The load-carrying ability of an electric power plant during a specific time interval and period when related to the characteristics of the load to be/being supplied; determined by capability, operating power factor, and the portion of the load the station ...

The production of energy by a system or appliance at a level less than its design or nominal capacity.

The process of changing regulatory policies and laws to increase competition among suppliers of commodities and service. The process of deregulating the electric power industry was initiated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. (See also Restructuring)

The process of removing moisture; involves evaporation.

The amount of conditioned air to be supplied by a cooling system; usually the maximum amount to be delivered based on a specified number of cooling degree days or design temperature.

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.

Period of time a system or appliance (or component of) is expected to function at its nominal or design capacity without major repair.

The temperature that a system is designed to maintain (inside) or operate against (outside) under the most extreme conditions.

For a wind turbine, the ratio of the speed of the tip of a turbine blade for which the power coefficient is at maximum.

The nominal voltage for which a conductor or electrical appliance is designed; the reference voltage for identification and not necessarily the precise voltage at which it operates.

To condition/cool air by dessication.

An energy saving device in a heat pump that, during the cooling cycle, recycles some of the waste heat from the house to heat domestic water.

The temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant pressure and water vapor content, in order for saturation or condensation to occur; the temperature at which the saturation pressure is the same as the existing vapor pressure; also called saturatio ...

The difference in electrical pressure (voltage) between any two points in an electrical system or between any point in an electrical system and the earth.

A type of automatic thermostat (used on solar heating systems) that responds to temperature differences (between collectors and the storage components) so as to regulate the functioning of appliances (to switch transfer fluid pumps on and off).

Sunlight scattered by atmospheric particles and gases so that it arrives at the earth's surface from all directions and can not be focused.

The mean distance a free electron or hole moves before recombining with another hole or electron.

A device in which organic material is biochemically decomposed (digested) by anaerobic bacteria to treat the material and/or to produce biogas.

A light control device that allows light levels to be manually adjusted. A dimmer can save energy by reducing the amount of power delivered to the light while consuming very little themselves.

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