Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies

Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies PDF Author: Rik DeGunther
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470477113
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
Hands-on, practical solutions to save money by making smart energy changes One of the best and most affordable strategies people can employ to combat global warming is to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes. Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies provides homeowners with advice, tips, and projects to reduce costs, increase energy efficiency, and cut down on waste and pollution. After performing a do-it-yourself home energy audit, readers create an action plan based on their personal goals. Readers are presented with a wide range of potential solutions, from making better use of blinds and awnings to exploring geothermal options in order to reduce household costs and their impact on the planet. Rik DeGunther (Rescue, CA) is the founder of Efficient Homes, an energy consulting firm that focuses on home energy audits and the design of efficient heating and cooling systems.

Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies

Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies PDF Author: Rik DeGunther
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470477113
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 386

Get Book Here

Book Description
Hands-on, practical solutions to save money by making smart energy changes One of the best and most affordable strategies people can employ to combat global warming is to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes. Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies provides homeowners with advice, tips, and projects to reduce costs, increase energy efficiency, and cut down on waste and pollution. After performing a do-it-yourself home energy audit, readers create an action plan based on their personal goals. Readers are presented with a wide range of potential solutions, from making better use of blinds and awnings to exploring geothermal options in order to reduce household costs and their impact on the planet. Rik DeGunther (Rescue, CA) is the founder of Efficient Homes, an energy consulting firm that focuses on home energy audits and the design of efficient heating and cooling systems.

Solar Power Your Home For Dummies

Solar Power Your Home For Dummies PDF Author: Rik DeGunther
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118051874
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. You’ll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You’ll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you’ve decided on a project, you’ll see whether it’s best to hire a contractor or do it yourself. We leave no stone unturned—you’ll also discover how to: Choose and install your best solar system Handle small to large solar projects Heat and cool your house with solar energy Install exterior solar lighting Handle swimming pool, water heater, or ventilation solar projects Create greenhouses or solar rooms Build, buy, or sell a solar home Finance your solar investments Take advantage of tax rebates and incentives associated with solar power Avoid the worst solar mistakes Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest do-it-yourself solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

Home Sweet Zero Energy Home

Home Sweet Zero Energy Home PDF Author: Barry Rehfeld
Publisher: New Society Publishers
ISBN: 1550924923
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
Zero energy homes produce at least as much energy as they consume through a combination of energy efficiencies, passive design and renewable energy production. California has adopted zero net energy as the new residential standard for 2020; many other governments are considering similar policies. Developing zero energy homes is the first step towards making all buildings zero energy — a critical step in mitigating climate change, since buildings account for 40% of material and energy use worldwide. Home Sweet Zero Energy Home is the first practical guidebook that clearly shows how zero energy homes can be good, livable, affordable homes. The author identifies all the pieces of the zero energy puzzle and how they fallinto place, and explains how homeowners and buyers can also take smaller steps towards sharply reducing the energy use of existing buildings. Focusing on real costs and savings, this book takes an in depth look at: Site selection and passive design Insulation, windows, doors and building materials Heating and cooling Appliances and electronics Financial resources and incentives. Whether you are a prospective buyer, owner, or developer, Home Sweet Zero Energy Home is your complete guide to creating a more comfortable, efficient, environmentally friendly home without breaking your back or yourbank account.

Prefabulous World

Prefabulous World PDF Author: Sheri Koones
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1613125925
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 944

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Book Description
A stunning look at how people around the world are using prefabrication to create energy-efficient, sustainable, and stylish homes. Prefabulous World is the fourth book in Sheri Konnes’s revolutionary Prefabulous series. Presenting an international look at sustainable home design, it explores a compelling range of design styles and cutting-edge green technologies. The rising cost of fuel and the growing commitment to protect the environment have sparked exciting innovations in prefab home construction around the world. Showcasing many of the unlimited possibilities offered by prefabrication to build increasingly energy-efficient homes, Prefabulous World features fifty sophisticated examples of eco-friendly home design in Australia, New Zealand;Japan, Canada, the United States, England, Germany, South Africa, and beyond. “As we look into the future, it is clear the more and more intelligent materials and energies will be brought to hand as preassembled optimized components and systems, and they will be beautiful—just witness the homes we enjoy discovering in this lovely book.” —William McDonough, designer, advisor, thought leader, and co-author of Cradle to Cradle and The Upcycle

Alternative Energy For Dummies

Alternative Energy For Dummies PDF Author: Rik DeGunther
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 047053706X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 391

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Book Description
The myths and facts about alternative fuels–and how they impact our lives As the price of energy continues to soar, so too has the demand for alternative energy. But there's no clear "winner" in the race to replace fossil fuels. Alternative Energy For Dummies explores the current fossil fuel conundrum and society's growing need for more and more energy. Cutting through the competing claims, this book offers a multifaceted examination of alternative energy, including solar, wind, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, biofuel, and other sources. Each alternative scenario is compared to current fossil-fuel intensive practices in the scientific, environmental, social, political, and economic realms. Readers also gain insight into the future of energy production.

Smart Homes For Dummies

Smart Homes For Dummies PDF Author: Danny Briere
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118051742
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description
Do you long to listen to your favorite CD from anywhere in your house? To set up a wireless network so you can access the Internet in any room? To install an iron-clad security system? To fire up the coffee pot while you’re still asleep and wake up with automated lighting? Smart home technology can help you do just that! Smart Homes For Dummies, Third Edition, shows you how easy it can be to create and live in a cutting-edge, fully connected home—without breaking your bank account. With this user-friendly guide, you’ll discover all the latest trends and gadgets in home networking, automation, and control that will help you make life more enjoyable and comfortable for your entire family. We help you plan for things such as flat-screen TVs, intercom systems, whole-home audio systems, gaming consoles, and satellite systems. We talk about your wiring (and wireless) options and introduce you to the latest technologies, such as VoIP and Bluetooth. You’ll see how to: Build your home network on a budget Turn your home into an entertainment center Access the Internet from any room Get VoIP on your phone network Boost in-home wireless and cell phone signals Connect your computer to your TV Secure your home and property Increase your home’s resale value Avoid common networking pitfalls And much, much more Complete with a resource list for more information and neat toys of the future, Smart Homes For Dummies is your plain-English, twenty-first century guide to a fully wired home!

Designed to Perform

Designed to Perform PDF Author: Tom Dollard
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000702316
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
This book is an illustrated practical design guide to delivering better energy performance in all types of new build homes. It takes the form of an annotated details book, with photos taken from live construction sites, with the content based around diagrams, drawings and photos by the author, which demonstrates valuable best practice knowledge and advice. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the performance gap and the quality of design and construction in new build homes, explaining the typical construction sequence of homebuilding, and highlights common issues that designers need to engage with. Chapters 2-7 look at each construction fabric in turn, including a series of detailed drawings, diagrams and photos illustrating the key elements of good design. Chapter 8 contains a checklist of all performance gap issues that designers need to look for. This book will provide valuable guidance to architects and designers on how to improve their detailing at construction stage, and therefore the overall quality of design and performance of new homes.

Holistically Green Homes

Holistically Green Homes PDF Author: W. Orlo Stitt
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780982946312
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Most houses being built today are not as energy efficient as they could be. Every builder, if asked, "Do you build energy efficient houses?" will persuasively answer, "Yes." Without studying energy efficient housing in an objective way, most homebuyers will believe the builder's answer. Yet studies and tests prove otherwise. After reading the eighteen clearly defined principles in this book, the reader will have a basis for understanding and comparing the efficiency of one house to another and one builder to another. The eighteen easy-to-implement principles are based on tried and proven solutions for conservation and clean renewable energy generation. Homes that are built to be "holistically green" are economical and maintain their value. And by saving energy and improving indoor quality, they are environmentally responsible and provide a healthier place to live. Building an energy-conscious home is smart--a smart financial investment, a smart approach to our energy and environmental challenges, and "the right thing to do." The benefits of planning for and building based on the Eighteen Principles in total are greater than the sum of the individual principles. References are made in the text--from principle to principle--that will be helpful in understanding how each one is dependent in some way on the other. Economic and financial considerations are discussed based on examples and case studies. The studies show that, while it does cost more to build a house that is energy efficient, environmentally friendly and responsible, structurally stronger, and resistant to the challenges of time, a well designed, efficient home can be more economical to live in--beginning with the first month that utility bills are received. And it is a better investment because of the higher resale value and reduced maintenance. This book will educate and instill confidence in consumers with regard to their largest personal investment: their home. They will understand what specifics to look for to get an energy efficient, healthy home that will save them money and have a positive impact on energy conservation, energy generation, and climate change.

Pretty Good House

Pretty Good House PDF Author: Michael Maines
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 9781641551656
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Pretty Good House provides a framework and set of guidelines for building or renovating a high-performance home that focus on its inhabitants and the environment--but keeps in mind that few people have pockets deep enough to achieve a "perfect" solution. The essential idea is for homeowners to work within their financial and practical constraints both to meet their own needs and do as much for the planet as possible. A Pretty Good House is: * A house that's as small as possible * Simple and durable, but also well designed * Insulated and air-sealed * Above all, it is affordable, healthy, responsible, and resilient.

Toward a Zero Energy Home

Toward a Zero Energy Home PDF Author: David Johnston
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781600851438
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
The authors of "Green from the Ground Up" explore the design and construction of self-sufficient houses. With unequaled knowledge and a passion for the subject, the authors walk readers through the process of building and living in a truly green home.