Glossary of Energy Terms
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Note: No entries for Y or Z.
FAHRENHEIT -- A temperature scale in which the boiling point of water is 212 degrees and its freezing point is 32 degrees. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32, multiply by 5, and divide the product by 9. For example: 100 degrees Fahrenheit - 32 = 68; 68 x 5 = 340; 340 / 9 = 37.77 degrees Celsius.
FAULT CURRENT LIMITER - A device that uses superconductors to limit or reduce instantaneously unanticipated electrical surges that may occur on utility distribution and transmission networks (Source: Superconductivity News Update, U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) -- The federal agency in charge of disaster recovery in locations that have been declared disaster areas by a state's Governor and the President of the United States.
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC) -- An independent regulatory commission within the U.S. Department of Energy that has jurisdiction over energy producers that sell or transport fuels for resale in interstate commerce; the authority to set oil and gas pipeline transportation rates and to set the value of oil and gas pipelines for ratemaking purposes; and regulates wholesale electric rates and hydroelectric plant licenses.
FEED-IN TARIFF -- A renewable energy policy that typically offers a guarantee of payments to project owners for the total amount of renewable electricity they produce; access to the grid; and stable, long-term contracts.
FENESTRATION -- In simplest terms, windows or glass doors. Technically fenestration is described as any transparent or translucent material plus any sash, frame, mullion or divider. This includes windows, sliding glass doors, French doors, skylights, curtain walls and garden windows.
FISSION -- A release of energy caused by the splitting of an atom's nucleus. This is the energy process used in conventional nuclear power plants to make the heat needed to run steam electric turbines.
FLUORESCENT LAMP -- A tubular electric lamp that is coated on its inner surface with a phosphor and that contains mercury vapor whose bombardment by electrons from the cathode provides ultraviolet light which causes the phosphor to emit visible light either of a selected color or closely approximating daylight.
FLUOROCARBON GASES -- Propellants used in aerosol products and refrigerants that are believed to be causing depletion of the earth's ozone shield. See CFCs.
FRAMING EFFECTS -- The effect of framing (wood or metal studs, joists, beams, etc.) on the overall U-value of a wall, roof, floor, window or other building surface. Framing generally increases the U-Value and decreases the R-Value of insulated surfaces.
FUEL CELL -- A device or an electrochemical engine with no moving parts that converts the chemical energy of a fuel, such as hydrogen, and an oxidant, such as oxygen, directly into electricity. The principal components of a fuel cell are catalytically activated electrodes for the fuel (anode) and the oxidant (cathode) and an electrolyte to conduct ions between the two electrodes, thus producing electricity.
FUEL ROD (Nuclear) -- A long slender tube that holds fissionable material (fuel) for nuclear reactor use. Fuel rods are assembled into bundles called fuel elements or assemblies, which are loaded individually into the reactor core.
FUEL SECURITY -- See Energy Security.
FUSION ENERGY -- A power source, now under development, based on the release of energy that occurs when atoms are combined under the most extreme heat and pressure. It is the energy process of the sun and the stars.