Minnesota Energy: Retrofit Programs

Energy Home > Glossary

Here is a brief glossary of Energy terms that may help you better understand the information asked for in the Forms section of this site.

Terms used on the Site Data Form

Total Site Area (sq. ft) means gross square feet which refers to gross area of all buildings on the site by measuring from the outside of its exterior walls and including all vertical penetrations, such as elevator shafts. Also includes basement space.

Total heated Area (sq. ft) refers to the total heated area of all buildings on the site.

Total cooled Area (sq. ft) refers to the total cooled area of all buildings on the site.

Terms used on the Electric Energy Usage Form

KWh: Amount of electricity used over the period in Kilo Watt Hour.

KW: Peak electric demand for the period.

Terms used on the Thermal Energy Usage Form

British Thermal Unit (Btu): The standard measure of heat energy. It takes one Btu to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level.

Therm: 100,000 Btu

Deka Therm: 1,000,000 Btu

Cubic Foot (CF): The most common unit of measurement of natural gas volume. It equals the amount of gas required to fill a volume of one cubic foot under stated conditions of temperature and pressure. One CF of natural gas has an energy content of approximately 1,000 Btu.

CCF: One hundred cubic feet of natural gas, having an energy level of 100,000 Btu or 1 therm.

MCF: One thousand cubic feet of natural gas, having an energy value of 1,000,000 Btu or 10 therms.

MMBtu: 1,000,000 Btu or 10 therms

Gallon (Gal): A unit of liquid volume. A U.S. gallon has 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters.

MWH: Megawatt Hour is a standard of measure of hot water used by some district energy companies. One MWH of hot water equals 3.412 MMBtu of heat energy.

MLB: 1,000 pounds of steam, having energy value of 1,000,000 Btu.

CLB: 100 pounds of steam, having energy value of 100,000 Btu.

LB: 1 pound of steam, having an energy value of 1,000 Btu.

Terms used on the Water Usage Form

Gallon (Gal): A unit of liquid volume. A U.S. gallon has 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters. A U.S. gallon of water weighs about 8.33 pounds.

KGal: 1,000 gallons

Mcf: A symbol for 1000 cubic feet of water.

Ccf: A symbol for 100 cubic feet of water.

Cf: A symbol for 1 cubic feet of water.