HVAC and BEMS

A measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a central air conditioner or air conditioning heat pump.  It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of cooling delivered for every watt-hour of electricity used by the heat pump over a cooling season.

Any device that receives a signal or stimulus (such as heat, pressure, light, or motion, etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner.

A thermostat that can be set to automatically lower temperatures in an unoccupied house and raise them again before the occupant returns.

A collection of computer programs, procedures, and documentation that perform some tasks on a computer system.

The weight of water vapour, per unit weight of dry air.

HVAC term for an air conditioning system that comes in two (2) to five (5) pieces: one (1) piece contains the compressor, condenser, and a fan; the others have an evaporator and a fan.  The condenser, installed outside the house, connects to several evaporators, one (1) in each room to be cooled, mounted inside the house.  Each evaporator is individually controlled, allowing different rooms or zones to be cooled to varying degrees.

A term used to describe heat energy lost from a water heater tank.

Condition that exists when an equal amount of air is supplied to and exhausted from a space.  At static pressure, equilibrium has been reached.

A water heater that releases hot water from the top of the tank when a hot water tap is opened.  To replace that hot water, cold water enters the bottom of the tank to ensure a full tank.

HVAC term for the duct(s) of a forced air heating/cooling system through which heated or cooled air is supplied to rooms by the action of the fan of the central heating or cooling unit.