BEE Certified Energy Manager key terms

A systematic inspection and analysis of how energy is used in a facility, identifying where energy is consumed, where waste occurs, and which cost-effective measures could reduce consumption.

The amount of energy used to produce one unit of output, such as kWh per tonne of product; it allows comparison of efficiency across time, plants, or production lines.

A reference level of energy use, adjusted for relevant variables such as production or weather, against which future consumption is compared to quantify savings from efficiency actions.

A documented process that uses measured data and agreed methods to determine actual energy savings achieved by an efficiency project relative to an adjusted baseline.

A quantified metric, often a ratio of energy input to output or floor area, used to track and benchmark how efficiently energy is being used over time.

The ratio of average load over a period to the peak load in that period; a low value indicates equipment or a facility is underused most of the time.

The ratio of the maximum demand of a system or group of loads to the total connected load, reflecting how much of installed capacity is actually drawn at once.

The sum of rated capacities of all equipment and appliances connected to a supply system, expressed in kW or kVA, used as a reference for demand calculations.

The highest average load recorded over a defined interval, such as 15 or 30 minutes, during a billing period; utilities often charge for it separately.

The ratio of real power in kilowatts to apparent power in kilovolt-amperes in an AC circuit; low values increase current, losses, and utility penalty charges.

Power that oscillates between source and load without doing useful work, measured in kVAR, caused mainly by inductive loads such as motors and transformers.

An assembly of capacitors connected to a supply to offset inductive reactive power, thereby raising power factor and reducing current and associated losses.

Voltage or current components at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency that distort waveforms, causing extra heating, losses, and equipment malfunction.

An electronic device that adjusts the speed of an induction motor by varying supply frequency and voltage, allowing flow or load to be matched efficiently.

Relationships for centrifugal pumps and fans showing that flow varies with speed, head with speed squared, and power with speed cubed, explaining large savings from speed reduction.

The proportion of fuel energy input transferred to steam or hot water, determined either by direct input-output measurement or by summing stack, radiation, and blowdown losses.

Heat carried away by flue gases leaving a boiler or furnace, the largest loss in most fuel-fired equipment, driven by flue gas temperature and excess air.

Air supplied beyond the theoretical amount needed for complete combustion; too little causes unburnt fuel, too much raises stack losses by heating unused nitrogen and oxygen.

Measurement of oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and temperature in combustion products, used to tune air-fuel ratio and estimate combustion efficiency.

A heat exchanger that recovers heat from exhaust gases to warm incoming combustion air, lowering stack loss and improving overall boiler or furnace efficiency.

A heat recovery device that transfers heat from flue gases to incoming boiler feedwater, reducing fuel needed to raise steam and lowering exit gas temperature.

Deliberate discharge of boiler water to control dissolved solids concentration; excessive blowdown wastes heat and water, while too little causes scaling and carryover.

Hard mineral deposit that forms on heat transfer surfaces when dissolved salts precipitate, adding thermal resistance and reducing efficiency and capacity of equipment.

An automatic valve that discharges condensate and non-condensable gases while retaining live steam; a failed-open trap wastes steam and a failed-closed one causes waterlogging.

Capture and reuse of thermal energy rejected by processes, such as from flue gases, hot water, or compressors, to preheat fluids or generate steam or power.

The ratio of actual heat transferred in a heat exchanger to the maximum thermodynamically possible heat transfer between the two fluid streams.

A combined value describing how readily heat passes through a wall or exchanger assembly, accounting for convection on both sides and conduction through the material.

Material applied to hot or cold surfaces to reduce heat flow; its performance depends on thermal conductivity, thickness, and protection of the surface from moisture.

Heat escaping from hot equipment surfaces to surrounding air by convection and radiation, measurable by surface temperature and estimated from standard loss charts.

The ratio of hydraulic power delivered to fluid to shaft power supplied, reduced by internal losses such as friction, leakage, and recirculation within the pump.

A plot of the head required to move fluid through a piping system versus flow rate, used with the pump curve to find the actual operating point.

Unintended escape of pressurized air from joints, fittings, or faulty equipment; leaks are a major waste because compressed air is one of the costliest utilities.

The electrical power consumed per unit of compressed air delivered, typically kW per cubic metre per minute, used to compare compressor and system efficiency.

Installed lighting load per unit of floor area, expressed in watts per square metre, used to compare lighting design against efficiency limits and benchmarks.

Design that uses natural light from windows, skylights, or light pipes to reduce electric lighting demand while maintaining adequate illuminance for occupants.

The boundary separating conditioned interior space from the outdoors, including walls, roof, windows, and doors; its thermal performance strongly affects heating and cooling loads.

A building code metric combining heat gain through walls, roof, and glazing into one value per unit of envelope area, used to limit cooling load in warm climates.

The ratio of useful cooling or heating delivered by a heat pump or chiller to the energy input it consumes, expressed at specified operating conditions.

Cooling output in BTU per hour divided by electrical input in watts at a defined rating condition, commonly used to compare room air conditioners and packaged units.

A rating that averages cooling efficiency over a range of outdoor temperatures and part-load conditions, better reflecting annual performance than a single-point ratio.

The fraction of a chiller's rated capacity currently being delivered; chillers are usually most efficient near part load, so loading patterns affect plant energy use.

Comparing a facility's energy performance indicator with peers, historical data, or reference values to identify improvement potential and prioritize efficiency actions.

A programme that sets minimum efficiency requirements for appliances and requires informative labels so buyers can compare energy performance between models.

A graded label showing an appliance's efficiency relative to a scale, helping consumers compare models; higher ratings indicate lower energy use for the same service.

A regulatory threshold that prohibits sale of appliances or equipment below a specified efficiency level, progressively tightened to remove inefficient products from the market.

Utility or government actions that influence customer electricity use patterns, aiming to reduce peak demand or shift consumption to cheaper or less constrained periods.

Voluntary reduction or shifting of electricity use by customers in response to price signals or incentives, helping balance the grid during peak or emergency conditions.

The maximum electricity load placed on a system or facility during a specified period, driving the need for generation and network capacity and often setting charges.

An electricity pricing structure where rates differ by time period, charging more during peak hours and less off-peak to encourage load shifting.

Legislation establishing a national framework for efficient energy use, creating a designated agency, prescribing standards, audits, and reporting duties for large consumers.

An energy-intensive enterprise or facility, defined by sector and consumption thresholds under the energy conservation law, subject to mandatory audits and efficiency targets.

A qualified person appointed by a designated consumer to prepare energy accounts, monitor consumption, identify savings opportunities, and report performance to the authority.

A code setting minimum efficiency requirements for building envelope, lighting, HVAC, and electrical systems in new and renovated commercial buildings above a size threshold.

A firm that implements efficiency improvements and is paid from the resulting savings, often guaranteeing performance and taking on technical and financial risk.

Deliberate control of when equipment operates, such as staggering motor starts or cycling chillers, to flatten the load profile and reduce maximum demand charges.