ICS solar systems are also called "batch" or "breadbox" water heaters. They combine the collector and storage tank in one unit. The sun shining into the collector strikes the storage tank directly, heating the water. The large thermal mass of the water, p ...

The average amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth's upper atmosphere on a surface perpendicular to the sun's rays; equal to 1353 Watts per square meter or 492 Btu per square foot.

In a solar photovoltaic device, an n-type dopant, such as phosphorus, that puts an additional electron into an energy level very near the conduction band; this electron is easily exited into the conduction band where it increases the electrical conductivi ...

The process of burning; the oxidation of a material by applying heat, which unites oxygen with a material or fuel.

A column of gas at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (32 degrees Fahrenheit and one atmosphere).

A measure of the probability that a system demand will exceed capacity during a given period; often expressed as the estimated number of days over a long period, frequently 10 years or the life of the system.

Technologies that pertain to the generation of electricity.

A device that reduces heat loss at night and during cloudy periods and heat gain during the day in warm weather. A movable insulator could be an insulative shade, shutter panel, or curtain.

A complete PV power system composed of the module (or arrary), and balance-of-system (BOS) components including the array supports, electrical conductors/wiring, fuses, safety disconnects, and grounds, charge controllers, inverters, battery storage, etc.

All the natural and living things around us. The earth, air, weather, plants, and animals all make up our environment.

The gaseous byproducts of the combustion of a fuel.

The outer casing of a window that sits in a designated opening of a structure and holds the window panes in place.

A photovoltaic device where incident sunlight is split into different spectral regions, with an optical apparatus, that are directed to individual photovoltaic cells that are optimized for converting that spectrum to electricity.

A high-intensity discharge lamp type that uses mercury and several halide additives as light-producing elements. These lights have the best Color Rendition Index (CRI) of the High-Intensity Discharge lamps. They can be used for commercial interior lightin ...

Electric power plant or utility capacity on line and running at low power in excess of actual load.

The sum of sensible heat and latent heat in a substance above a base temperature, typically 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

A thermostat that can be set to automatically lower temperatures in an unoccupied house and raise them again before the occupant returns.

An open-loop solar heating system in which the heat transfer fluid from the collector loop and the piping drain into a drain whenever freezing conditions occur.

A mixture of substances that has a melting point lower than that of any mixture of the same substances in other proportions.

A system where heat is supplied to areas of a building from a single appliance through a network of ducts or pipes.