Energy — page 20 of 33

Energy terms

1901. MBF One thousand board feet of lumber.
1902. MCDB See moisture content, dry basis.
1903. MCF An abbreviation for one thousand cubic feet of natural gas with a heat content of 1,000,000 Btus, or 10 therms.
1904. MCL See Maximum contaminant level
1905. Mean A statistics term. The average value in a set of measurements. The mean is the sum of a set of numbers divided by how many numbers are in the set.
1906. Mean annual increment The annual average growth rate for a tree, computed over its entire life cycle.
1907. Mean Power Output (of a Wind Turbine) The average power output of a wind energy conversion system at a given mean wind speed based on a Raleigh frequency distribution.
1908. Mean sea level (MSL) (MSL) The arithmetic mean of hourly water elevations observed over a specific 19-year tidal epoch.
1909. Mean Wind Speed The arithmetic wind speed over a specified time period and height above the ground (the majority of U.S.
1910. Mechanical Systems Those elements of building used to control the interior climate.
1911. Median household income Divides households into two equal segments, with one-half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more.
1912. Median housing value Divides housing units into two equal segments, one-half of housing units less than median housing value and the other half valued more.
1913. Median Wind Speed The wind speed with 50 percent probability of occurring.
1914. Medium Btu Gas Fuel gas with a heating value of between 200 and 300 Btu per cubic foot.
1915. Medium Pressure For valves and fittings, implies that they are suitable for working pressures between 125 to 175 pounds per square inch.
1916. Megafauna A number of species of presently extinct mammals including mammoths and mastodons.
1917. Megawatt One thousand kilowatts, or 1 million watts; standard measure of electric power plant generating capacity.
1918. Megawatt (MW) (MW) A measure of instantaneous electric power consumption or production. Equal to one thousand KW.
1919. Megawatt electrical (MWe) One million watts of electrical energy; a measure of electrical power capacity, use in PEIS is synonymous with MW.
1920. Megawatt-hour One thousand kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours.
1921. Megawatthour (MWh) (MWh) 1,000 kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours.
1922. Merchant generator A generating plant built with no energy sales contracts in place.
1923. Merchantable Logs from which at least of the volume can be converted into sound grades of lumber ("standard and better" framing lumber).
1924. Mercury Vapor Lamp A high-intensity discharge lamp that uses mercury as the primary light-producing element. Includes clear, phosphor coated, and self-ballasted lamps.
1925. Mesa A broad, flat-topped elevation with one or more steeply-sloping to vertical sides.
1926. Mesic habitat A habitat type characterized by the presence of a moderate amount of moisture or water. Compare: hydric; opposite: xeric.
1927. Mesophilic An optimum temperature for bacterial growth in an enclosed digester (25° to 40°C).
1928. Mesozoic An era of geologic time between the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic, spanning the time between 251 and 65 million years ago.
1929. MET An approximate unit of heat produced by a resting person, equal to about 18.5 Btu per square foot per hour.
1930. metabolism (meh-TA-boh-lih-zum) The total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism.
1931. Metal Halide Lamp A high-intensity discharge lamp type that uses mercury and several halide additives as light-producing elements.
1932. Metamorphic rock A sedimentary or igneous rock that has been changed by pressure, heat, or chemical action.
1933. Metate A portable stone slab upon which seeds and other grains are milled with a mano using a push-pull, back-and-forth motion. See also Mano
1934. Methane A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas composed of one molecule of Carbon and four of hydrogen, which is highly flammable.
1935. Methanogen A methane-producing organism.
1936. Methanol Methyl alcohol having the chemical formula CH30H. Methanol is usually produced by chemical conversion at high temperatures and pressures. Wood alcohol.
1937. Methanol (CH₃OH; Methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) A clear, colorless, very mobile liquid that is flammable and poisonous; used as a fuel and fuel additive, and to produce chemicals.
1938. methanol (wood alcohol) (CH3OH) An alcohol formed by catalytically combining carbon monoxide with hydrogen in a 1:2 ratio under high temperature and pressure.
1939. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) (MTBE) An ether manufactured by reacting methanol and isobutylene. MTBE has high octane and low volatility. Used as a fuel oxygenate.
1940. Metric Ton (or tonne) 1000 kilograms. 1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lb = 1.023 short tons.
1941. Metric Ton (Tonne) A unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds.
1942. mg/l Milligrams per liter.
1943. MGD Million gallons per day.
1944. Microalgae Unicellular, photosynthetic aquatic plants.
1945. Microbiotic soil crusts See Biological soil crusts
1946. Microclimate The local climate of specific place or habitat, as influenced by landscape features.
1947. Microgroove A small groove scribed into the surface of a solar photovoltaic cell which is filled with metal for contacts.
1948. Micrometer One millionth of a meter (10-6 m).
1949. Micron One thousandth of a millimeter.
1950. microorganism An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi.
1951. Microphytic soil crusts See Biological soil crusts
1952. Microsite A small area within an environment with unique features, conditions, or characteristics relative to the surrounding area.
1953. Mid seral species Shade intolerant species, primarily Douglas-fir trees and vine maple shrubs. These species typically follow the early seral species in natural succession.
1954. Mid seral treatment A treatment in which a stand of predominately mid seral species will be established.
1955. Migration corridor A route followed by animals such as big game, birds, or fish when traveling between winter and summer habitats.
1956. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (MBTA) The MBTA implements various treaties and conventions between the United States, and Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the former Soviet Union for the protection…
1957. Military Training Route (MTR) (MTR) A designated corridor of airspace with defined vertical and lateral dimensions established for conducting military flight training at airspeeds in excess…
1958. Mill A common monetary measure equal to one-thousandth of a dollar or a tenth of a cent.
1959. Mill residue Wood and bark residues produced in processing logs into lumber, plywood, and paper.
1960. Mill/kWh A common method of pricing electricity. Tenths of a cent per kilowatt hour.
1961. Milligauss (mG) A unit of measure for magnetic fields.
1962. Millsite mining claim Claim on nonmineral land for processing ore from a mining claim.
1963. Mineral A nutrient required to maintain health.
1964. Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA) (MLA) Authorizes the agency to issue rights-of-way grants for oil and gas gathering and distribution pipelines and related facilities not already authorized…
1965. Mineral materials Widespread deposits of common clay, sand, gravel, or stone which are not subject to disposal under the 1872 Mining Law, as amended.
1966. Mining claim That portion of the public mineral lands which a miner, for mining purposes, takes and holds in accordance with the mining laws.
1967. Mining water use Water use during quarrying rocks and extracting minerals from the land.
1968. Minority Carrier A current carrier, either an electron or a hole, that is in the minority in a specific layer of a semiconductor material; the diffusion of minority…
1969. Minority Carrier Lifetime The average time a minority carrier exists before recombination.
1970. Minority population Includes Hispanic, American Indian, or Alaskan Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Black (not of Hispanic origin) or African…
1971. Miocene An epoch of the upper Tertiary period, 23 to 5.3 million years ago.
1972. Mirror A reflecting surface of various physical shapes (parabolic, nearly flat, or flat) used to reflect and/or concentrate the sun's energy to specific…
1973. Mitigation Term usually used to refer to various changes or improvements made in a home; for instance, to reduce the average level of radon.
1974. Mitigation (measures) Methods or actions that will reduce adverse impacts from solar facility development.
1975. Mixed Use Development Development that is created in response to patterns of separate uses that are typical in suburban areas necessitating reliance on cars.
1976. Mixing Valve A valve operated by a thermostat that can be installed in solar water heating systems to mix cold water with water from the collector loop to maintain a…
1977. MMBF One million board feet.
1978. MMBtu One million British thermal units.
1979. Modal Split A term that describes how many people use alternative forms of transportation. Frequently used to describe the percentage of people using private…
1980. Modified Degree-Day Method A method used to estimate building heating loads by assuming that heat loss and gain is proportional to the equivalent heat-loss coefficient for the…
1981. module The smallest self-contained, environmentally protected structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing a single dc electrical output…
1982. Moisture The amount of water and other components present in the biomass sample that are volatilized at 105°C. (Source: Ehrman, T.
1983. Moisture Content The water content of a substance (a solid fuel) as measured under specified conditions being the: Dry Basis, which equals the weight of the wet sample…
1984. Moisture Content (MC) (MC) The weight of the water contained in wood, usually expressed as a percentage of weight, either oven-dry or as received.
1985. Moisture content, dry basis (MCDB) (MCDB) Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of oven-dry wood. weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample…
1986. Moisture content, wet basis (MCWB) (MCWB) Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of wood as-received. Expressed as: weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample…
1987. Moisture Control The process of controlling indoor moisture levels and condensation.
1988. moisture free basis Biomass composition and chemical analysis data is typically reported on a moisture free or dry weight basis.
1989. Molten salts Mixtures of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate in various proportions that are used as a heat transfer or heat storage medium in CSP Solar Energy…
1990. Monoculture The agricultural practice of cultivating crops consisting of genetically similar organisms.
1991. Monolithic Fabricated as a single structure.
1992. monosaccharide A simple sugar (e.g. glucose, fructose). See:.
1993. Montane The highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures, and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent…
1994. Mortality The state of being mortal (destined to die). Mortality also refers to the death rate, or the number of deaths in a certain group of people in a certain…
1995. Mortar A stone bowl or bowl-shaped depression (such as in a rock) in which seeds, berries, nuts, meats, and other items are ground or pulverized with a pestle…
1996. Mosses Low-growing, nonvascular plants that are common to moist habitats.
1997. Mothballed capacity A power plant that is out-of-service, but is being maintained in such a condition that an operator can bring it back into service.
1998. Motor In medicine, having to do with the movement of body parts.
1999. Motor Speed The number of revolutions that the motor turns in a given time period (i.e. revolutions per minute, rpm).
2000. Movable Insulation A device that reduces heat loss at night and during cloudy periods and heat gain during the day in warm weather.