An amount paid by a customer for being connected to an electricity supplier's transmission and distribution system.

An insulation product made of a fibrous material or plastic foams, pressed or extruded into board-like forms. It provides thermal and acoustical insulation strength with low weight, and coverage with few heat loss paths.

A term used to describe a technologically advanced window system that contains glazing that can change or switch its optical qualities when a low voltage electrical signal is applied to it, or in response to changes in heat or light.

A popular term used for an evaporative cooling device.

Recombination occurring in the emitter region of a photovoltaic cell.

A plan developed by an electric utility, sometimes as required by a public regulatory commission or agency, that defines the short and long term capacity additions (supply side) and demand side management programs that it will undertake to meet projected ...

The analysis of atmospheric conditions, particularly moisture in the air.

A circular projection of the sky vault onto a flat diagram used to determine solar positions and shading effects of landscape features on a solar energy system.

That part of an electricity bill that is based on the amount of electrical energy consumed or supplied.

A means of billing electric power consumers to pay for the costs of demand side management/energy conservation measures and programs. (See also Benefits Charge.)

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

A gasifier in which the feedstock (fuel) is suspended by the movement of gas to move it through the gasifier.

A popular term for localized or on-site power generation.

A commmon term refering to an electricity transmission and distribution system.

A solar energy system designed to provide heat to individual rooms in a building.

A construction element used to cover the exterior of wall framing and roof trusses.

The amount of power density in sunlight received at the earth's surface at noon on a clear day (about 1,000 Watts/square meter).

Legal documents that regulate construction to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people. Codes establish minimum standards but do not guarantee efficiency or quality.

A chemical element (impurity) added in small amounts to an otherwise pure semiconductor material to modify the electrical properties of the material. An n-dopant introduces more electrons. A p-dopant creates electron vacancies (holes).

A method used to estimate building heating loads by assuming that heat loss and gain is proportional to the equivalent heat-loss coefficient for the building envelope.