Energy Efficiency & the Environment¦Glossary

Hello All and welcome back to my blog on energy efficiency and the environment. Thought it was time to add another post as it's been a while since I have been able to check my blog. I thought I would use this opportunity to explain some of the basic terms and systems used in the energy industry. Most are self explanatory, but I thought it would be useful for people who are just learning about this profession. The list is by no means exhaustive, but just gives a general idea of what is commonly referred to.

Carbon Neutral

Accepted terminology for something having net zero emissions
  

      Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

      The most important greenhouse gas (commercially speaking) CO2 emissions result from the combustion of fuel, from land use changes and from industrial processes

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e)

Currently 6 main green house gasses that are reported to cause climate change. Each are limited by the Kyoto protocol. Each gas has a different global warming potential. The mass of each gas emitted  is translated into CO2e

Carbon Footprint

The sum of all green house gas emissions caused by an individual or organisation

Emissions conversion factor

Emissions factors enable a conversion to be made from the input measure of energy to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that will result.

Green house gases

The 6 main green house gases stated previously that contribute to the green house effect when present in the atmosphere.

Renewable Energy

Energy derived from renewable energy sources such as wind power, wave, solar etc

ISO 14064

International standard for corporate emissions reporting

Offsetting

An emissions reduction, commonly resulting from a project undertaken in the developing world, which has been sold to compensate for emissions elsewhere. Offsets are commonly used to net off corporate emissions so that an organisation can claim to be carbon neutral.

Retailer

provider of energy to premises, the retailer is responsible for meter reading, invoicing and ensuring continuation of supply

BMS

building Management System – this allows the accurate and detailed control and recording of a buildings HVAC system. Can be used to remotely operate various switching arrangements with heating and cooling through to switching of lighting arrays 

 
      Power Factor
      Basically gives an indication as to how electrically efficient an electrical device is, E.g. A power factor of 1 equals unity. Average power factors range from 0.5 to 0.9

UPS

Uninterruptable Power Supply, A device that enables continued power for a set duration during power failure. A UPS also provides “clean” power i.e. reduces the spikes that are apparent with standard electric, this reduces the potential for data loss or computer crashes for example

Total Power

The total power drawn by a device or installation including reactive power (kVAr)

kWh
Kilo Watt Hour, a unit of measure of energy consumed over 1 hour.

kVa

Kilo Volt amperes, a maximum demand profile, retailers will charge on a maximum demand of a facility.

NHH

Non Half Hourly Meter, mainly single phase with manual meter reading, generally used for domestic, light commercial

TOU

Time Of Use Meter, mainly 3 phase meter with consumption recorded every half hour, information can be read remotely, mainly for larger commercial and industrial

CHP

Combined Heat & Power. HVAC plant that utilises the heat from its process to improve efficiency

HVAC

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Heat Exchanger

Efficient way of transferring heat from one fluid to another

Sensible Cooling

Cooling of air, but with the temperature remaining above the dew point

R-Value

A measure of thermal resistance

Well, I hope you find all of the above useful, that aall for now on my energy post, next I will be looking further at energy efficient technologies.

Snapa.