budget. The commissio ...

As defined in the Energy Security Act (P.L. 96-294; 1980) as "any organic matter, including sewage, sewage sludge, and industrial or commercial waste, and mixtures of such matter and inorganic refuse from any publicly or privately operated municipal waste ...