A building that is elongated in the east-west direction, with the majority of the windows on the south side. The area of the windows is generally limited to about 7% of the total floor area. A sun-tempered design has no added thermal mass beyond what is a ...

A closed-loop solar heating system in which the heat transfer fluid in the collector loop drains into a tank or reservoir whenever the booster pump stops to protect the collector loop from freezing.

The process of removing moisture; involves evaporation.

A general term for the visible and near visible (ultraviolet and near-infrared) electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the sun. It has a spectral, or wavelength, distribution that corresponds to different energy levels; short wavelength radiation ha ...

The demand on an energy producing system; the energy consumption or requirement of a piece or group of equipment.

A type of house that has massive amounts of insulation, airtight construction, and controlled ventilation without sacrificing comfort, health, or aesthetics.

The loss in static pressure of a fluid (liquid or gas) in a system due to friction from obstructions in pipes, from valves, fittings, regulators, burners, etc, or by a breech or rupture of the system. Pressurization Testing

A valve operated by a thermostat that can be installed in solar water heating systems to mix cold water with water from the collector loop to maintain a safe water temperature.

A type of furnace in which fuel is spread, automatically or mechanically, across the furnace grate.

A smaller version of standard fluorescent lamps which can directly replace standard incandescent lights. These lights consist of a gas filled tube, and a magnetic or electronic ballast.

An amount to be paid for energy periodically by a customer without regard to demand or energy consumption.

Any material that can be burned to make energy.

A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp(s), housing, and connection to the power circuit.

The angle that a solar collector is positioned from horizontal.

A device used to regulate motor speed, or, in a wind energy conversion system, to control the rotational speed of the rotor.

The unoccupied, and usually unfinished and unconditioned space between the floor, foundation walls, and the slab or ground of a building.

A type of heating system that provides heat from the resistance of an electrical current flowing through a conductor.

The component of a solar energy heating system that collects solar radiation, and that contains components to absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat to a heat transfer fluid (air or liquid).

The physical process by which a liquid or solid is transformed into the gaseous state. For this process a mechanical device uses the outside air's heat to evaporate water that is held by pads inside the cooler. The heat is drawn out of the air through thi ...

A self-contained toilet that use the process of aerobic decomposition (composting) to break down feces into humus and odorless gases.