Glossary

Terms for Architecture, Green Building & Energy

This glossary includes more than 300 solar terms, as well as hundreds of additional sustainable design and construction terms.

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Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA)

Definition: A federal law passed in 1978 that requires electric utilities to purchase electricity produced from certain efficient power producers (frequently using renewable or natural gas resources). Utilities purchase power at a rate equal to the costs they avoid by not needing to generate the power themselves.