Energy Management Vocabulary

A representation of annual energy usage per square foot of a facility: may appear in units such as Btu, kWh, or therms per square foot per year.

• SEER Rating

• Energy Star Rating

• Energy Use Index (EUI)

• Energy Conservation Measure (ECM)

Generating electricity using a waste heat fuel source (biomass, industrial waste heat, or treated sewage) that comes from another industrial process.

• Energy Consumption

• Cogeneration

• Energy Use Index (EUI)

• Energy Conservation Opportunity (ECO)

A draft detector puffer stick used by HVAC professionals to identify and eliminate drafts and air leaks in buildings.

• Infrared Thermometer

• HOBO

• Anemometer

• Smoke Pencil

The use of energy as a source of heat or power or as an input in the manufacturing process.

• Energy Consumption

• Energy Audit

• Energy Conservation Measure (ECM)

• Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates

A government-backed labeling program that helps people and organizations save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by identifying factories, office equipment, home appliances, and electronics that have superior energy efficiency.

• Net Zero

• Energy Star

• Cogeneration

• SEER

The pricing of electricity based on the estimated cost of electricity during a particular block of time (summer vs winter; on peak vs off peak)

• Net Zero Pricing

• Green Pricing

• Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates

• Energy Star

Some type of computer-based control system whose primary function is the control of energy-using equipment to reduce the amount of energy consumed.

• Energy Management Control System (EMCS)

• Energy Star

• SEER

• Time-of-Use Rates

An assessment of the energy flows in a building or process, usually with a view to identify opportunities to reduce consumption.

• Energy Portfolio

• Energy Star

• Energy Audit

• Net Zero Assessment

The total amount of energy used by a building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

• Energy Star Building

• SEER Building

• Net Zero Building

• Cogeneration Building

A system that provides the process of comfort heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning within a building.

• ECM

• HVAC

• ECO

• AC