APPENDIX 6 CONVERSION TABLE

Multie_ly B,i,: To Get Multiply By ToGBI

acres 4047 square meters koal (kllocalorles) · 3.868 Bntlsh thermal units
Btu (British thermal unit; energy) 0.252 kilocalories kcal (kllocalorles) 4190 Joules
Btu (energy) 1.055 kilojoules kg (kilograms) 2.205 pounds
Btu (energy) 200 lumens k!)lm 3 (kilograms per cubic mete,) 1.686 pounds per cubic yard
Btu/h (power) 0.2928 watts kglm2 (kilograms per square meter) 0.205 . pounds per square foot
Btu/h•ft 3.152 watts per square meter kJ (kilojoules) 0.948 Britlsh·thermal units
Btu••F (heat capacity) 4.182 kllojoules per kelvin knvh (kilometers per-hour) 0.621 miles ·per hour
Btu/lbo°F (specific heat) 1.897 kilojoules per kilogram per kelvin kWh (kllowatt•hours) 3,142 Britis~ thermal units
Btunv•F•in (conductivity) 0.144 watts per kelvin per meter lb (pounds) 0.454 ·kilo-grams
Btulh•°F•ft2 (conductance) 5.673 watts per kelvin per square meter lb/ft2 ·(pounds per square foot) 4.882 kilograms per square meter
Blu-/°F•day•ft2 (load-collector ratio) 5.673 watts per kelvin L {liters) 0.03532 cubic feet
°C (Celcius degree) 1.8 plus 32 :a degree Fahrenheit langley .1:0 • calories per square ·centimeter
cd (candela) 0.00145 watts per steradlan langley 3.69 Btu per square fool
cd (candela} 1 lumen per steradian langleys/mln (langfeys per minute) ·o.0698 watts per square centimeter
degree (angulaF) 0.1745 radians lumen 0.005 British thermal units per hour
degree (solid angle) 0.0003 steradian lumen 0.00148 walls
°F (degree; first subtract 32) 0.5555 degrees Celsius Ix Oul<) 1 lumen per square meter
f13 (cublo feet) 0.028 cubic meters Ix (Ii.Ix) 0.093 footcandlas
ft (feel) 0.305 meters MJ (megajoules) 0.278 kilowatt-hours
fl/sec (feel per second) 0.305 meters per second m(meters) 3,281 feet
fl•lb/sec 1.356 watts m' (cubic meters) ·35.32 cubic feet
re (footcandte) lumen per square loot mis ·(meters per second) 196.86 feet per minute
fc (footcandle) 0.0014 langleys per hour mph (miles peF hour) 1.609 . kllometers per hour
fc (footcandte) 10.76 lux. ml (mllilitars) 0.061 cubic inches
fl (loollambert} 0.3184 candelas· per square foot mm (mllimeters) 0.039 inches
fl (toollambert} 3.426 candelas par square meter steradlan 3283 solid degrees
gal (gallon) 3.785 liters . ·tons (of.'refrfgeratlon) 12,000 Btu per hour
gal/h (gallons per hour} 0,00152 liters per second · therm 1 X 105 Brtllsh thermal units
g (grams) 0.035 ounces (avoirdupois) .W (watts)' 3.412 British thermal units per hour
hp (horsepower) 0.746 kilowatts W (watts) 683 lumens
in (Inches) 25.4 millimeters W (walls) 683 candelas per sleradian
In Hg (Inches of mercury) 0.033 atmospheres w1m2 (watts per. square meter) 0.317 Btu per square foot
in3 (cubic inches) 16.39 cubic centimeters yards 0.914 meters
 Glossary of Renewable Energy Terms and Phrases
Absorption
The process of converting radiation into
heat when it strikes or passes through a
substance.
Absorptance
The ratio of the radiation absorbed by a
surface and the total energy falling on that
surface measured as a percentage.
AC
(Alternating current) Electrical energy
which alternates cyclically between
positive and negative in polarity. In many
countries, including the U.S., the polarity
reversal is made to occur 60 times per
second (60 hertz).
Acid Rain
Rain mixed with sulphuric, nitric and other
acids which arise from emissions released
during the burning of fossil fuels.
Active solar heating system
A solar water-heating or space-heating
system that moves sun-heated air or water
using pumps or fans.
Ampere (amp)
The measure of the number of electrons
flowing past a given point in an electrical
conductor in a given amount of time; this is
the electrical current.
Azimuth
The angular distance between true south
and the point on the horizon directly below
the sun
Biomass energy
Changing farming wastes, grasses, trees,
bark, sawdust.and other things into energy
by burning it, changing it to a gas, or
converting it to a liquid fuel.
BTU
British Thermal Unit-A measure of heat
energy; the amount needed to raise the
temperature of one pound of water by one
degree Fahrenheit.
Calorie
Metric thermal unit: a measure of heat
energy; the amount needed to raise the
temperature of one kilogram of water by
one degree Centigrade. This is the large
Calorie (used relating to food energy
content) definition. The "small" calorie of
fuel research is the amount of
energy needed to raise the temperature of
one gram of water by one degree
Centigrade.
Clerestory
A window or windows that are placed
vertically (or near vertical) in a wall above
one's line of vision to provide natural light
and solar gain into a building.
Concentrator
A tool that uses lenses and/or mirrors to
focus and enhance the sun's rays onto the
photovoltaic surface.
Conduction
One of the three ways heat is transferred
(the others are radiation and convection).
Conduction is the transfer of heat through
materials (solids, liquids, or gases) by
molecular excitation of adjacent molecules.
Conservation
Achieving the use of less energy, either by
using more efficient technologies or by
changing wasteful habits.
Convection
One of the three ways heat is transferred
(the others are radiation and conduction).
Convection is the circulation of gasses or
liquids. In natural
convection the movement occurs as a
result of the tendency of hot fluids to be
less dense and rise and cold fluids to be
more dense and sink. In forced
convection, the fluids are moved by a
device such as a fan.
DC
(Direct current) Electrical energy which
does not cyclically alternate in polarity: e.g.
electrical energy from a battery or solar
cell.
Degree Day (cooing)
See degree day for heating, except that
the base temperature is established at 75
degrees F, and cooling degree days are
measured above that base.
Degree Day (heating)
An expression of a dimatic heating
requirement expressed by the differences
in degree F below the average outdoor
temperature for each day and an
established base of 65 degrees F. (The
assumption behind selecting this base is
that average construction will provide
interior comfort with no artificial heat input
when the exterior temperature is 65
degrees F). The total number of degree-
days over the heating season indicates the
relative severity of the winter in that area.
Direct Gain
A passive solar heating system type
consisting of south-facing windows that
admit winter sunshine directly into the
interior where it is absorbed by thermal
mass.
Efficiency
The ratio of desired work-type output to the
necessary energy input, in any given
energy transformation devide. An efficient
LIGHT bulb for example uses most of the
input electrical energy to produce light, not
heat. An efficient HEAT bulb uses most of
its input to produce heat, not light.
Emissivity
The measure of the ability of a surface to
emit radiation at a given surface
temperature.; the range of unitless values
is 0.0(no emittance possible) to 1.0(ideal
maximum.)
Energy
The capacity to do work.
Energy-efficiency
Using energy in the least wasteful manner.
by example: Electrical lighting devices
which produce the same amount of light
(lumens) using less electrical energy than
incandescent electric light bulbs.
Energy sources
Energy sources are 1. fossil fuels (coal, oil,
gas); 2. nuclear (fission and fusion);
3. renewables (salar, wind, geothermal,
biomass, hydro).
Flat Plate Collector
A thin panel to absorb solar thermal
energy, usually a black metal surface
insulated on the back and enclosed with
an air space by glass. For hot water
systems small copper tubing is integral
with the absorber surface.
Fluorescent light
A device which uses the glow discharge of
an electrified gas for the illuminating
element rather than an electrically heated
glowing conductive filament.
Fossil fuels
Fuels formed eons ago from decayed
plants and animals. Oil, coal and natural
gas are such fuels.
Fuel
A material which is consumed, giving up its
molecularly stored energy which is then
used for other purposes. e.g. to do work
(run a
machine).
Fuel cell
A device which produces electricity with
high efficiency (little heat) by using a fuel
and a chemical which reacts with it (an
oxidizer) at two separate electrical
terminals. An electric current is thereby
produced.
Fuel efficiency
The amount of work obtained for the
amount of fuel consumed. Gasoline
produces more energy per gallon than
propane.
Geothermal energy
Heat generated by natural processes
within the earth. Chief energy resources
are hot dry rock, magma (molten rock),
hydrothermal (water/steam from geysers
and fissures) and geopressure (wa1er
satured with methane under tremendous
pressure at great depths).
Glazing
A covering of transparent or translucent
material (glass or plastic} used for
admitting light. Glazing retards heat
losses from reradiation and convection.
Examples: windows, skylights, greenhouse
and collector coverings.
Glazing, double or triple
A sandwich of two or three separated
layers of glass or plastic enclosing air to
create an insulating barrier.
Global warming
The gradual warming of the earth due to
the "greenhouse effect"; linked to the
accelerated burning of fossil fuels by
humans in recent years.
Greenhouse effect
The trapping of the sun's radiant energy,
so that it cannot be reradiated . In cars and
buildings the radiant energy is trapped by
glass: in the earth's atmosphere the
radiant energy is trapped by gasses such
as CFCs and carbon dioxide.
Hydro
A prefix meaning produced by or derived
from water or the movement of water.
Hydro power
Power obtained from the natural
movement of masses of water.
Incandescent light
A bulb which uses the ohmic resistance in
a conductor to produce light upon the
passage of an electrical current through it.
The conductor is
usually in the form of a wire or filament.
Infiltration
The uncontrolled movement of outdoor air
into the interior of a building through
cracks around windows and doors or in
walls, roofs and floors.
lnsolation
The total amount of solar radiation-direct,
diffuse and reflected-striking a surface
exposed to the sky. This incident solar
radiation is measure in l<M/ per square
meter, or BTUs per square foot per hour
per day.
Insulation
Materials or systems used to prevent loss
or gain of heat, usually employing very
small confined air spaces to limit
conduction and/or convection.
Inverter
An electrical device which changes direct
current (DC) into alternating current (AC).
Direct current is created by photovoltaic
modules or batteries and changed to AC
through the use of an inverter.
Nuclear fission
Atomic nuclear processes which involve
the splitting of nuclei with the
accompanying release of energy.
Nuclear fuel
Energy derived from atomic nuclear
processes during fission or fusion.
Nuclear fusion
Atomic nuclear processes which involve
the fusing of nuclei with an accompanying
release of energy.
Nonrenewable fuels
Fuels that cannot be replenished within the
timeframe of mankind. Oil, natural gas,
and coal are nonrenewable fuels.
Passive solar heating system
A solar water-heating or space-heating
system that moves sun-heated air or water
without using pumps or fans.
Passive solar home
A house designed to capture the sun's
energy through direct and indirect gain.
PV
Photovoltaic; pertaining to the production
of electricity from light.
Photovoltaic cell
(see Solar cell)
Radiation
One of the three ways heat is transferred
(the others are conduction and
convection). Radiation is the d;rect
transport of energy through space,
needing no air or other medium for its
transmission.
Reflection
The process whereby, after striking a
surface, radiation leaves the surface on
the incident side.
Reflectance
The ratio or percentage of the amount of
light reflected by a surface to the amount
incident. The remainder that is not
reflected is either absorbed
by the material of transmitted through it.
Good light reflectors are not necessarily
good heat reflectors.
Renewable energy
Energy from sources that cannot be used
up: sunshine, water flow, wind and
vegetation.
Resistance (R)
Resistance refers to a material's resistance
to heat flow. (R) is the reciprocal of
thermal conductance. The resistance of a
series of different materials, all in thermal
contact with each other, is the sum of the
individual resistances.
R-value
A unit of thermal resistance used for
comparing insulating values of different
materials; the higher the R value of a
material, the greater its insulating
properties.
Solar altitude
The angle of the sun above the horizon
measured in a vertical plane.
Solar azimuth
The horizontal angle of the sun east or
west of south.
Solar cell
Device made of semiconductor materials
which produces a voltage when exposed
to light.
Solar constant
The amount of radiation or heat energy
that reaches the outside of the earth's
atmosphere.
Solar collectors
A device for capturing solar energy,
ranging from ordinary windows to complex
mechanical devices.
Solar cooling
The use of devices which absorb sunlight
to operate system similar to gas-fired
refrigerators.
Solar electricity
Electricity produced directly by action of
sunlight
Solar energy
General term used to describe energy from
the sun.
Solar greenhouse
A plant growing space that is oriented to
maximize solar gain, usually with mass
added for heat storage.
Solar heating (thermal)
Processes, active or passive, which derive
and control heat directly from the sun.
Specific heat
The heat capacity of a substance per unit
of weight. The specific heat of water is 1
BTU per pound; the specific heat of rock is
.22 BTU per pound. The higher the
specific heat of a substance, the greater its
heat storage capacity.
Stand-Alone system
A PV installation not connected to a utility
power line. A 'direct system' uses the PV-
produced electricity as it is produced, e.g.
pumping water when the sun shines. A
'battery storage system' stores the PV-
produced electricity for use a later time,
e.g. at night or on cloudy days.
Sunspace
(see solar greenhouse) differing in that the
primary purpose is for passive solar
heating gain to the incorporated home or
structure.
Suntempered
Design description for a modest amount of
direct solar gain to slightly reduce the
structure's dependence on other sources
of space heat.
Thermal conductance (CJ
The amount of heat in BTUs which will flow
through one square foot of material in one
hour, when there is a 1 degree F
temperature difference between both
surfaces. Conductance values are given
for a specific thickness of material, not per
inch of thickness.
Thermal conductivity (k)
The amount of heat in BTUs which can be
conducted through a specific material, 1
foot square, which is 1 inch thick and has a
temperature difference of 1 degree F.
between both surfaces. "k" is the symbol
for thermal conductivity. Most metals are
good conductors and their conductivity
varies with temperature.
Thermal mass
The amount of potential heat storage
capacity available in a given assemby or
system. e.g. Waterwalls; concrete, tile and
stone floors; and adobe or masonry walls
Tracker
An automated rack to follow the path of the
sun, primarily used for a PV panel or array.
Transmission
The passage of radiant energy through a
substance.
Transmittance
The ratio of the radiant energy transmitted
through a substance to the total radiant
energy incident on its surface. In solar
technology, it is always affected by the
thickness and composition of the glass
cover plates on a collector, and to a major
extent by the angle of incidence between
the sun's rays and a line normal to the
surface.
Trombe wall
A passive solar device that consists of a
narrow trapped air space between glass or
plastic and a dark colored mass that
conducts heat through to radiate the heat
into the interior of the building in the
evening. 'Trombe" rhymes with "prom".