Product Description

Although energy costs are near an all-time low, modern energy efficiency offers more than just savings: It offers comfort. With the help of this book, homeowners and builders can build lasting comfort into their homes -- and save money.

This new addition to the best-selling Best of Fine Homebuilding series brings together 29 of the best articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine that cover topics from choosing ductwork and housewrap to building more efficient fireplaces and storm windows. The articles detail specific projects home-owners or builders can do to improve the energy efficiency of a traditional home. Over 200 photos and 50 color illustrations make concepts and product comparisons easy to understand, even for non-professionals. All of the articles are intended to solve common home energy problem: such as those associated with doors, skylights, water heaters, and heating systems.

Energy-Efficient Building is an essential reference for homeowners and builders alike and invaluable to anyone building a new home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #149070 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-15
• Released on: 1999-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
These tips have been collected from articles and columns in Threads magazine. Threads provides in-depth sewing information and inspiration in an engaging, accessible format. Each issue is filled with creative ideas, technical expertise and resources to help readers improve their sewing skills and express their individual style.

"Fine Woodworking "was launched in 1975 in response to the lack of quality woodworking resources available. With a circulation of 287,000 woodworkers of all skill levels, the magazine has become the #1 source of how-to information on techniques, tools, finishing, and inspiration.
Since 1981, the pages of" Fine Homebuilding" have inspired and instructed people who care about quality of home improvement and construction. With a circulation of more than 300,000, the magazine is the premier source for information on how to build projects better, faster and more efficiently.

"Fine Woodworking "was launched in 1975 in response to the lack of quality woodworking resources available. With a circulation of 287,000 woodworkers of all skill levels, the magazine has become the #1 source of how-to information on techniques, tools, finishing, and inspiration.
Since 1981, the pages of" Fine Homebuilding" have inspired and instructed people who care about quality of home improvement and construction. With a circulation of more than 300,000, the magazine is the premier source for information on how to build projects better, faster and more efficiently.

Customer Reviews

Practical energy savings
I found this book beneficial. I believe that people doing either new construction or remodelling will find it helpful. It covers new ideas as well some often overlooked but simple, inexpensive methods that should be used in all construction.

In particular, the first chapter is about energy efficiancy in general and performing an energy audit on your house to see where the energy is wasted or lost.

For the price of this book, even if you only used one idea from the book, you would more than pay for the book in energy savings in one heating/cooling season.

My reason for not giving 5 stars is, "There should even more ideas included in this book!"

Excellent overview of cutting edge energy efficient building technique
This book is really a book. It is a collection of magazine articles from a well respected building magazine that cover different building techniques. One chapter per article. There is an article for every currently used, but not quite mainstream building technique to improve energy efficiency of a home.

Since the articles are written independently and were later compiled into a book, there is no comparison and contrast between techniques. Since the articles are very well written and go into depth on each technique, then comparisons between similar techniques can be extrapolated out, but some things like cost comparisons may be difficult to gather from the articles alone.

Overall a very good overview of what is out there and working in practice today.

I have two issues with this book
Okay, I'll confess I don't own this book, but there are two reasons I wouldn't buy it, and each one knocks a star off my rating:

1. This book seems a little old for this particular topic. Energy efficiency is an increasingly important issue in home building, and the various materials and technologies continue to evolve. There have been some advancements in the eight years since this book was compiled, and since it's a "best of," that means the articles in it are even older. I want the latest information available as I research this topic.

2. Based on the table of contents, the book seems targeted toward saving energy in colder climates. I live in central Florida where we air condition most of the year. Our biggest concerns here are keeping the heat out, not in, and controlling the humidity (which is 91% outside as I write this) inside your home. This dictates doing some things differently here, and chapters on topics like fixing a cold, drafty house, preventing ice dams, and building an efficient fireplace just aren't applicable here. ;-)