Energy efficiency home evaluation glossary
Whether you're a homeowner looking to boost your home's energy efficiency or simply curious about energy-saving strategies, this glossary will guide you through the terminology and make your energy-saving journey more informed and engaging.
U-Factor
Calculation
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The U-Factor, or thermal transmittance, measures the rate of heat transfer through a building component. It is calculated as the inverse of the R-value (U = 1/R). It considers the conductivity of materials, surface resistances, and thicknesses.
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Low U-Factor: Indicates better insulation properties, meaning less heat transfer, improved energy efficiency, and better indoor temperature control.
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High U-Factor: Signifies poor insulation, leading to higher heat loss or gain, increased energy consumption, and reduced comfort levels inside the building.
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This measure is crucial in determining the energy efficiency of windows, doors, and other building elements.
CONCEPTS
1. EnerGuide Rating: A numerical value representing the energy performance of your home, indicating the net amount of energy consumed annually.
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2. EnerGuide Label: A label provided after an evaluation that includes the EnerGuide rating and other energy performance details of your home.
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3. Homeowner Information Sheet: A document summarizing the results of your EnerGuide home evaluation, including energy consumption and recommendations.
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4. Renovation Upgrade Report: A detailed report suggesting specific improvements and retrofits to enhance your home’s energy efficiency.
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5. Energy Performance: The measure of how effectively a home uses energy, typically for heating, cooling, and other functions.
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6. Net Energy Consumption: The total amount of energy a home uses over a year, minus any energy produced on-site (e.g., solar panels).
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7. Retrofit Journey: The process of making improvements to an existing home to increase its energy efficiency.
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8. Evaluation Results: The findings from an EnerGuide home evaluation, including energy ratings, labels, and recommendations for upgrades.
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9. Interpreting Results: Understanding the information provided by the EnerGuide evaluation to make informed decisions about home energy improvements.
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10. Energy Consumption Estimate: An approximation of the amount of energy a home will use annually, provided by the EnerGuide rating.
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11. Gigajoule (GJ): A unit of energy measurement. One gigajoule is equivalent to one billion joules. Used to quantify annual energy consumption in homes.
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12. Rating Scale: A scale used to compare the energy performance of homes, where a lower number indicates better performance.
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13. Zero Energy Home: A home that produces as much energy as it consumes, resulting in an EnerGuide rating of zero gigajoules per year.
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14. Typical New House: A reference point for EnerGuide ratings, representing a version of your home built to typical new construction standards for energy performance.
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15. Building Envelope: The physical barrier between the interior and exterior of a home, including walls, floors, roofs, windows, and doors, which impacts energy efficiency.
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16. Mechanical Components: The systems within a home that contribute to energy consumption, such as heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
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17. Annual Energy Consumption: The total amount of energy used by a home in one year, expressed in gigajoules (GJ/year).
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18. Energy Performance Indicator: A visual or numerical representation of a home’s energy efficiency, often shown on the EnerGuide label and homeowner information sheet.
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19.Passive Solar Gain: The use of the sun's energy for heating spaces within a home through design features like windows, walls, and floors that collect, store, and distribute solar energy.
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20.Rated Energy Intensity: The amount of energy used per unit area of a building, typically measured in gigajoules per square meter per year (GJ/m²/year).
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21.Insulation Values: Metrics that indicate the effectiveness of insulation materials in resisting heat flow, often expressed as R-values or RSI values.
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22.RSI Value: The metric for thermal resistance in the International System of Units (SI), representing the effectiveness of insulation materials.
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23.Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The release of gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane) into the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change, often considered in energy performance assessments.
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