Energiankululla

Energiankululla is a Finnish term used to describe the throughput of energy through a defined system or boundary. It refers to the rate at which energy flows into, passes through, or is transformed within the system over a given period. The concept is used across disciplines such as energy engineering, ecological economics, and building physics to analyze how much energy the system processes, irrespective of energy form (electric, thermal, chemical).

Energiankululla is distinguished from energy efficiency or energy intensity; it focuses on the actual movement of energy rather than how effectively it is used. It is commonly measured in watts for instantaneous flow (W) or energy over time in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or joules. The choice of time window and system boundary significantly affects the interpretation of throughput.

In practice, defining the boundary clearly is essential. For example, in a building, energy throughput would include all electrical and fuel energy passing through the building's energy systems during the period considered. The concept is useful for sizing systems, comparing designs, or tracking total energy processing in a given context.

Limitations include ambiguity if the system boundary or time window is unclear. Energiankululla does not directly assess energy quality or exergy, and some analyses prefer exergy or embodied energy concepts for deeper insight. See also energy balance, energy efficiency, and energy intensity.