Overview

A retro-fit offers many benefits: cutting electricity and heating bills, increasing the resale value of homes, slashing carbon emissions and creating a healthier place to live. This book is the guide to making it happen. It looks at: draught-proofing, insulation and damp ventilation, heating and cooling electrical efficiency and renewable energy water use and re-use materials' life cycles and incorporating nature protection from climate change impacts - modelling energy flows and embodied energy how we can meet the need to cut carbon emissions from dwellings by eighty percent by 2050. Projects can apply to apartment blocks, recent builds and older, solid-walled properties. Enlivened with helpful diagrams and photographs, plus plenty of pointers for further information, it provides a comprehensive resource handbook for any building professional and contractor, students – or any homeowner serious about efficiency (cash and carbon) savings.

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9780367787530

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Reviews

'This is an excellent book ... It should be the first stop for anyone seeking objective advice in a field cluttered with misleading claims. I couldn't recommend it more strongly.' George Monbiot 'At last, a sensible book on eco-renovation that is full of useful facts ... Earthscan bill these volumes as expert handbooks and they do not disappoint. They will save you from making costly mistakes and are well worth the cover price.' Permaculture Magazine 'We can't recommend this book highly enough. David Thorpe has produced an interesting read whilst managing to also include all the necessary technical energy information. This should be required reading for the capable amateur and the professionally engaged, as well as students and qualified architects.' Penney Poyzer, campaigner low carbon living and working and Gil Schalom, green architect; co-owners of the pioneering Nottingham ecohome, the UK's first radical eco-retrofit 'This book should be read by anyone engaged in domestic energy efficiency programmes. It goes back to basics and sets out systematically and incrementally how to approach the refurbishment of existing homes which will result in reduced energy demand and lower bills.' Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive, National Energy Action 'David Thorpe's oh-so-valuable book excellently covers the full spectrum of low impact home refurbishment. It is jam-packed with detail, and rises to the challenge of being both useful and accessible to a range of people from construction professionals to the committed DIYer wanting to crack on in eco-refurb.' Simon McWhirter, Director, Great British Refurb Campaign 'If you haven't got a copy go out and get one pronto!' mynewbookreview.blogspot.com 'Make[s] what can be a very complicated subject accessible ... a very good buy for homeowners and professionals looking at this subject for the first time.' Property Care Association 'Anyone considering refurbishing an older home ... will certainly benefit from reading this new book. It is packed with common sense, practical information and guidance ... Authoritative, skilfully edited and a well thought-out practical manual that will be very useful to practicing building engineers, contractors and even DIY'ers!' Building Engineer

Author Information

David Thorpe lives in the Dyfi Valley, mid-Wales and has been the News Editor of Energy and Environmental Management magazine for ten years. Prior to that he was Managing Editor and author at the Centre for Alterative Technology, where he edited The Whole House Book among many other titles. He writes a popular blog - The Low Carbon Kid - and for the Guardian online.

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