| Ambient Light | Refers to the available light or existing light illuminating a space, typically natural light from the surroundings. |
| BAS | "Building Automation System" Building automation through computer control allows full control of HVAC systems and equipment. Automation allows the HVAC system to react to changing weather conditions, temperature, occupancy, etc to maintain optimum conditions and minimal energy usage. |
| Biomass | Biomass refers to living and recently dead biological material that is typically used as fuel. Some examples of biomass include plant matter used for fuel, or other biological material used for producing fibers, chemicals or heat. Coal and petroleum are excluded since they are formed by geological processes. |
| BTU Meters | BTU meters are used to measure a building's thermal energy consumptions and generate a "thermal profile" to better understand a building's energy requirements throughout the year. The BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a standard measure of energy used by the HVAC industry. |
| Building Envelope | The Building Envelope is a separation between the interior and exterior environments of a building. This envelope serves as the outer shell to protect the indoor environment as well as facilitate HVAC processes. The envelope serves as protection from weather, helps maintain indoor air quality and moisture control as well as improving energy efficiency. |
| CO2 Demand Ventilation | A building HVAC system configuration which measures the amount of Carbon Dioxide present in the air inside the building. The system uses this information to vary the amount of fresh outside air that is mixed with recycled air from the building to maintain adequate oxygen levels for occupants. |
| Carbon Footprint | A measure of the impact that human activities generate on the environment. Carbon Footprint is measured in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of Carbon Dioxide. |
| Daylight Harvesting | Daylight Harvesting uses digital photo sensors to detect daylight levels and automatically adjust electric light output to maintain a balance between natural and artificial light with the goal of energy savings in mind. |
| Economizing Control | Economizing Control uses energy from outside air as a means of cooling an indoor space. When outside air is sufficiently cool, it can be fed directly into the space without any additional conditioning, which is typically called "free cooling." Economizing saves energy when it is more practical to use outside air as opposed to conditioning recirculated air. |
| Energy Recovery System | Energy Recovery Systems utilize heat exchangers to extract energy from exhausted conditioned air and transfer it to fresh incoming air, reducing the energy required to heat or cool incoming air, thus increasing a building's efficiency. |
| Energy-Star Classification | Energy-Star is a US government program which promotes energy efficient consumer products. Energy Star Classifications are applied to devices ranging from appliances, computers, office equipment, electronics, lighting, and buildings which meet or exceed energy saving criteria over the minimum standard. |
| High Efficiency Lighting | Utilization of energy efficient fluorescent lamps instead of normal incandescent light bulbs. Fluorescent lamps consume roughly 1/3 the energy of typical incandescent light bulbs and produce very little waste heat. |
| HVAC | The acronym for "Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning." HVAC systems encompass all of the equipment required to heat, cool and ventilate modern buildings. |
| Hydro | Refers to energy generated from moving water, such as hydroelectric dams. |
| Incandescent Lights | Standard light bulbs which send electricity through a wire filament to generate light. This type of light bulb typically uses about 5-10% of the energy it consumes for light, while the remainder is emitted as heat. |
| LEED-EB | LEED, or the "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" Green Building Rating System, developed by the US Green Building Council, provides standards for environmentally sustainable building construction. LEED-EB is the standard by which existing buildings may become rated under the Green Building Rating System. |
| LED | LEDs, or "Light Emitting Diodes" use semiconductors to produce light as opposed to standard incandescent lights which use a metal filament. LEDs require a fraction of the energy incandescent lights require and produce very little waste heat, giving LEDs a much higher efficiency. |
| Non-Fossil Fuel Sources | Alternative and renewable energy sources that harness hydroelectric, solar, wind and geothermal energy as opposed to consuming carbon based fuels. |
| NYSERDA | The "New York State Energy Research Development Authority." NYSERDA administers New York State's "Energy Smart" program by assisting eligible building owners in improving the energy efficiency of new or renovated buildings. |
| Occupancy Sensors | Various types of sensors installed in classrooms and other spaces which are not utilized for certain hours of the day. These sensors are used to control lighting as well as space heating and air conditioning. Lighting and air conditioning are turned on only when the space is in use. |
| Solar Shading | Serves to minimize solar radiation entering an interior space through windows and helps to reduce room temperatures during the summer months. Solar shading also allows natural light to enter a room and diffuse it evenly, reducing glare and eye strain. |
| Space Occupancy Motion Sensors | Motion sensors installed in key locations to detect movement and switch on heating or cooling when a space is occupied. When no motion is detected, the sensors reduce heating or cooling to conserve energy. |
| Temperature Set Backs | Temperature Setup/back refers to the practice of automatically adjusting the setpoint that the system maintains during unoccupied (typically night) times. The heating setpoint is reduced (setback) and/or the cooling setpoint is increased (setup) - during these times the system uses less energy since it does not have to condition areas that are not occupied. |
| Variable Speed Drives | Typical alternating current motors used in HVAC and building systems, by design, can only run at one speed. Variable Speed Drives vary the frequency of electricty sent to a motor and allow its operating speed to be varied, saving energy when the motor is not required to run at full speed. |
| Variable Volume (VAV) | Variable Volume or Variable Air Volume heating and air conditioning systems allow the amount of air sent to a space to be controlled by a number of factors including occupancy, room temperature, room humidity, etc, and provide efficient energy usage by reducing airflow when it is not required. |
