BTU, or British thermal unit, is the industry-standard used to measure the heating efficiency of furnaces. In addition to BTU ratings, furnace manufacturers might include a Manual J Load rating and a percentage of energy efficiency.
A debenture is a type of debt instrument that is not secured by physical assets or collateral. Debentures are backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the issuer. Both corporations and governments frequently issue this type of bond to secure capital.
The primary difference between debt and equity financing is that debt must be repaid at maturity, while there is no obligation to repay equity financing. Interest must be paid on debt while the company is under no obligation to issue dividends on equity financing. The interest paid is tax deductible while dividends are not. Finally, debt holders do not have the right to vote on company matters as equity holders do.