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 ...

The practice of using a single meter to measure consumption and generation of electricity by a small generation facility (such as a house with a wind or solar photovoltaic system). The net energy produced or consumed is purchased from or sold to the gener ...

A raw material that can be converted to one or more products.

The transfer of heat through matter or space by means of electromagnetic waves.

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

A construction element used for ceiling support.

A layer of semiconductor material, such as copper indium diselenide or gallium arsenide, a few microns or less in thickness, used to make solar photovoltaic cells.

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

A group of wind turbines interconnected to a common utility system through a system of transformers, distribution lines, and (usually) one substation. Operation, control, and maintenance functions are often centralized through a network of computerized mo ...

A curve that indicates the number of hours per year that specific wind speeds occur.

A material applied to window panes that controls heat gain and loss, reduces glare, minimizes fabric fading, and provides privacy. These films are retrofitted on existing windows.

Air brought into a building from outside to replace exhaust air.

The period of low energy demand, as opposed to maximum, or peak, demand.

A type of turbine in which combusted, pressurized gas is directed against a series of blades connected to a shaft, which forces the shaft to turn to produce mechanical energy.

A way of joining photovoltaic cells by connecting positive leads to negative leads; such a configuration increases the voltage.

A turbine that is driven by high velocity jets of water or steam from a nozzle directed to vanes or buckets attached to a wheel. (A pelton wheel is an impulse hydroturbine).

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

A furnace/combustion chamber in which finely ground fuel is blown in spirals in the combustion chamber to maximize combustion efficiency.

A device used to control temperatures; used to control the operation of heating and cooling devices by turning the device on or off when a specified temperature is reached.

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