BTU to Megajoule Converter

A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is a unit of energy equal to approximately 1,055 joules. It represents the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at standard atmospheric pressure.

The BTU was developed in the 19th century as part of the British Imperial system for measuring heat energy. It became standard in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications in countries using imperial units, particularly for rating heating and cooling equipment capacity.

BTUs are extensively used in the United States for HVAC system ratings, heating and cooling equipment specifications, and energy content of fuels. They're standard for furnace output ratings, air conditioner capacity, water heater specifications, and natural gas energy content measurements.

A megajoule (MJ) is a unit of energy equal to one million joules (10⁶ J). It represents moderate to large amounts of energy, commonly used for measuring food energy content, fuel values, and mechanical work in engineering applications.

The megajoule gained prominence with the development of energy-conscious engineering and nutrition science. It became particularly useful for expressing food energy content as an alternative to calories, and for measuring energy in automotive and mechanical engineering applications.

Megajoules are used in nutrition labeling (as an alternative to calories), automotive engineering, mechanical systems, and fuel energy content. They're found on food packaging in many countries, vehicle fuel efficiency ratings, and engineering calculations for mechanical work and heat transfer.