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Cover image of This Cold House
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This Cold House

The Simple Science of Energy Efficiency

Colin Smith
Publication Date
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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...

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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.

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Reviews

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, www.heatinghelp.com

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

Witty, erudite, and accessible.

— Jeffrey C. May, author of My House Is Killing Me!, The Mold Survival Guide, and My Office Is Killing Me!
About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
248
ISBN
9780801886225
DOI
Illustration Description
16 halftones, 18 line drawings
Subject
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

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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

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Author Bio
Featured Contributor

Colin Smith

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.
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