The direct, diffuse, and reflected solar radiation that strikes a surface.

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

The highest wind speed at which a wind turbine stops producing power.

A utility owned by stockholders or other investors; sometimes referred to as a private utility, in contrast to a public utility that is owned by a government agency or cooperative.

An electronic device that allows current to flow in one direction only.

An unregulated subsidiary of an electric utility that is allowed to generate and sell wholesale power as an independent energy producer, and is exempt from the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

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

A building with more than 50 percent of its floorspace used for commercial activities, which include stores, offices, schools, churches, libraries, museums, health care facilities, warehouses, and government buildings except those on military bases.

One pound of water in vapor phase; is NOT steam pressure, which is expressed as pounds per square inch (psi).

A frequently used room or area that is maintained at a more comfortable level than the rest of the house; also known as a "warm room."

A type of window having two layers (panes or glazing) of glass separated by an air space. Each layer of glass and surrounding air space reradiates and traps some of the heat that passes through thereby increasing the windows resistance to heat loss (R-val ...

The process of converting municipal solid waste to energy and/or recovering materials for recycling.

Ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH)

Solar Two is a retrofit of the Solar One project (see above). It is demonstrating the technical feasibility and power potential of a solar power tower using advanced molten-salt technology to store energy. Solar Two retains several of the main components ...

A type of lamp that produces light from sodium gas contained in a bulb operating at a partial pressure of 0.13 to 1.3 Pascal. The yellow light and large size make them applicable to lighting streets and parking lots.

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 amount of heated air, or heating capacity, to be supplied by a heating system; usually the maximum amount to be delivered based on a specified number of heating degree days or design outside temperature.

Any wholly or partially enclosed space in which combustion takes place.

The heat produced by combusting a specific quantity and volume of fuel in an oxygen-bomb colorimeter under specific conditions.

The vacancy where an electron would normally exist in a solid; behaves like a positively charged particle.