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.

The average time a minority carrier exists before recombination.

The process by which a power plant, apparatus, or building is approved for operation based on observed or measured operation that meets design specifications.

The prevailing or average weather conditions of a geographic region.

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 liquid resulting when water vapor contacts a cool surface; also the liquid resulting when a vaporized working fluid (such as a refrigerant) is cooled or depressurized.

The measure of overall efficiency for a variety of appliances. For water heaters, the energy factor is based on three factors: 1) the recovery efficiency, or how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water; 2) standby losses, o ...

A material formed from the incomplete combustion or destructive distillation (carbonization) of organic material in a kiln or retort, and having a high energy density, being nearly pure carbon. (If produced from coal, it is coke.) Used for cooking, the ma ...

The interior space of a building that is heated or cooled.

The low effective temperature of the sky on a clear night.

A furnace grate that moves fuel through the combustion chamber

In refrigeration, an evaporating temperature of 5 degrees Fahrenheit (F), a condensing temperature of 86 degrees F., liquid temperature before expansion of 77 degrees F., and suction temperature of 12 degrees F.

The generation of electricity or shaft power by an energy conversion system and the concurrent use of rejected thermal energy from the conversion system as an auxiliary energy source.

A type of photovoltaic device in which the electricity induced in the cell is used immediately within the cell to produce a chemical, such as hydrogen, which can then be withdrawn for use.

The total amount of electricity produced by a power plant.

The ratio of the electric power produced by a photovoltaic device to the power of the sunlight incident on the device.

An air conditioning system that comes in two to five pieces: one piece contains the compressor, condenser, and a fan; the others have an evaporator and a fan. The condenser, installed outside the house, connects to several evaporators, one in each room to ...

An electrical installation containing power conversion (and sometimes generation) equipment, such as transformers, compensators, and circuit breakers.

A measure of a fuel's (liquid) ease of self-ignition.

An instrument for measuring relative humidity by means of wet and dry-bulb temperatures.