Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings (5th Edition) [Paperback]

John Krigger (Author), Chris Dorsi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0135125413 | ISBN-13: 978-0135125410 | Edition: 5

Residential Energy introduces readers to a home's energy-related components and explains all the important possibilities for energy conservation. Readers will learn from this exceptionally illustrated text that effective energy conservation requires a whole-house approach that addresses the biggest energy wasters first!

 

Covering everything from basic principles and air leakage to insulation and windows and doors, this user friendly manual is an essential text/reference for anyone interested in the design, construction, and operation of energy efficient homes! PLUS, every book includes a CD-ROM containing an electronic version of the text!

 

Ideally suited for programs in weatherization, energy auditors/raters and general construction trades including carpentry, HVAC, plumbers, electricians, and more!  Residential Energy is packed full of the latest information on energy consumption, analyzing energy costs, and other energy-auditing information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Large type text and especially clear graphics and illustrations abound in this discussion of cost savings and retrofitting of existing buildings. From duct insulation and hot water distribution systems to energy-efficient laundering, this is packed with a wide range of energy-saving ideas and will prove useful despite its hefty price tag. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Krigger is the founder of Saturn Resource Management, and a nationally recognized expert in the field of energy conservation for buildings. For over 20 years, he has presented seminars and produced publications on residential energy-efficiency, building maintenance, and health and safety. John combines years of hands-on energy service experience with solid academic knowledge, and is the author of 5 books and numerous publications on energy efficiency. His publication Residential Energy is used as a training manual by some of the largest weatherization organizations in the country. John is a Certified Energy Manager of the Association of Energy Engineers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (October 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135125413
• ISBN-13: 978-0135125410
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This IS the Book on Home Energy Efficiency, March 13, 2009

By 

A. P. Duncan (Concord, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings (Paperback)

In the home performance world this is called "the Krigger book." It is THE book to get for professionals, and it is often handed out in conjunction with BPI and HERS trainings. I refer to this book more than any other in our company's library. The 23 appendices are alone worth the price of the book.

Of all the books on home energy efficiency, this book does the best job of explaining building science in the sense of how residential buildings perform as energy systems. Anybody who thinks making a house more efficient is just a matter of slapping up some insulation up and handing out a few energy-saving light bulbs will have their eyes opened after reading this book. It has lots of useful drawings in addition to the clearly written text.

Important stuff in this book that are not in the "mental maps" of most homeowners and many contractors include: energy intensity indices (such as BTU/sq.ft./HDD-CDD), calculating heating loads, types of heat flow, defining the thermal boundary and air boundary, air leakage theory and testing (blower door usage), calculating natural air exchanges per hour (ACHn) from a blower door reading (CFM50), heating unit and distribution system efficiencies, non A/C cooling strategies, lighitng loads, light quality and efficient lighting, increasing water-use efficiencies, mechanical ventilation ("seal tight and ventilate right"), indoor moisture load-issues-management, combustion safety and indoor air quality, etc. As you can see, this may be a little too indepth for a homeowner. But anyone working in insulation and home energy performance should be familiar with these building science concepts. Get the book, get the right tools, and get good training!

With all the emphasis on and new funding for energy efficiency in 2009 and beyond, this is a book that should be on reference shelves for a lot of businesses and organizations. I had an extra copy from a training and I donated it to our local public library. I see that Krigger and Dorsi also have a more concise book for homeowners -- probably just as good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive introduction to residential energy use, February 14, 2009

By 

Edward Nold (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings (Paperback)

"Residential Energy" is the best introductory book I have found on the sources, end uses, efficiency, conservation and analysis of residential energy. It is a comprehensive resource that provides an in-depth understanding of how the physics of energy influences the house as a system.

Because the book is targeted at consumers, students and tradespeople, it provides thorough coverage of theory, practical applications and construction details; in accurate yet easy to understand language, without assuming the reader has extensive knowledge of the subject. The book includes 315 pages, 350 drawings, 60 charts and tables, an extensive glossary, 23 appendices and a thorough index.

It is an appropriate workbook to accompany a high school, trades school or college course focusing on residential energy and would be especially relevant as a training manual for prospective residential energy auditors. Landlords, homeowners, renters, building inspectors, architects, engineers, carpenters, insulation contractors, HVAC technicians, plumbers and electricians all have something significant to gain by reading this manual.

If a person understands the principles, theories and tools described in this book, they have a very thorough general knowledge of single and multi-family residential energy sources, end uses, efficiency, conservation and analysis.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book To Get Into The Home Energy Tech Field, July 3, 2008

By 

Thomas Alan Arms "energy man" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings (Paperback)

Nicely done book for beginning residential energy auditor at the coomunity college level. Updated with lots of additional info in the back. With the cost of energy becoming a current issue, this book covers it all. So, if you want to enter this emerging field, this book would be a helpful start.