Origin Energy Institute

Origin Energy Institute

energy jargon

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We've all seen or heard jargon used by retailers and manufacturers to describe the energy performance of appliances.  To help explain what this means we've compiled this reference to explain what these terms mean, so you'll never find yourself stumped again. 


Electricity

  • Watt (W): a unit of electrical power 1kW = 1000 watts  
  • Watt hour (Wh): a unit of energy (power and the time during which that power is generated or consumed)
  • Kilowatt hour (kWh): often referred to as a 'unit' of power Consumer’s meters are marked to be read in units 1kWh = 1000 watts operating for 1 hour  
  • Horsepower (HP): a unit of mechanical energy 1 HP = 746 watts (not applicable for refridgerative air conditioning units) 
  • Hertz (HZ): speed of electricity current measured in cycles per second (50 or 60 hertz (HZ))
  • volt (V): a measure of the amount of pressure required to make electrical energy flow in a circuit
  • amp (A) or ampere: a unit of electrical current. The amount of electricity which is flowing in the conductor

Unit of measurement:

  • watts ÷ volts = amps (eg - 1680 watts ÷ 240 volts = 7 amps)
  • amps x volts = watts (7 amps x 240 volts = 1680 watts)
  • 1500 watts = 6.25 amps
  • 2000 watts = 8.33 amps
  • 2400 watts = 10 amps

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Gas

  • MJ/h (megajoule): measurement of energy consumed by a gas appliance per hour under specific conditions
  • Natural gas: type of gas delivered to property via pipeline
  • LPG cylinder exchange: LPG is stored in cylinders at customer’s home.  When one cylinder or bank of cylinders becomes empty of gas it is swapped with a full cylinder or bank of cylinders. 
  • LPG tanker fill: LPG is stored in cylinders installed on site (home).  These cylinders are regularly filled on site from an LPG tanker truck

Unit of measurement:

  • 1 gigajoule (GJ) = 1000 MJ
  • 1 terajoule (TJ) = 1000GJ
  • 1 petajoule (PJ) = 1000TJ
  • 1 M³ of natural gas (NG) = 38.9MJ
  • 1 litre LPG = 500g
  • 1 kilo litre (KL) = 1000 litres
  • 1 x 45kg cylinder = 89 litres
  • 1 kW = 3.6 MJ
  • 1 litre gas = 25.3 MJ

General

  • Tariff: a unit of cost associated to the supply of energy.
  • MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards): MEPS programs are made mandatory in Australia by state government legislation and regulations which give force to the relevant Australian Standards. It is mandatory for the following products manifactured in or imported into Australia to meet the MEPS levels specified by the relevant Australian Standards:
    •  refridgerators and freezers (from 1 October 1999)
    • mains pressure electric storage water heaters (from 1 October 1999)
    • small mains pressure electric storage water heaters (<80L), low pressure and heat exchange types (from 1 October 2005)
    • three phase electric motors (from 1 October 2001)
    • single phase air conditioners (from 1 October 2004)
    • three phase air conditioners (from 1 October 2001)
    • ballasts for linear fluorescent lamps (from 1 March 2003)
    • linear fluorescent lamps (from 1 October 2004)
    • distribution transformers (from 1 October 2004)
    • commercial refridgeration (from 1 October 2004)
  • CO2e (carbon dioxide emissions): measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere
  • Green energy: refers to 'environmentally friendly' energy generated from sources such as hydro (water), solar (sun), biomass (landfill) or wind
  • Renewable energy: refers to new ‘green energy’ sources (since 1997) which are defined as continually replaced without depleting reserves. It is in general less polluting than its counterpart, non-renewable energy. Non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and gas exist in finite reserves and are continually being depleted. These energy sources also create considerable damage to the environment.
  • Black energy: refers to the type of energy generated from burning coal and other fossil fuels.
  • Hydro energy: a form of electricity produced from the downhill flow of water from rivers and lakes.
  • Solar energy: form of electricity produced from the sun captured by photovoltaic (solar) cells used to turn the energy from the sun into electricity. Photovoltaic cells generate electricity with no moving parts, no noise and produce no pollution.
  • Biomass energy: form of electricity produced from waste plant and animal matter. Wood is a large source of biomass energy, though the use of corn, sugarcane wastes and other farming by products is also becoming more prevalent. With respect to animal matter, livestock manure and human sewerage are sources of biomass energy.
  • Wind energy: form of electricity produced in a manner similar to steam turbines, with the blades of a wind turbine driving a generator. The longer the blades and the faster the wind speed, the more electricity the turbine generates. Wind generated electricity does not cause air pollution, however it costs more to produce than electricity generated from coal. This type of energy can only be generated in area's where wind velocity is of sufficient strength.

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