Energy available from the movement of the wind across a landscape caused by the heating of the atmosphere, earth, and oceans by the sun.

A term applied to warm-air heating systems that deliver heated air to rooms by means of registers or baseboards located along exterior walls.

The loss of heat as the water circulates through a water heater tank and inlet and outlet pipes.

Energy that comes from splitting atoms of radioactive materials, such as uranium, and which produces radioactive wastes.

A building element that shades windows, walls, and doors from direct solar radiation and protects these elements from precipitation.

A device that can be set to automatically turn appliances (lights) off and on at set times.

A material with high absorbtance and low emittance properties applied to or on solar absorber surfaces.

A solar absorber surface that has high absorbtance at wavelengths corresponding to that of the solar spectrum and low emittance in the infrared range.

Wood, used for fuel, that has been air dried so that it contains 15 to 20 percent moisture content (wet basis).

A study of the transformation of energy from one form to another, and its practical application. (see Law(s) of Thermodynamics above).

As time increases from zero at the terminals of an inductor, the voltage comes to a particular value on the sine function curve ahead of the current. The voltage reaches its negative peak exactly 90 degrees before the current reaches its negative peak thu ...

This law states that no device can completely and continuously transform all of the energy supplied to it into useful energy.

The complete cycle of stages (evaporation and condensation) of refrigeration or of the refrigerant.

A solar thermal system that has one tank for storing solar heated water to preheat the water in a conventional water heater.

A measure of the percent of moisture actually in the air compared with what would be in it if it were fully saturated at that temperature. When the air is fully saturated, its relative humidity is 100 percent.

Materials left over from making nuclear energy. Radioactive waste can living organisms if it is not stored safely.

The maximum energy demand or load in a specified time period.

The load created by moisture in the air, including from outside air infiltration and that from indoor sources such as occupants, plants, cooking, showering, etc.

A type of solar heating system that circulate warm water from storage through the collectors and exposed piping whenever freezing conditions occur; obviously a not very efficient system when operating in this mode.

The labels placed on appliances to enable consumers to compare appliance energy efficiency and energy consumption under specified test conditions as required by the Federal Trade Commission.