The Carbon Buster's home energy handbook : slowing climate change and saving money
(Books)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Most people are unaware that environmental problems such as climate change can be easily avoided, at a profit, through the intelligent application of appropriate technology. The Carbon Buster's Handbook describes how to achieve this goal in the residential field. The handbook reveals North America�s best-kept investment secret: that the highest rates of return can be found not at your bank, but in your home! Environmental problems such as climate change can be easily avoided, at a profit, through the intelligent application of appropriate technology. The first book in North America to provide a detailed carbon accounting of a family�s carbon emissions and how to reduce them, it systematically analyzes energy costs and evaluates which measures yield the highest returns for the environment and the pocketbook. It provides answers to questions such as: Which measure is more effective: putting solar panels on your roof, or buying a hybrid car? Where do I need to invest first: in high-efficiency shower-heads, or solar tubes? Is a 500 dollar fridge that uses 800 kWh of power per year a good buy? The book allows individuals to quickly and accurately assess which products are a good deal and which aren�t. It systematically analyzes residential carbon emissions and energy costs and prioritizes solutions based on highest carbon reductions and monetary returns, yielding results that are often surprising.

While government savings bonds may yield a financial return of around 5% per annum, and pension funds in 2005 yielded 11%, the Carbon-Buster strategies described in this book have an average annual return of 32%. The book enables readers to dramatically reduce their carbon emissions - far below the levels targeted under the Kyoto Protocol. At the same time, readers implementing the recommendations will save an average of US 15,000 dollars in energy costs over the next five years.