Technical Information

Here at BTU Research, we design affordable energy solutions specifically targeted to reduce monthly utility costs and provide continuous protection of valuable electronics, equipment and appliances in the home and at the workplace. We're helping to protect and improve the energy efficiency of:

  • Homes and Apartments
  • Condo Associations
  • Commercial Buildings and Office Suites
  • Restaurants
  • Hotels
  • Manufacturing Plants and Small Industrial Plants
  • Municipal Utilities
  • Schools

Our Advanced Reactive Capacitance Technology (ARC-TECH) improves the operational performance, productivity and efficiency of electrical circuits. The ARC-TECH PRO series combines electrical circuit efficiency with Surge Protection. This is a highly reliable and affordable solution to protect electronics, computers and valuable files while improving energy efficiency in the home and the workplace.

According to a study by the McKinsey Global Institute the growth rate of worldwide energy consumption could be cut by more than half over the next 15 years through more aggressive energy-efficiency efforts by households and industry. Our engineers believe energy efficiency to be the fifth fuel, after coal, gas, renewables and nuclear. That's why we work to create and deploy new and innovative products that compete on price and performance.


Click here to learn more about ARC-TECH and ARC-TECH PRO.

Energy Savings Through BTU Research’s Advanced Reactive Capacitance Technology (ARC-TECH)

It is overwhelmingly agreed, that power factor correction results in savings for commercial and industrial applications, where utility companies bill on a Kilo-Volt Amp (KVA) basis and at times apply a KVA penalty. In such cases, the reduction in KVA is simply explained through the formula of volts (E) multiplied by the reduced amps (I), due to power factor improvement, results in less KVA, subsequently less cost.

This is not so apparent in residential applications or where billings are made in Kilo-Watt hours KWh, as the voltage (E) remains constant and the improvement in amps (I) is offset by the improvement in Power Factor (PF).

Since a drop in amps causes an increase in pf, mathematically these values offset each other (Watts = volts x amps x pf) both as calculable as well as when tested in a laboratory environment directly on top of the unit tested with little or no distance to the meter.

However this is not a completely accurate interpretation of potential KW savings. Distance and wire resistance must also be considered when either calculating or measuring KW savings, as both generally contribute to cable loss and KW usage. The reduction in amps, created through power factor improvement, provides a line loss savings or I2R savings resulting in less watt usage.

Lower Current through the cable actually means less heat loss & hence, less power loss through the supply cable. The cable loss is calculated by using the formula:

The symbol "r" is the cable resistance & I is the difference in current drawn with and without using pf improvement.

Undoubtedly, each particular environment (ie each house, office, apartment) has different wiring, equipment and line distances and as such, it is impractical to attempt to calculate the precise actual KW savings for each application that will result through the improved line loss savings.

In summary,

  • We can easily calculate the direct cost benefit of amp reduction the Consumer may get on KVA billing and or pf penalty rebate.
  • Although it is calculable to determine the cost benefit of amp reduction in KWH billings, when it is viewed more in depth with due consideration of I2R loss, the exercise of completing the calculations is complicated by the difficulty in ascertaining the values (resistance/distance/etc) for each particular application.
  • Energy savings must be reflected in reduced energy consumption directly in 2 major components:
    • As a KVA improvement
    • As a reduction in the I2R component & KWh Improvement

BTU Research's ARC-TECH devices provide improved energy efficiency both ways. Our residential devices provide I2R loss savings, which result in real energy savings through reduced KWH usage. BTU Research’s Electrical Engineering Services & Systems (EESS) team, provide engineered solutions that improve energy efficiency through a reduction KVA charges, power factor penalties and I2R loss.

When it comes to sustained electrical cost reductions, BTU Research is committed to delivering real value with results, quickly and cost affectively

AC Surge Protection Overview
Overview of Transient Overvoltages

The users of electronic equipment and telephone and data-processing systems must face the problem of keeping this equipment in operation in spite of the transient overvoltages induces by lightning. There are several reasons for this fact (1) the high level of integration of electronic components makes the equipment more vulnerable, (2) interruption of service is unacceptable (3) data transmission networks cover large areas and are exposed to more disturbances.

Transient overvoltages have three main causes:

  • Lightning
  • Industrial and switching surges
  • Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

LIGHTNING

Lightning, investigated since Benjamin Franklin’s first research in 1749, has paradoxically become a growing threat to our highly electronic society.

Lightning Formation
A lightning flash is generated between two zones of opposite charge, typically between two storm clouds or between one cloud and the ground.

The flash may travel several miles, advancing toward the ground in successive leaps: the leader creates a highly ionized channel. When it reaches the ground, the real flash or return stroke takes place. A current in the tens of thousands of Amperes will then travel from ground to cloud or vice versa via the ionized channel.

Direct Lightning
At the moment of discharge there is an impulse current flow that ranges from 1,000 to 200,000 Amperes peak, with a rise time of about a few microseconds. This direct effect is a small factor in damage to electric and electronic systems, because it is highly localized.

The best protection is still the classic lightning rod or Lightning Protection System (LPS), designed to capture the discharge current and conduct it to a particular point.

INDIRECT EFFECTS

There are three types of indirect lightning effects:

Impact on Overhead Line:
Such lines are very exposed and may be struck directly by lightning, which will first partially or completely destroy the cables, and then cause high surge voltages that travel naturally along the conductors to line-connected equipment. The extent of the damage depends on the distance between the strike and the equipment.

Rise in Ground Potential:
The flow of lightning in the ground causes earth potential increases that vary according to the current intensity and the local earth impedance. In an installation that may be connected to several grounds (e.g. link between buildings), a strike will cause a very large potential difference and equipment connected to the affected networks will be destroyed or severely disrupted.

Electromagnetic Radiation:
The flash may be regarded as an antenna several miles high carrying an impulse current of several tenths of kilo-amperes, radiating intense electromagnetic fields (several kV/m at more than 1km). These fields induce strong voltages and currents in lines near or on equipment. The values depend on the distance from the flash and the properties of the link.

INDUSTRIAL SURGES

An industrial surge covers a phonemena caused by switching electrical power sources on or off.

Industrial Surges are Caused by:

  • Starting motors or transformers
  • Neon and sodium light starters
  • Switching power networks
  • Switch "bounce" in an inductive circuit
  • Operation of fuses and circuit breakers
  • Falling power lines
  • Poor or intermittent contacts

These phenomena generate transients of several kV with rise times of the order of the microsecond, disturbing equipment in networks to which the source of disturbance is connected.

ELECTROSTATIC OVERVOLTAGES

Electrically, a human being has a capacitance ranging from 100 to 300 picofarads, and can pick up a charge of as much as 15kV by walking on carpet, then touch some conducting object and be discharged in a few microseconds, with a current of about ten Amperes. All integrated circuits (CMOS, etc.) are quite vulnerable to this kind of disturbance, which is generally eliminated by shielding and grounding.

EFFECTS OF OVERVOLTAGES

Overvoltages have many types of effects on electronic equipment in order of decreasing importance:

Destruction:

  • Voltage breakdown of semiconductor junctions
  • Destruction of bonding of components
  • Destruction of tracks of PCBs or contacts
  • Destruction of triacs/thyristors by dV/dt.

Interference with Operations:

  • Random operation of latches, thyristors, and triacs
  • Erasure of memory
  • Program errors or crashes
  • Data and transmission errors

Premature Aging:
Components exposed to overvoltages have a shorter life.

Surge Protection Devices
The Surge Protection Device (SPD) is a recognized and effective solution to solve the overvoltage problem. For greatest effect, however, it must be chosen according to the risk of the application and installed in accordance with the rules of the art.

Grounding Tips
A protection system with a poor ground is the same as having no protection at all. Too many times proper grounding has been overlooked. Recommended grounds are the utility company ground, a ground rod, well casings, and cold water pipes that are of continuous metal. A note of caution, sometimes the metal-cold water pipes are repaired and/or extended PVC piping. The introduction of PVC material renders the cold water pipe ground unacceptable. A thorough investigation of a cold water pipe ground is important since the PVC repairs or extensions may be covered by drywall.

Grounds that are unacceptable include sprinkler pipes, PVC pipe, conduit, buried wire and any ground that cannot be verified.

Bonding ensures the most effective ground. Bonding ties all of the grounds in the building together electrically. If there is a rise in ground potential and all of the grounds are bonded, no damage will occur since it is differential voltage that causes problems.

It is absolutely necessary to make sure that the ground used for the AC power is the same as the ground used for the data-line Surge-Protectors. A common ground reference must be achieved for all equipment. All ground wires must be as short as possible and it is imperative that the ground wire not be coiled nor looped. The ground wire must be as straight as possible, remember that it must be the path of least resistance. Regarding the diameter of the ground wire, the larger the better. The larger the diameter, the better electrical conductivity. Finally, the earth ground resistance on which the whole grounding system relies, must be less than 5 ohms.

Lines that typically need protection include incoming central office trunks, lines to off-premise sites, local area networks and campus environments with multiple buildings. A good rule of thumb to remember is that all lines entering or exiting a building need protection. Both ends of the cables between buildings must be protected!

Installation/Operation Instructions

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Glossary

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-- an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009. The Act of Congress was based largely on proposals made by President Barack Obama and was intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn. The Act followed other economic recovery legislation passed in the final year of the Bush presidency including the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which created the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).

Ampere (AMP)-- The ampere (symbol: A) is the SI unit of electric current.  Qualitatively, the ampere "is now defined in terms of a current that, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of specific sizes and positions, would produce a certain amount of [magnetic] force between the conductors.  Quantitatively, the ampere is defined to be the constant current which will produce an attractive force of 2 × 10–7 newtons per metre of length between two straight, parallel conductors of infinite length and negligible circular cross section placed one metre apart in a vacuum.  The definition is based on Ampère's force law. The ampere is a base unit, along with the metre, kelvin, second, mole, candela and the kilogram: it is defined without reference to the quantity of electric charge.  In practical terms, the ampere is a measure of the amount of electric charge passing a point per unit time. Around 6.242 × 1018 electrons passing a given point each second constitutes one ampere. (Since electrons have negative charge, they flow in the opposite direction to the conventional current.)

Capacitor-- capacitor or condenser is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair of conductors separated by a dielectric. When a potential difference exists across the conductors, an electric field is present in the dielectric. This field stores energy and produces a mechanical force between the plates. The effect is greatest between wide, flat, parallel, narrowly separated conductors.  An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single constant value, capacitance, which is measured in farads. This is the ratio of the electric charge on each conductor to the potential difference between them. In practice, the dielectric between the plates passes a small amount of leakage current. The conductors and leads introduce an equivalent series resistance and the dielectric has an electric field strength limit resulting in a breakdown voltage.  Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits to block the flow of direct current while allowing alternating current to pass, to filter out interference, to smooth the output of power supplies, and for many other purposes. They are used in resonant circuits in radio frequency equipment to select particular frequencies from a signal with many frequencies.

Circuit Breaker-- A circuit breaker is an automatically-operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and, by interrupting continuity, to immediately discontinue electrical flow. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect an individual household appliance up to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city.

Current-- Electric current can mean, depending on the context, a flow of electric charge (a phenomenon) or the rate of flow of electric charge (a quantity).  This flowing electric charge is typically carried by moving electrons, in a conductor such as wire; in an electrolyte, it is instead carried by ions, and, in a plasma, by both The SI unit for measuring the rate of flow of electric charge is the ampere. Electric current is measured using an ammeter[

Demand-- Electric demand refers to the maximum amount of electrical energy that is being consumed at a given time.   It is measured in both kilowatts and kilovolt amperes, depending on the rate tariff.  The difference between the two terms is power factor.  Another related term is kiloWatt hours, which is a measurement of total electricity used for a period of time.  A 1000 watt electrical load used for one hour consumes one kiloWatt hour (kWh).  Electrical Utilities typically charge commercial and industrial customers for both consumption (kWh) and Demand (kWd or kVa).

Department of Energy (DOE)-- The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material. Its responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. DOE also sponsors more basic and applied scientific research than any other US federal agency; most of this is funded through its system of United States Department of Energy National Laboratories.  The agency is administered by the United States Secretary of Energy, and its headquarters are located in southwest Washington, D.C., on Independence Avenue in the Forrestal Building, named for James Forrestal, as well as in Germantown, Maryland.

Electrical Engineering-- Electrical engineering, sometimes referred to as electrical and electronic engineering, is a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical power supply. It now covers a range of subtopics including power, electronics, control systems, signal processing and telecommunications.  Electrical engineering may or may not include electronic engineering. Where a distinction is made, usually outside of the United States, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as power transmission and motor control, whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including computers and integrated circuits.[1] Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit energy, while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to transmit information.

Electrical Spike-- In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short duration electrical transients in voltage (voltage spikes), current (current spike), or transferred energy (energy spikes) in an electrical circuit.  Fast, short duration electrical transients (overvoltages) in the electric potential of a circuit are typically caused by:

Energy-- In physics, energy (from the Greek ἐνέργεια - energeia, "activity, operation", from ἐνεργός - energos, "active, working") is a scalar physical quantity that describes the amount of work that can be performed by a force, an attribute of objects and systems that is subject to a conservation law. Different forms of energy include kinetic, potential, thermal, gravitational, sound, light, elastic, and electromagnetic energy. The forms of energy are often named after a related force.  Any form of energy can be transformed into another form, but the total energy always remains the same. This principle, the conservation of energy, was first postulated in the early 19th century, and applies to any isolated system. According to Noether's theorem, the conservation of energy is a consequence of the fact that the laws of physics do not change over time.  Although the total energy of a system does not change with time, its value may depend on the frame of reference. For example, a seated passenger in a moving airplane has zero kinetic energy relative to the airplane, but non-zero kinetic energy relative to the Earth.

Energy Audit-- An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s).

Energy Conservation-- Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used. It may be achieved through efficient energy use, in which case energy use is decreased while achieving a similar outcome, or by reduced consumption of energy services. Energy conservation may result in increase of financial capital, environmental value, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users may want to increase efficiency and thus maximize profit.  Electrical energy conservation is an important element of energy policy. Energy conservation reduces the energy consumption and energy demand per capita and thus offsets some of the growth in energy supply needed to keep up with population growth. This reduces the rise in energy costs, and can reduce the need for new power plants, and energy imports. The reduced energy demand can provide more flexibility in choosing the most preferred methods of energy production.  By reducing emissions, energy conservation is an important part of lessening climate change. Energy conservation facilitates the replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy. Energy conservation is often the most economical solution to energy shortages, and is a more environmentally benign alternative to increased energy production.

Energy Consumption-- Energy consumption is the consumption of energy or power

Energy Efficiency-- Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve the same temperature. Another example would be installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights to attain the same level of illumination. A 13 watt fluorescent light bulb outputs the same amount of visible light as a 60 watt incandescent bulb, so you are getting more light for less energy. Efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or process rather than by changes in individual behavior. Energy efficient buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help controlling global emissions of greenhouse gases, according to the International Energy Agency.  Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy.

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)-- originally named the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007) is an Act of Congress concerning the energy policy of the United States which was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Democrats as part of their 100-Hour Plan during the 110th Congress sponsored by Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia, who nonetheless became 1 of only 4 Democrats to oppose the final bill. It was cosponsored by 198 other representatives, it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007. When the Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2007, it was combined with a different Senate bill (S. 1419). This amended version passed the Senate on June 21, 2007. After further amendments and negotiation between the House and Senate, a revised bill passed both houses. President Bush signed it into law on December 19, 2007, which responded to his "Twenty in Ten" challenge in the State of the Union Address to improve vehicle fuel economy and increase alternative fuels. The stated purpose of the act is “to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.”

Energy Policy Act (EPACT)-- a bill passed by the United States Congress on July 29, 2005, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005, at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The act, described by proponents as an attempt to combat growing energy problems, changed US energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production of various types.

Energy Star-- Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products. It was first created as a United States government program in 1992, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted the program. Devices carrying the Energy Star logo, such as computer products and peripherals, kitchen appliances, buildings and other products, generally use 20%–30% less energy than required by federal standards. However, many European-targeted products are labeled using a different standard, TCO Certification, a combined energy usage and ergonomics rating from the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO) instead of Energy Star.

Energy Star Rated-- Energy Star specifications differ with each item, and are set by either the Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Energy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)-- Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. In our solar system, the atmospheres of Venus, Mars and Titan also contain gases that cause greenhouse effects. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth's surface would be on average about 33 °C (59 °F) colder than at present. Human activities since the start of the industrial era around 1750 have increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

“Green” Technology-- Environmental technology (abbreviated as envirotech) or green technology (abbreviated as greentech) or clean technology (abbreviated as cleantech) is the application of the environmental science to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement. Sustainable development is the core of environmental technologies. When applying sustainable development as a solution for environmental issues, the solutions need to be socially equitable, economically viable, and environmentally sound.  Some environmental technologies, in conjunction with sustainable development, are technologies that assist directly with energy conservation (such as flue gas treatment); other emerging technologies are those that help the environment by reducing the amount of waste produced by human activities. Energy sources such as solar power create fewer problems for the environment than traditional sources of energy like coal and petroleum.

Induction Motors-- An induction motor (or asynchronous motor) is a type of alternating current motor where power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction.  An electric motor converts electrical power to mechanical power in its rotor (rotating part). There are several ways to supply power to the rotor. In a DC motor this power is supplied to the armature directly from a DC source, while in an induction motor this power is induced in the rotating device. An induction motor is sometimes called a rotating transformer because the stator (stationary part) is essentially the primary side of the transformer and the rotor (rotating part) is the secondary side. The primary side's currents evokes a magnetic field which interacts with the secondary sides mmf to produce a resultant torque, henceforth serving the purpose of producing mechanical energy. Induction motors are widely used, especially polyphase induction motors, which are frequently used in industrial drives.

Kilowatt Hours-- The kilowatt hour is commonly used by electrical distribution providers for purposes of billing, since the monthly energy consumption of a typical residential customer ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand kilowatt hours. Megawatt hours, gigawatt hours, and terawatt hours are often used for metering larger amounts of electrical energy to industrial customers and in power generation.  The standard unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI) is the joule (J), equal to one watt second. Inversely, one watt is equal to 1 J/s. One kilowatt hour is 3.6 megajoules, which is the amount of energy expended (or dissipated) if work is done at a constant rate of one thousand watts for one hour.  The kilowatt hour, or kilowatt-hour, (symbol kW·h, kWh) is a unit of energy equal to 3.6 megajoules. Energy in watt hours is the multiplication of power in watts and time in hours. The most common use of the unit is when energy is delivered by electric utilities to consumers. In this case electricity use is usually billed in kilowatt hours (kW·h, W h): 1 kW·h = 1,000 W·h.

Load-- If an electric circuit has a well-defined output terminal, the circuit connected to this terminal (or its input impedance) is the load. (The term 'load' may also refer to the power consumed by a circuit; that topic is not discussed here.).  Load affects the performance of circuits that output voltages or currents, such as sensors, voltage sources, and amplifiers. A household's power outlets provide an easy example: they are a voltage source, outputting 120 V AC for example (in USA), with the household's appliances collectively making up the load. When a power-hungry appliance switches on, it dramatically reduces the load impedance, causing the output voltage to drop. This drop is easily observed; for instance, turning on a vacuum cleaner dims the lights.

Non-Linear Loads-- A non-linear load on a power system is typically a rectifier (such as used in a power supply), or some kind of arc discharge device such as a fluorescent lamp, electric welding machine, or arc furnace. Because current in these systems is interrupted by a switching action, the current contains frequency components that are multiples of the power system frequency.  Non-linear loads change the shape of the current waveform from a sine wave to some other form. Non-linear loads create harmonic currents in addition to the original (fundamental frequency) AC current. Addition of linear components such as capacitors and inductors cannot cancel these harmonic currents, so other methods such as filters or power factor correction (PFC) are required to smooth out their current demand over each cycle of alternating current and so reduce the generated harmonic currents.

Power Factor-- The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power, and is a number between 0 and 1 (frequently expressed as a percentage, e.g. 0.5 pf = 50% pf). Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power can be greater than the real power.  In an electric power system, a load with low power factor draws more current than a load with a high power factor for the same amount of useful power transferred. The higher currents increase the energy lost in the distribution system, and require larger wires and other equipment. Because of the costs of larger equipment and wasted energy, electrical utilities will usually charge a higher cost to industrial or commercial customers where there is a low power factor.  Linear loads with low power factor (such as induction motors) can be corrected with a passive network of capacitors or inductors. Non-linear loads, such as rectifiers, distort the current drawn from the system. In such cases, active or passive power factor correction may be used to counteract the distortion and raise power factor. The devices for correction of power factor may be at a central substation, or spread out over a distribution system, or built into power-consuming equipment.

Power Factor Correction-- It is often desirable to adjust the power factor of a system to near 1.0. This power factor correction (PFC) is achieved by switching in or out banks of inductors or capacitors. For example the inductive effect of motor loads may be offset by locally connected capacitors. When reactive elements supply or absorb reactive power near the load, the apparent power is reduced.  Power factor correction may be applied by an electrical power transmission utility to improve the stability and efficiency of the transmission network. Correction equipment may be installed by individual electrical customers to reduce the costs charged to them by their electricity supplier. A high power factor is generally desirable in a transmission system to reduce transmission losses and improve voltage regulation at the load.  Power factor correction brings the power factor of an AC power circuit closer to 1 by supplying reactive power of opposite sign, adding capacitors or inductors which act to cancel the inductive or capacitive effects of the load, respectively. For example, the inductive effect of motor loads may be offset by locally connected capacitors. If a load had a capacitive value, inductors (also known as reactors in this context) are connected to correct the power factor. In the electricity industry, inductors are said to consume reactive power and capacitors are said to supply it, even though the reactive power is actually just moving back and forth on each AC cycle.  The reactive elements can create voltage fluctuations and harmonic noise when switched on or off. They will supply or sink reactive power regardless of whether there is a corresponding load operating nearby, increasing the system's no-load losses. In a worst case, reactive elements can interact with the system and with each other to create resonant conditions, resulting in system instability and severe overvoltage fluctuations. As such, reactive elements cannot simply be applied at will, and power factor correction is normally subject to engineering analysis.

Power Surge-- In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short duration electrical transients in voltage (voltage spikes), current (current spike), or transferred energy (energy spikes) in an electrical circuit.

Renewable Energy-- Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning and 3% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for 2.4% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3.4% from new renewables.

Single Phase Service-- In electrical engineering, single-phase electric power refers to the distribution of alternating current electric power using a system in which all the voltages of the supply vary in unison. Single-phase distribution is used when loads are mostly lighting and heating, with few large electric motors. A single-phase supply connected to an alternating current electric motor does not produce a revolving magnetic field; single-phase motors need additional circuits for starting, and such motors are uncommon above 10 or 20 kW in rating.  In contrast, in a three-phase system, the currents in each conductor reach their peak instantaneous values sequentially, not simultaneously; in each cycle of the power frequency, first one, then the second, then the third current reaches its maximum value. The waveforms of the three supply conductors are offset from one another in time (delayed in phase) by one-third of their period.  Standard frequencies of single-phase power systems are either 50 or 60 Hz. Special single-phase traction power networks may operate at 16.67 Hz or other frequencies to power electric railways.

Surge Protection-- A surge protector (or surge suppressor) is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from voltage spikes. A surge protector attempts to regulate the voltage supplied to an electric device by either blocking or by shorting to ground voltages above a safe threshold.

Three Phase Service-- Three-phase electric power is a common method of alternating-current electric power transmission. It is a type of polyphase system, and is the most common method used by electric power distribution grids worldwide to distribute power. It is also used to power large motors and other large loads. A three-phase system is generally more economical than others because it uses less conductor material to transmit electric power than equivalent single-phase or two-phase systems at the same voltage. In a three-phase system, three circuit conductors carry three alternating currents (of the same frequency) which reach their instantaneous peak values at different times. Taking one conductor as the reference, the other two currents are delayed in time by one-third and two-thirds of one cycle of the electrical current. This delay between phases has the effect of giving constant power transfer over each cycle of the current, and also makes it possible to produce a rotating magnetic field in an electric motor.  Three-phase systems may or may not have a neutral wire. A neutral wire allows the three-phase system to use a higher voltage while still supporting lower-voltage single-phase appliances. In high-voltage distribution situations, it is common not to have a neutral wire as the loads can simply be connected between phases (phase-phase connection).

Transformer-- A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core, and thus a varying magnetic field through the secondary winding. This varying magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force (EMF) or "voltage" in the secondary winding. This effect is called mutual induction.

UL-- Underwriters Laboratories™ Inc. (UL) is an independent product safety certification organization. Based in Northbrook, Illinois, UL develops standards and test procedures for products, materials, components, assemblies, tools and equipment, chiefly dealing with product safety. UL also evaluates and certifies the efficiency of a company’s business processes through its management system registration programs. Additionally, UL analyzes drinking and other clean water samples through its drinking water laboratory in South Bend, Indiana.  UL is one of several companies approved for such testing by the U.S. federal agency OSHA. OSHA maintains a list of approved testing laboratories, known as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. 

UL Listed-- A manufacturer of a UL-certified product must demonstrate compliance with the appropriate safety requirements, many of which are developed by UL. A manufacturer must also demonstrate that it has a program in place to ensure that each copy of the product complies with the appropriate requirements. UL conducts periodic, unannounced follow-up inspections at manufacturers’ locations to check ongoing compliance. If a product design is modified, a representative example may need to be retested before a UL mark can be attached to the new product or its packaging.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)-- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), founded in 1993, is a non-profit trade organization that promotes sustainability in how buildings are designed, built and operated. The USGBC is best known for the development of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and Greenbuild, a green building conference that promotes the green building industry, including environmentally responsible materials, sustainable architecture techniques and public policy.  USGBC has more than 15,000 member organizations from every sector of the building industry and works to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. To achieve this it has developed a variety of programs and services, and works closely with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies.  USGBC also offers a host of educational opportunities, including workshops and Web-based seminars to educate the public and industry professionals on different elements of the green building industry, from the basics to more technical information. Through its Green Building Certification Institute, formerly the LEED Accredited Professional program, USGBC offers industry professionals the chance to develop expertise in the field of green building and to receive accreditation as green building professionals.

Volt-- The volt is defined as the value of the voltage across a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power in the conductor.  The volt (symbol: V) is the SI derived unit of electromotive force, commonly called "voltage".[1] It is also the unit for the related but slightly different quantity electric potential difference (also called "electrostatic potential difference"). It is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery