A measure of the effective cooling capacity of a refrigerator, expressed in Btu per hour or in tons, where one (1) ton of capacity is equal to the heat required to melt 2,000 pounds of ice in 24 hours or 12,000 Btu per hour.

A device that transfers heat by the continuous evaporation and condensation of an internal fluid.

An instrument for measuring solar radiation.

The amount of time required for positive cash flows to equal the total investment costs.

The generation of an electric current, when two conductors of different metals are joined at their ends to form a circuit, with the two junctions kept at different temperatures.

The area of glass that fits in the window frame.

A solar energy concentrating technology that uses a linear receiver that tracks the focal area of a reflector or array of reflectors.

An electricity generating facility that uses geothermal energy.

An index that combines sensible temperature and air humidity to arrive at a number that closely responds to the effective temperature; used to relate temperature and humidity to levels of comfort.

Power generated by a utility unit that operates at a very low capacity factor; generally used to meet short-lived and variable high demand periods.

A type of solar thermal collector in which a heat transfer fluid drips out of header pipe at the top of the collector, runs down the collector absorber and into a tray at the bottom where it drains to a storage tank.

Energy generated from an electromagnetic field produced by an electric current flowing through a superconducting wire kept at a specific low temperature.

The replacement of a non-functional or ineffective lamp with a new, more efficient lamp.

A way of joining photovoltaic cells or modules by connecting positive leads together and negative leads together; such a configuration increases the current, but not the voltage.

A component of a water heating system that opens at a designated temperature or pressure to prevent a possible tank, radiator, or delivery pipe rupture.

A structure or media that absorbs heat.

A configuration of an electrical circuit in which the positive lead is connected to the negative lead of another energy producing, conducting, or consuming device. The voltages of each device are additive, whereas the current is not.

The rate of energy transfer equivalent to one ampere under an electrical pressure of one volt. One watt equals 1/746 horsepower, or one joule per second. It is the product of Voltage and Current (amperage).

Fuels that cannot be easily made or "renewed," such as oil, natural gas, and coal.

This committee has jurisdiction on: coal production, distribution and utilization; energy policy; energy research, conservation, and development; hydroelectric power; irrigation; mineral conservation; nonmilitary development of nuclear energy; solar energ ...