Lotus Live Glossary
The Lotus Live Glossary defines (or will define) any term found on Lotus Live that is not in the everyday vocabulary of the average person, such as PV, PHEV, or negawatt. A deprecated ("obsolescent; in the process of being phased out") html version remains below.
Glossary
General Terms:
- Coolth: the opposite of warmth
- Insolation: the amount of sunlight that reaches a given area. In English units, it is usually measured in Btu/hr-ft2
- Negawatts: negawatts represent energy efficiency and conservation measures that negate the need for producing watts of power. The prefix nega- may also be applied to other things: nega-gallons, nega-trucks, nega-cows--you get the idea.
- TMY (Typical Meteorological Year) data: provides hour-by-hour information on temperature and insolation for a location during a given year.
Buildings:
- Forced Air System: uses ducts to transmit hot and cold air
- HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning): the mechanical systems that provide heating, ventilation, and cooling
- Insulation: material used to raise the R-value and to maintain temperature stability in a building
- R-value: a measure of how insulating a material is. R-11 is more insulating than R-3. Equal to 1/(UA-value).
- UA-value: a measure of how much heat will escape through a material over time. Equal to 1/(R-value).
- Under-floor Radiation: heats a building by cycling hot water through pipes underneath the floor
Energy:
- Photovoltaics (PVs): solar panels
- Solar Hot Water:water that is heated with solar energy
Water:
- Black Water: toilet water, or water otherwise unsuitable for any reuse until treated.
- Grey Water: water cleaner than black water, yet not fully clean. For example, shower or sink water that contains residual soap. Can be recycled.
- Grey Water Recycling: system where grey water is reused. Potable water is used as drinking water and shower water, then soapy shower water is cleaned and used to water plants or flush toilets.
- Rain Water Collection: system in which rain water is collected, then integrated into the building's grey water system.
Important Units:
- ach (air changes per hour): the number of times per hour that the air filling the entire volume of a building is replaced.
- BTU: "British Thermal Unit." A measurement of energy. 3412 Btu = 1 kWh
- Kilowatt-hour (kWh) A measurement of energy. 1 kWh = 3412 Btu
- lpw (lumens per watt): A measure of lighting efficacy. The amount of light you get out of a lamp (lumens) for the amount of power you put in (watts).
- therm: A measurement of energy. 1 therm = 100,000 Btu
Author: Lauren Leonard
Contributors: Nick E
General References:
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