A

Acoustic Resonance: The tendency of an acoustic system to absorb more energy when the frequency of its oscillations matches the system's natural frequency of vibration (its resonance frequency) than it does at other frequencies.

Algorithm: A type of effective method in which a definite list of well-defined instructions for completing a task, when given an initial state, will proceed through a well-defined series of successive states, eventually terminating in an end-state. The transition from one state to the next is not necessarily deterministic; some algorithms, known as probabilistic algorithms, incorporate randomness.

B

Baseload: The minimum electric demand level at a facility.

Blackout: A total loss of electric supply to an area.

Brownout: A reduction of the voltage in the distribution system caused by overload, a failure in the distribution system, or a deliberate action by a grid operator or utility in an effort to reduce power consumption.

C

Capacity Demand Curve: A curve relating the level of installed capacity to a rate of fixed-cost recovery.

Carbon Footprint: The overall impact that a person, business, or organization has on the global climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced.

Central Processing Unit (CPU): Sometimes called just processor, is a description of a class of logic machines that can execute computer programs.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): An arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol that allows industrialized countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.

Clean Technology (a.k.a. CleanTech; synonymous with GreenTech and EnviroTech): The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

CleanTech: The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

Continuous Commissioning: Refers to the ongoing evaluation of a building’s energy consumption to ensure that it continues to perform as designed.

Control Theory: An interdisciplinary branch of engineering and mathematics that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems. The desired output of a system is called the reference. When one or more output variables of a system need to follow a certain reference over time, a controller manipulates the inputs to a system to obtain the desired effect on the output of the system.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations.

CPU (Central Processing Unit): Sometimes called just processor, is a description of a class of logic machines that can execute computer programs.

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility): A concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their activities on customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations.

D

DDR (Dynamic Demand Response): Mechanisms to dynamically manage the demand from customers in response to supply conditions for an efficient on-demand energy system.

Demand Response: Mechanisms to manage the demand from customers in response to supply conditions.

Distributed Generation or Energy: Electricity generation that is located close to the source being served, which reduces the amount of energy lost in transmitting electricity because the electricity is generated very near where it is used. This also reduces the size and number of power lines that must be constructed.

Dynamic Demand Response (DDR): Mechanisms to dynamically manage the demand from customers in response to supply conditions for an efficient on-demand energy system.

E

EEPS (Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard): Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard is a regulatory policy that requires electricity service providers to meet a portion of their annual increase in electricity demand through energy efficiency measures. EEPS establishes a market standard, then relies on service providers to meet that standard.

Electric Arc: An electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air.

Electric Hum (Hum): Also referred to as mains hum or power line hum is an audible oscillation at the frequency of the mains alternating current, which is usually 50 or 60 hertz depending on the local electric utility configuration. The sound often has heavy harmonic content. The most common cause of electric hum is magnetostriction, wherein ferromagnetic materials change shape minutely when exposed to magnetic fields.

Electric Power Grid: A system of power providers and consumers connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers.

Electronic Ballast (a.k.a. Control Gear): A device intended to limit the amount of current in an electric circuit.

Emergency Demand Response Program: A demand response program activated in response to grid emergencies such as power shortages.

Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS): Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard is a regulatory policy that requires electricity service providers to meet a portion of their annual increase in electricity demand through energy efficiency measures. EEPS establishes a market standard, then relies on service providers to meet that standard.

Energy Star: An EPA-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Environmental Technology (a.k.a. EnviroTech; synonymous with GreenTech and CleanTech): The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

EnviroTech: The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

F

Fluorescent Lamp: A gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor in argon or neon gas, resulting in a plasma that produces short-wave ultraviolet light. This light then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light.

Framework Convention on Climate Change: An international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The treaty is aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in order to combat global warming.

G

GHG (Greenhouse Gas): Greenhouse gas traps solar energy in the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse gas effect, which is widely suspected to cause global warming. The most critical greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane.

Global Warming: The increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.

Green Energy: A term describing what is considered to be environmentally friendly, typically non-polluting, sources of power and energy. Some sources may use it interchangeably with renewable energy. Additionally, some governments have drafted very specific definitions of green energy or an equivalent term which may be eligible for special subsidies or support in order to promote the technology.

Green Technology (a.k.a. GreenTech; synonymous with CleanTech and EnviroTech): The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG): Greenhouse gas traps solar energy in the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse gas effect, which is widely suspected to cause global warming. The most critical greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane.

GreenTech: The application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement while maintaining a substantial profit margin.

H

Hertz: One hertz simply means one cycle per second.

HID (High Intensity Discharge): Electrical lamps producing light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina tube.

High Intensity Discharge (HID): Electrical lamps producing light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina tube.

Hum (Electric Hum): Also referred to as mains hum or power line hum is an audible oscillation at the frequency of the mains alternating current, which is usually 50 or 60 hertz depending on the local electric utility configuration. The sound often has heavy harmonic content. The most common cause of electric hum is magnetostriction, wherein ferromagnetic materials change shape minutely when exposed to magnetic fields.

I

Installed Capacity (ICAP): The measure of an energy market's combined electric generating and demand response reduction capacity, usually measured in megawatts (MW), determined by either the full nameplate output of a generating asset or the demand reduction capability of a demand response resource.

Integrated Circuit: Also known as IC, microcircuit, microchip, silicon chip, or chip is a miniaturized electronic circuit (consisting mainly of semiconductor devices, as well as passive components) that has been manufactured in the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material. A hybrid integrated circuit is a miniaturized electronic circuit constructed of individual semiconductor devices, as well as passive components, bonded to a substrate or circuit board.

K

Kilowatt: Equal to one thousand watts, is typically used to state the power output of engines and the power consumption of tools and machines. A kilowatt is roughly equivalent to 1.34 horsepower.

Kyoto Protocol: A protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

L

Load: The amount of electric power delivered or required at any specific point or points on a system.

Lumen: The SI unit (International System of Units) of luminous flux, a measure of the perceived power of light, that is adjusted to reflect the varying sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths of light.

M

Megawatt (MW): One million watts of electricity.

Metal Halide: A member of the high-intensity discharge (HID) family of lamps, they produce high light output for their size, making them a compact, powerful and efficient light source.

Microprocessor: Incorporates most or all of the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC).

P

Power Factor: The ratio of real power (kW) actually used in an electrical circuit to apparent power (kVA), the power being drawn from the power source.

R

Renewable Energy: Energy sources that effectively use natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels.

Renewable Energy Credit (REC): Also known as Green tags, Renewable Energy Credits, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), are tradable environmental commodities that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource.

Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): A regulatory policy that requires the increased production on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energies to meet the energy needs of a particular jurisdiction.

Reserve Margin: The amount of unused available capability of an electric system as a percentage of total capability.

Rolling Blackout: Also referred to as load shedding refers to an intentionally-engineered electrical power outage, caused by insufficient available resources to meet prevailing demand for electricity.

S

Smart Power Grid: A more-intelligent modern extension of the current electric power grid.

U

Unforced Capacity (UCAP): Represents the amount of installed capacity (ICAP) that is actually available at any given time.

V

Watt: A unit of electrical power that equals one joule per second.

Z

Zero Energy Building (ZEB): Also known as a Net Zero Energy Building is a general term applied to a building with a net energy consumption of zero over a typical year.