Glossary term

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

The unit of heat used to size HVAC equipment. One BTU is the heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A typical 2,000 sq ft KC home needs around 24,000–36,000 BTU/h of cooling and 40,000–80,000 BTU/h of heating, depending on insulation, windows, and orientation.