Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings-10th Edition : Save Money, Save the Earth

The most complete and up-to-date guide available to energy savings in the home . Increasing the energy efficiency of your home can save you money, help the environment, and enhance your comfort, but how do you decide which improvements are the most beneficial and cost-effective? Completely revised to incorporate the latest developments in green technology, The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings is the definitive resource for consumers who want to better their home's performance while reducing their energy bills. Well-organized and highly readable, The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings begins with an overview of the relationships between energy use, economics and the environment. Updated and expanded chapters focus on specific aspects of any home, such as heating and cooling, ventilation, electronics, lighting, cooking and laundry, and provide helpful explanations for each, including: Energy use characteristics Comparisons between available technologies Cost-effective repair and replacement options Step-by-step guidance for finding the right equipment. This comprehensive resource is packed with tips on improving existing equipment and guidance for when and why to invest in new purchases, as well as a reminder to check local government and utilities for purchase or retrofit grants or incentives. It is a must-read for anyone concerned about reducing both their energy bills and their environmental impact.

According to the latest research, the average American family spends nearly $22,000 a year on goods and services—that's 22,000 votes for the world you want to live in. Do you want to ensure your money is supporting companies who work to make the world a better place, or risk its going to corporations who make their decisions based solely on the bottom line?

The Better World Shopping Guide is the only comprehensive guide for socially and environmentally responsible consumers. This perennial bestseller rates every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys"—turning your shopping list into a powerful tool to change the world. Drawing on decades of meticulous research, this completely revised and updated fourth edition will help you find out which companies actually "walk the talk" when it comes to:

• Environmental sustainability
• Human rights
• Community involvement
• Animal protection
• Social justice

Small enough to fit in a back pocket or handbag and organized in a user-friendly format, The Better World Shopping Guide will help you change the world as you shop.

Ellis Jones, PhD, is the award-winning, best-selling author of The Better World Shopping Guide and The Better World Handbook. A scholar of social responsibility, global citizenship, and ethical consumerism, Jones has dedicated himself to uncovering practical ways for people to make a difference in the world. He currently teaches in the Department of Sociology at Holy Cross College.

Contents Home Energy Checklist for Action Lists of Tables Acknowledgments Chapter 1Save Money, Save the Earth Chapter 2The Building Envelope Chapter 3Ventilation and Air Distribution Chapter 4Heating Systems Chapter 5Cooling Systems Chapter 6Water Heating Chapter 7Food Storage Chapter 8Cooking Chapter 9Dishwashing Chapter 10Laundry Chapter 11Lighting Chapter 12Home Electronics Chapter 13Other Energy Uses in the Home Appendix For More Information Index About the Authors About ACEEE Over 100,000 North Americans rely on The Better World Shopping Guide to ensure that their consumer dollars contribute to building the kind of world they want to live in. Now completely revised and updated, this new edition distils 25 years of comprehensive research into a pocket-sized guide, turning your shopping list into a powerful tool for social and environmental change