June 1, 2007
Smith (physics, emeritus, Manchester Metropolitan Univ., England) has written a guide that focuses on how to keep existing houses warm and comfortable with minimal environmental impact and at affordable costs. Using folksy anecdotes about his grandfather, the school janitor, and other relatives from before World War II along with quotations from Laura Ingalls Wilder's novels, Smith compares older heating systems with the numerous choices currently available. Topics include insulation, fuel choice and heating costs, fireplaces, thermostats, and heating and cooling systems. Accessible to the layperson are basic equations for estimating possible savings in heating and cooling bills, charts with pros and cons of the various systems, and "top tips" (e.g., using caulk to fix drafts and conducting an energy audit of the home). Information on control systems (thermostats), however, would be too technical for most. Smith states in the preface his work is not a "deep green" approach; readers wanting information on alternative energy heating and cooling sources will need to consult other guides. A unique resource recommended for comprehensive energy collections; an unnecessary purchase for others.Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston
Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.