Insulate & Weatherize: For Energy Efficiency at Home Author: Visit Amazon's Bruce Harley Page | Language: English | ISBN:
1600854680 | Format: EPUB
Insulate & Weatherize: For Energy Efficiency at Home Description
About the Author
BRUCE HARLEY is a national expert on energy-efficient residential construction and renovation. As an engineer, he has diagnosed and fixed problems with building air leakage, indoor air quality, HVAC systems, combustion safety, and moisture. He also conducts seminars on energy-efficient residential construction, energy codes, building science, and mechanical systems. Harley lives in Vermont.
- Series: Taunton's Build Like a Pro
- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Taunton Press; Rev Exp edition (October 18, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1600854680
- ISBN-13: 978-1600854682
- Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Several months ago a neighbor strongly recommended that we get an energy audit. In the state I live in, the $300 fee is actually covered by the local utility company, and they will also rebate 50% of the cost for insulation and air-sealing (up to $2,000).
Well we did the audit, and were surprised at how expensive the quote was. Some $2,700 for the insulation and as much for the air sealing, so after the rebate the cost to us was about $3,500. (This is for a relatively large house, 3600sf on two floors, so about 1800sf of attic.)
The report was complete with Infra Red photos of two open chases into the attic, as well as other non-sealed areas including basement rim joists (I had to look up that one), and was complete with our historical electricity and gas bills for the last year (that I provided) in addition to an estimate of the savings and time to recoup the investment.
Trying to get another contractor to do an estimate was difficult (they all wanted to charge me money to come out for the inspection and testing, understandable but I already got one rebate from the utility and it isn't good for two) and they wouldn't bid on just another contractors report. On top of that the utility will only rebate to contractors doing the work, not to the DIY'er.
So after a lot of research online and offline (the local library), I came across this book, and it was exactly what I was looking for - practical guidelines and in-depth information for the where the sealing needs to be done in order of importance, and practical tips on exactly how to get it done without a lot of headache.
Not to say it is easy work - I'm spending an enormous amount of time in the attic and all day yesterday in the basement - but the results have been noticeable.
Home energy efficiency is a popular subject these days. My local library had maybe two dozen books on the subject, mostly shallow exploitation books telling you to turn lights out when you leave the room, turn your thermostat down when you go on vacation for 4 weeks, buy some CFLs, stuff fiberglass batts in your attic, and then pat yourself on the back. Oh, they also tell you about EnergyStar appliances and solar panels.
There are two energy efficiency books on the market that are different and much, much better. This is one of them. The other is called "Energy Efficiency" by John Krigger and Chris Dorsi. The book being reviewed here is "Insulate & Weatherize" by Bruce Hartley -- second edition. Hartley gets deep into energy retrofits for existing homes. He starts with a superb chapter on understanding energy basics. This chapter sets the tone for the whole book. It's thorough, accurate, and detailed enough to see actual application in an old house like mine. I finally understood the difference between radiant, convection, and conduction heat transfer. Next are chapters on Air Sealing, Ventilation, Insulation, Windows, Heating Systems, Cooling, Hot Water, Renovations of old houses, and finally the glamour stuff on electronics and solar. If you note the order of the chapters, you can tell he has his priorities straight.
This book is in the Taunton's Build it Like a Pro series and is aimed at do it yourselfers. The content demonstrates this by focusing on things a skilled homeowner can do -- like air seals, blowing loose insulation into an attic, installing a vent fan. If you've done any research online, asked builders, or talked to folks at building centers you know that everybody has an opinion about products and processes. Hartley has his preferences certainly.
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