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, 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, 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. Jennifer Thorne Amann is the buildings program director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Alex Wilson is the founder of BuildingGreen, Inc, executive editor of Environmental Building News, and author of Green Building Products and Your Green Home Katie Ackerly is a researcher at the Center for the Built Environment and a graduate student in architecture ate the University of California, Berkeley.

Author Biography

Jennifer Thorne Amann is the Buildings Program Director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. She has written numerous articles and reports on energy use in buildings, appliances and consumer products with the goal of educating citizens on a range of environmental and consumer issues. Alex Wilson is the founder of BuildingGreen, Inc. and Executive Editor of Environmental Building News, the premier green building industry resource. A widely acknowledged green building expert for over 30 years, he has authored countless articles and several books including Green Building Products and The Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings. Katie Ackerly conducts research at the Center for the Built Environment at UC Berkeley, while completing advanced degrees in building science and architectural design. Previously at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, she has written several papers related to the interface of green technologies and human behavior.