Chapter 8 - Energy and Atmosphere Flashcards
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
oversees the creation and use of standards and guidelines that directly impact businesses
also engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards, including globally recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.
ASHRAE 90.1-2010
Sets the minimum requirements for building energy efficiency design, except low-rise residential buildings, by offering, in detail, the minimum energy-efficient requirements for design and construction of new buildings and their systems, new portions of buildings and their systems, and new systems and equipment in existing buildings, as well as criteria for determining compliance with these requirements.
British thermal unit (Btu)
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of liquid water 1°F (such as from 60°F to 61°F). This standard measure of energy is used to describe the energy content of fuels and compare energy use.
building envelope
The interface between the interior of a building and the outdoor environment. Reducing the transfer of hot or cold air through the building envelope is important for energy efficiency measures. Insulation, air sealing, and windows can each play an important role in minimizing heat transfer.
building footprint
The area of ground that the building occupies as defined by its perimeter.
building loads
The amount of energy and the devices and systems that use that energy in a building.
carbon footprint
Amount of GHGs, specifically CO2, emitted by something such as the manufacture and transport of a product during a given period
carbon offsets
A purchasable form of trade that funds projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as forest restoration, power plant and factory updates, or increases to the energy efficiency of buildings and transportation.
chiller
A machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycle. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool air or equipment as required.
chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
Any of several simple gaseous compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen, that are used as refrigerants, cleaning solvents, and aerosol propellants and in the manufacture of plastic foams, and that are believed to be a major cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. CFCs are banned in many countries, including the U.S.
commissioning (Cx)
Verification after construction that a structure and its systems and subsystems meet project requirements as intended and designed.
commissioning authority (CxA)
A third party contracted by a building owner who reports directly to the owner and oversees the incorporation of the design and energy goals throughout the lifetime of a project.
demand response (DR) program
A program offered by utilities that allow large energy users to reduce energy loads during peak energy usage times in exchange for reduced rates.
energy efficiency
Utilizing less energy to complete the same amount of work.
An Energy Star® Portfolio Manager™ score of ___ or better indicates that a building is a top performer and may be eligible for Energy Star certification
75
Participants in EnergyStar Portfolio Manager get a score between 1 and 100. 50 is the median energy performance. 75 or better indicates the building is a top performer.
An EPA-provided building benchmarking system that is the most widely used in the U.S. The energy and water data for a building is entered into a web-based tool that then displays where the building type falls in whole-building energy use compared to other buildings of the same type. Greenhouse gas emissions are also measured.
energy use intensity (EUI)
A metric that expresses a building’s energy use as a function of its size.
fossil fuels
Nonrenewable energy produced from the burning of ancient, organic remains such as peat, coal, crude oil, and natural gas.
green power
Renewable energy from solar, wind, biobased, water, and geothermal sources.
hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)
A refrigerant used as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants and propellants in aerosol canisters; considered to be less destructive to the atmosphere.