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Reference
1: What is a Btu?
Btu (British Thermal Unit): A unit of energy consumed by or
delivered to a building. A Btu is defined as the amount of energy required
to increase the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit,
at normal atmospheric pressure. Energy consumption is expressed in Btu
to allow for consumption comparisons among fuels that are measured in different
units.
Btu Conversion Factors: The Btu conversion factors used for this
survey are shown in the following table:
| Energy Source |
|
Btu Equivalent |
|
Unit |
| Electricity |
|
3,412 |
|
kilowatthour |
| Natural Gas |
|
1,027 |
|
cubic foot |
| Distillate Fuel Oils (Nos. 1, 2, and 4) |
|
138,690 |
|
gallon |
| Residual Fuel Oils (Nos. 5 and 6) |
|
149,690 |
|
gallon |
|
|
|
|
|
Note: A Btu of
district hot water has been converted into equivalent pounds of steam
with the conversion of 1,000 Btu hot water approximately =1 pound
steam.
Sources: Energy Information
Administration; for natural gas—Natural Gas Annual (1992), p. 238;
for electricity, distillate and residual fuel oils, and kerosene—Monthly
Energy Review (October, 1997); for district steam—Methodological
Issues in the Nonresidential Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (September
1983), p. 173-175. |
Specific questions
may be directed to:
Joelle Davis Michaels
joelle.michaels@eia.doe.gov
CBECS Manager
Contact Us
URL: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/cbecs/pbawebsite/office/office_refbtu.htm
Release
date: September 11, 2000
File last modified:
January 3, 2001
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