The measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a heat pump operating in the heating mode. It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of heat delivered for every watt-hour of electri ...

A class of power generator that is not a regulated utility and that has generating plants for the purpose of supplying electric power required in the conduct of their industrial and commercial operations.

A water heater that heats water before it is directly distributed for end use as required; a demand water heater.

The quantity of heat produced to change a unit weight of a liquid to vapor with no change in temperature.

The process in which a solid fuel is converted into a gas; also known as pyrolitic distillation or pyrolysis. Production of a clean fuel gas makes a wide variety of power options available.

The ability of a building construction assembly (partition, wall, floor, etc.) to resist the passage of fire. The rating is expressed in hours.

A refined petroleum product suitable for use as a fuel in internal combustion engines.

The process of managing the consumption of energy, generally to optimize available and planned generation resources.

The path followed by electrons from a generation source, through an electrical system, and returning to the source.

A type of municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration facility in which MSW is burned with only minor presorting to remove oversize, hazardous, or explosive materials. Mass burn facilities can be large, with capacities of 3000 tons (2.7 million kg) of MSW pe ...

The rate of heat production by a steady current in any part of an electrical circuit that is proportional to the resistance and to the square of the current, or, the internal energy of an ideal gas depends only on its temperature.

A device for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.

A device that tracks the movement of the sun; used to orient solar concentrating systems.

A heating system, such as a solar water heater or geothermal heatpump, in which the working fluid is heated and used directly; in an open-loop solar system, the domestic water is circulated in the collector loop.

The natural, convective movement of air or water due to differences in temperature. In solar passive design a thermosyphon collector can be constructed and attached to a house to deliver heat to the home by the continuous pattern of the convective loop (o ...

A type of wind turbine in which the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the wind stream and the ground.

The concept of capturing and converting the energy available in the motion of ocean waves to energy.

A device for converting continuous circular motion into reciprocating rectilinear motion.

The point or outdoor temperature where the heating capacity of a heat pump matches the heating requirements of a building.

A federal agency established in 1933 to develop the Tennessee river valley region of the southeastern U.S., and which is now nation's largest power producer.