Energy Benchmarking
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Energy Auditing Techniques course at London School of Business and Administration. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) Concept #
A professional organization that promotes air barrier technology and provides education, certification, and advocacy for air barrier professionals.
Air Barrier Concept #
A material or system designed to control airflow between conditioned and unconditioned spaces, reducing energy loss and improving indoor air quality.
Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) Concept #
The number of times the total air volume within a space is replaced with fresh air in an hour.
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air #
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Concept: A professional organization focused on advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems design and construction.
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Concept #
A standard developed by ASHRAE that specifies minimum ventilation requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 Concept #
A standard developed by ASHRAE that sets minimum energy efficiency requirements for building design and construction.
Blower Door Test Concept #
A diagnostic test used to measure the air tightness of a building envelope by depressurizing or pressurizing the space and measuring the airflow required to maintain the pressure.
Building Automation System (BAS) Concept #
A computerized control system that manages and monitors building systems such as HVAC, lighting, and security.
Building Envelope Concept #
The physical barrier that separates the interior of a building from the exterior, including walls, windows, roofs, and foundation.
Combustion Safety Testing Concept #
Testing to ensure that combustion appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters, are operating safely and efficiently.
Commissioning Concept #
The process of ensuring that a building and its systems are designed, installed, and function according to the owner's requirements and criteria.
Demand #
Controlled Ventilation (DCV) Concept: A ventilation strategy that varies the amount of fresh air introduced into a space based on occupancy and CO2 levels.
Energy Audit Concept #
A comprehensive evaluation of a building's energy use and efficiency, identifying opportunities for improvement and cost savings.
Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) Concept #
Actions taken to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency in a building.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) Concept #
The ratio of the cooling capacity of an air conditioner to the electrical input power, expressed in Btu per watt-hour.
Energy Management System (EnMS) Concept #
A systematic approach to managing energy use and efficiency in an organization or facility.
Energy Policy Act (EPAct) Concept #
Federal legislation that establishes energy efficiency standards for buildings, appliances, and transportation.
Energy Star Concept #
A federal program that promotes energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, and industrial processes.
Enthalpy Concept #
A thermodynamic property that measures the total heat content of a substance, including both sensible and latent heat.
Heating Degree Days (HDD) Concept #
A measure of the amount of heating required in a given location over a certain period of time.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Concept #
The systems used to heat, cool, and ventilate buildings.
HVAC Load Calculation Concept #
The process of determining the heating and cooling requirements of a building to ensure proper sizing and operation of HVAC systems.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Concept #
The quality of the air within a building, including temperature, humidity, and contaminant levels.
Lighting Power Density (LPD) Concept #
The amount of electrical power used by lighting systems per square foot of floor area.
Life #
Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) Concept: An economic evaluation that considers the total cost of ownership, including initial investment, operations, maintenance, and disposal.
Mechanical Systems Concept #
The equipment and machinery used to control and distribute heating, cooling, and ventilation in a building.
Metering Concept #
The measurement and tracking of energy use in a building or system.
Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Concept #
A building that produces as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
Operational Efficiency Concept #
The efficiency of a system or process in terms of energy use, labor, and other resources.
Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring Concept #
The measurement and control of the amount of fresh air introduced into a building to maintain indoor air quality.
Part Load Performance Concept #
The efficiency and performance of a system or equipment when operating at less than full capacity.
Peak Demand Concept #
The maximum amount of electrical power required by a building or system at any given time.
Psychrometrics Concept #
The study of the properties and behavior of moist air.
Return On Investment (ROI) Concept #
A financial metric that measures the profitability of an investment, expressed as a percentage.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) Concept #
The average cooling output of an air conditioner over a season, divided by the total electrical energy input during the same period.
Sensible Heat Concept #
The heat that causes a change in temperature of a substance.
Thermal Comfort Concept #
The condition of feeling comfortable in terms of temperature, humidity, and air movement.
Thermal Zone Concept #
A portion of a building with similar heating and cooling requirements, often defined by construction type, occupancy, and exposure.
Total Building Energy Quotient (TBEQ) Concept #
A building performance metric that considers both energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Concept #
A type of HVAC system that uses variable-speed compressors and refrigerant flow to provide heating and cooling to multiple zones in a building.
Ventilation Rate Concept #
The amount of fresh air introduced into a building per unit of time.
Water Management Concept #
The practices and systems used to control and conserve water use in a building or facility.
Weather Normalization Concept #
The adjustment of energy use data to account for variations in weather patterns.
Whole Building Commissioning (WBCx) Concept #
The process of ensuring that a building and all of its systems are designed, installed, and function according to the owner's requirements and criteria.
Zoning Concept #
The division of a building into separate areas or zones with similar heating, cooling, and ventilation requirements.