Glossary · Energy, bills & ratings
kBtu and MMBtu (thousand and million BTU)
Also called: kBtu · MMBtu · million Btu · thousand Btu · MBH
Shorthand for large amounts of heat energy: kBtu is a thousand BTU and MMBtu is a million BTU, used to compare fuels and yearly energy use.
What it means
Fuel prices and home energy use are often stated per million BTU so gas, oil, propane and electricity can be compared on the same basis. One MMBtu equals 10 therms, or about 293 kWh. On equipment, MBH means thousands of BTU per hour.
Why it matters in an audit
Cost per million BTU of delivered heat is the fairest way to compare a heat pump with a furnace or boiler, once each system's efficiency is counted.
Typical numbers
Reference values with their sources. Your energy advisor’s report gives the figure for your own house.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Conversions | 1 kBtu = 1,000 BTU; 1 MMBtu = 1,000,000 BTU = 10 therms ≈ 293 kWh | Arithmetic from EIA factors (1 therm = 100,000 Btu; 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu) |