Energy Glossary
Heating Types:
Electric Baseboard Heat: Electric baseboard heat is the most
common type of electric heat and is the least expensive to install. Usually it is
installed along the outside walls with baseboard heaters and there is a thermostat
in every room.
Electric Radiant/Ceiling/Floor: Electric furnaces and baseboard
heaters circulate heat by moving air. In contrast, radiant heating systems radiate
heat to the room’s objects, including people. The most common type of radiant heaters
are electric heating cables imbedded in floors or ceilings. Radiant heat offers
draft-free heating that is easily zoned.
Geothermal Heat Pump: Geothermal systems are simple refrigeration-based
pumping systems which move and concentrate heat from the earth and make it usable
in your home. It takes less energy to move and concentrate heat from the earth
than to burn fuel and create heat. Since it doesn't burn fuel,
it is also cleaner, making it more environmentally friendly and safer than fossil-fuel based systems.
Heat Pump: The electric heat pump is a heating and cooling
system all in one. It's called a heat pump because instead of creating heat like
gas or oil-fired furnaces do, the heat pump transfers heat from one place to another.
In winter, it extracts heat from the outside air and delivers it indoors at a higher
temperature. In summer, the process reverses, and the heat pump takes heat from
inside and pumps it outside, just like an air conditioner. In fact, the heat pump
looks very much like a central air conditioner.
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Formulas:
Appliance Runs Continuously: Watts divided by 1,000
x hours of continuous operation x cost/kWh = cost of operating for specific time
period x 30 days = operation cost for a month.
Appliance Cycles On and Off During Time of Operation: Watts
divided by 1,000 x hours of operation x percent of time on x cost/kWh = cost of
operating for specific time period x 30 days = operation cost for a month.
BTUs: 3,412 BTUs = 1 kWh
Horsepower: 1 horsepower is approximately 1,000 watts
kWh Use per Day: kWh divided by number of days between meter
readings = Use per day. Use per day x 30 days = "Estimated" projected use for next
billing period.
Watts: Amps x Volts = Watts
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Terms:
Ampere (AMP): A unit measure for the flow (current) of electricity.
The typical service for a home ranges between 100 and 200 amps. There is a mathematical
relationship between watts, volts, and amps which is expressed as: Amps x Volts
= Wattage.
British Thermal Unit (BTU): The quantity of heat required
to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF): CEEF is an initiative to help homeowners and renters, small and large businesses, and state and local governments alike get in the habit of using energy more efficiently. Read more about it
here.
Delivery Company: A company regulated by the Department of Public Utility Control that owns the poles and wires used to deliver power to a consumer. This
company will continue to deliver electricity to homes and businesses and make repairs
when the power goes out.
CL&P is an Electric Delivery Company.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): The EER is the Energy Efficiency
Ratio for room air conditioners. The EER measures the number of cooling British
thermal units (BTUs) provided per watt of energy consumed. A higher EER is typically more energy efficient. Example - A rating of 10 delivers 10 BTUs of cooling for
every watt of energy consumed.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): The SEER is the
Energy Efficiency Ratio for central air conditioning systems. The SEER measures
the number of cooling British thermal units (BTUs) provided per watt of energy consumed.
A higher EER is typically more energy efficient. Example - A rating of 10 delivers
10 BTUs of cooling for every watt of energy consumed.
Energy Supplier: Companies that sell energy to consumers
in a competitive market. They may generate the power themselves or re-sell power
generated by someone else. They may also be referred to as competitive energy suppliers,
energy service providers, generation companies, power marketers and power brokers.
In the absence of Energy Suppliers, customers will be placed on Transition Service
which will be provided by their Delivery Company.
Estimated Delivery Cost: The estimated operating cost for
appliances, water heating, air conditioning, or heating that would be charged by
the Delivery Company only.
Estimated Energy Cost: The estimated operating cost for appliances,
water heating, air conditioning, or heating that would be charged by the Energy
Supplier only.
Estimated kWh Usage: The estimated number of kilowatt hours
presumed used for the appliances selected, and/or the estimated number of kilowatt
hours used for water heating, or heating based on the information provided by the
customer.
High Use: Those appliances that when used for long periods
of time, or run on a regular basis due to normal use, or possibly malfunction, will
have the potential to use large numbers of kilowatt hours and increase the cost
of your electric bill.
Horse Power: A unit of power, used in stating the power required
to drive machinery for doing work. It is the power required for the performance
of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute. Hence, it is the
power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per
minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate
of ten feet per second, etc. Note: The power of a draught horse, of average strength,
working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power.
Hours/Month: The number of hours that an electrical item
draws power. This is based on a monthly average.
Kilowatt hour (kWh): A basic unit for measuring energy equal
to 1 kilowatt or 1,000 watts of power used for one hour. It can be compared to the
rate at which water is being poured from a bottle. The amount you pay for energy
is based on the number of kilowatt hours you use per month.
Phantom Loads: The extra energy - known as "phantom loads"
and "standby loads" - required to maintain electronic devices in a partially-on
mode when switched off. Power is consumed by most television sets 24 hours a day,
for example, to enable "instant-on." Otherwise, TV's would take as long to boot
up as a computer!
The energy cost of "phantom loads" can add up: electronic clocks in the stove, VCR,
DVD, microwave, and programmable coffee maker; television sets; telephone answering
machines; printers; stereo systems; cordless phones; remote-controlled garage-door
openers and instant-on computers running 24 hours a day. These costs can be controlled by using a kill switch.
% Time On: The average amount of time the appliance is drawing
electricity when in use. When an appliance is in operation, the % Time On reflects
normal conditions. If the appliance is not functioning properly or there are extreme
weather conditions causing the appliance to run more frequently, it may be necessary
to adjust this field.
Volt: A measure of the push or force which transmits electricity.
Amps x Volts = Watts.
Watt: A watt is a measure of how much electricity an appliance
needs. A watt is an electrical unit of power. This term is commonly used to rate
appliances using relatively small amounts of electricity. Wattage is stamped on
light bulbs and all appliances. There is a mathematical relationship between watts,
volts, and amps which is expressed as: Wattage = Amps x Volts.
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