Which of the following statements describes a characteristic of BTUs?

BTUs, or British Thermal Units, are a unit of measurement specifically designed to quantify the amount of heat energy. In the context of heating and cooling systems, BTUs are essential for assessing the capacity of heaters, air conditioners, and other temperature-controlling equipment. When discussing heating or cooling capacity, BTUs provide a standardized way to compare performance across different systems or equipment.

For example, an air conditioning unit with a higher BTU rating can cool a larger space more effectively than one with a lower rating, making it crucial for selecting the appropriate system for a given size or type of building. This measurement directly relates to the efficiency and effectiveness of energy use in heating and cooling applications, which is why it is accurate to say that BTUs are used to quantify heating and cooling capacity.