A seal used to prevent the leakage of fluids, and also maintain the pressure in an enclosure.

An instrument for measuring solar radiation.

One thousand kilowatts, or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity.

Equal to gross generation less electricity consumption of a power plant.

A type of water heater that circulates water through a heat exchanger in a boiler. The heated water then flows into an insulated storage tank.

A house built using passive solar design techniques.

A gas that does not react with other substances; e.g. argon or krypton; sealed between two sheets of glazing to decrease the U-value (increase the R-Value) of windows.

A hydrocarbon gas obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and coal deposits. It generally contains a high percentage of methane, varying amounts of ethane, and inert gases; used as a heating fuel.

A coil of tungsten wire suspended in a vacuum or inert gas-filled bulb. When heated by electricity the tungsten "filament" glows.

The process of cooling by which a heat absorbing media absorbs heat from one source and radiates the heat away.

This designates the resistance of a material to heat conduction. The greater the R-value the larger the number.

A salt, sodium sulfate decahydrate, that melts at 90 degrees Fahrenheit; a component of eutetic salts that can be used for storing heat.

A solar energy conversion device that has a bowl shaped dish covered with a highly reflective surface that tracks the sun and concentrates sunlight on a fixed absorber, thereby achieving high temperatures, for process heating or to operate a heat (Stirlin ...

The unit price of a good or service estimated from some base year in order to provide a consistent means of comparison.

These lights use an electrically heated filament to produce light in a vacuum or inert gas-filled bulb.

A valve used to mix heated water with cold in a heating system to provide a desired water temperature for end use.

The minimum temperature at which combustion of a solid or fluid can occur.

Individual rooms or zones in a building where temperature is controlled separately from other rooms or zones.

This is a national organization dedicated to representing the interests of cooperative electric utilities and the consumers they serve. Members come from the 46 states that have an electric distribution cooperative.

A corporation, person, agency, authority or other legal entity that owns and/or operates facilities for the generation, transmission, distribution or sale of electricity primarily for use by the public.