Publisher Description

Does turning the thermostat down on a winter's night offset the costs of reheating the house in the morning? What will best prevent energy loss: new windows or insulation in the attic? Is heating oil cheaper than natural gas? Blending science with anecdote and example, Colin Smith answers questions like these, providing an insightful guide to creating an environmentally friendly home without sacrificing comfort. This Cold House helps homeowners identify heating and cooling priorities and choose the most appropriate methods, tools, and equipment. Basic equations allow you to estimate possible savings in annual heating and cooling bills and determine payback times for improvement projects. Practical and entertaining, This Cold House illuminates the concepts behind energy efficiency and translates them into ideas you can use, whether you live in a castle, igloo, or house.

Notes

Witty, erudite, and accessible. -- Jeffrey C. May, author of My House Is Killing Me!, The Mold Survival Guide, and My Office Is Killing Me!

Author Biography

Colin Smith is a UK-based associate lecturer for both the Manchester Metropolitan University and the Open University, where he teaches courses related to consumer issues and the environment. He has recently retired and now enjoys writing for a wider audience.

Table of Contents

Preface
Prologue: Feeling Your Way
1. Feeling Good: The Science of Comfort
2. Save a Dollar, Save the Earth: Effective Insulation
3. Wrapping Up Warm: Insulating Your Home
4. Oil or Gas or Electric or . . .: Fuel Choice and Heating Costs
5. Flickering Flames: The Science of Fires and Fireplaces
6. Pumping the Heat, Cooling the Air
7. The Human Touch: Managing the System
8. The Crystal Ball: A Look at the Future
Epilogue: From Whence We Came
Appendix: Conversion Factors
Glossary
Further Reading
Index

Review

A unique resource recommended for comprehensive energy collections. Library Journal Smith... has a wonderful way with words, and his storytelling is superb. This guy sure knows how to hang an analogy on a scientific principle to make it delightfully understandable. -- Dan Holohan An entertaining read despite the seriousness of the subject. Physics World Packs in important insights and is a pick for any general interest lending library catering to homeowners and those concerned with energy savings and the environment. Midwest Book Review

Promotional

Witty, erudite, and accessible. -- Jeffrey C. May, author of My House Is Killing Me!, The Mold Survival Guide, and My Office Is Killing Me!

Long Description

Does turning the thermostat down on a winter's night offset the costs of reheating the house in the morning? What will best prevent energy loss: new windows or insulation in the attic? Is heating oil cheaper than natural gas? Blending science with anecdote and example, Colin Smith answers questions like these, providing an insightful guide to creating an environmentally friendly home without sacrificing comfort. This Cold House helps homeowners identify heating and cooling priorities and choose the most appropriate methods, tools, and equipment. Basic equations allow you to estimate possible savings in annual heating and cooling bills and determine payback times for improvement projects. Practical and entertaining, This Cold House illuminates the concepts behind energy efficiency and translates them into ideas you can use, whether you live in a castle, igloo, or house. 18 halftones, 18 line drawings.

Review Text

""Packs in important insights and is a pick for any general interest lending library catering to homeowners and those concerned with energy savings and the environment.""

Review Quote

"Smith... has a wonderful way with words, and his storytelling is superb. This guy sure knows how to hang an analogy on a scientific principle to make it delightfully understandable." -- Dan Holohan,

Details