Glossary

This glossary provides definitions of common terms used in home construction, repair, and maintenance. It is intended as a quick reference to foster clearer communication between homeowners, builders and contractors.

RELATED LINKS AND FILES

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Energy Savers Consumer Guide Glossary

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Energy Savers Consumer Guide Glossary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeowner's Glossary of Building Terms

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeowner's Glossary of Building Terms

A - D | E - H | I - L | M - P | Q - T | U - Z

Air conditioner

Air exchanger

Air intakes

Air register

Air-Source Heat Pump

Appliance energy efficiency ratings

Appliance standards

Attic bypass

Backdrafting

Baseboard radiator

Batt/blanket

Beam

Bearing wall

Central heating system

Chimney effect

Circuit breaker

Coefficient of performance (COP)

Combustion air

Combustion by-products

Compact fluorescent light

Condensation

Condenser coil

Coniferous tree

Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)

Crawl space

Deciduous tree

Dehumidifier

Dehumidistat

Direct gain

Door threshold

Double hung windows

Double-pane window