Home Energy Diet: How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy-Smart

by Paul Scheckel

Overview

With rising energy costs, homeowners are beginning to examine the energy efficiency of their own homes, asking questions that range from where energy comes from and how much it costs, to how to choose new appliances and what options exist for renewable energy?

The Home Energy Diet answers all these questions and more, while helping readers take control of their personal energy use and costs so they can save money, live more comfortably, and help reduce environmental impacts. Energy specialist Paul Scheckel first explores energy literacy, and then describes how your home uses - and loses - energy you pay for. He encourages readers to learn about their own homes through easy-to-follow ways of measuring, metering, investigating, and considering habits related to household energy use so that they can make informed decisions about cost-effective improvements and upgrades. The Home Energy Diet also explores the possibility of using renewable energy for meeting home energy needs. This authoritative guide makes efficiency fun through personal anecdotes and humorous "tales-from-the-basement" energy misadventures!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900865715300
Publisher:	New Society Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2005
Series:	Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Paul Scheckel is an energy auditor who has visited over 3,000 homes, educating people about energy efficiency, cost-effective improvements, and indoor air quality. With a passion for energy efficiency, he walks the talk by living in a solar-powered house and driving a car powered by vegetable oil, in his home state of Vermont.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Introduction	1
Chapter 1	Energy Literacy	9
	Primary Fuels	9
	Measuring Energy	10
	The Big Picture	12
	Where Does Energy Come From?	18
	Where Does the Energy Go?	27
	Home Energy Matters	30
	Comparing Fuel Energy and Costs	36
	Increase Efficiency, Reduce Waste	51
	How Heat Moves	52
	Next Steps	55
Chapter 2	Electricity	57
	Introduction to Using Electricity in Your Home	57
	Terms	58
	Awareness: The Big Picture	64
	Where Does Electricity Go?	67
	Powerful Impacts	68
	Assessing Electric Use of Appliances	72
	Electrical Energy Audit	90
	Electrical Diet	93
	Home Power Safety	94
Chapter 3	Appliance Energy Use	99
	Power Use of Household Appliances	99
	Common Electrical Appliances	99
	Clothes Dryer Diet	101
	Clothes Washer Diet	103
	Dehumidifier Diet	105
	Dishwasher Diet	106
	Lighting Diet	111
	Cooking Diet	116
	Waterbed Diet	119
	Refrigerator and Freezer Diet	120
Chapter 4	Hot Water	125
	Introduction	125
	Awareness: The Big Picture	126
	Types of Water Heaters	127
	Maintaining Your Water Heater	137
	Water Heater Efficiency Measures	149
	How to Choose a New Water Heater	158
	Your Hot Water and Energy Consumption	161
	Hot Water Diet	169
Chapter 5	Heating and Air Conditioning	171
	Introduction	171
	Awareness: The Big Picture	171
	What Determines Home Heating Energy Consumption?	173
	Types of Heating Systems	176
	Efficiency Ratings for Heating Systems	185
	Efficiency Improvements	186
	Combustion Equipment and Fuel Safety	191
	Buying New	200
	Combustion Equipment Safety Diet	201
	Heating Diet	206
	Air Conditioning	208
	Air Conditioning Diet	215
Chapter 6	The Envelope, Please	217
	Introduction	217
	Terms	218
	Awareness	218
	Assessment	221
	Insulation	225
	Windows	234
	Air Leakage	240
	Envelope Improvement Assessment	245
	Air Leakage Diet	247
	Air and Moisture Movement	248
	Reducing Air and Moisture Movement	250
	Relative Humidity and Moisture Control	255
	Indoor Air Quality	256
	Ventilation	259
	Ice Dams and Icicles	265
	Diet For a Warm, Dry, Healthy Envelope	269
	How to Perform a Heat Load Calculation on Your Home	269
Chapter 7	Buying New Appliances	271
	How to Buy A New Appliance	271
	Checklist for Choosing a New Energy-Efficient Appliance	275
	Financial Incentive	276
	Off-Grid Economics	281
Appendix A	How Much Energy Do You Use?	284
Appendix B	Your Greenhouse Gas Profile	287
Appendix C	Appliance Use Chart	290
Appendix D	Heat-Load Calculations for Your House	296
	Index	303