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21 comments on "Good gifts" for the holidays

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ab3 on December 15, 2005 - 8:03pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top
I've given compact fluorescents as gifts a few times, but this year one of the things I'm going to give is a hand-cranked flashlight with LED bulbs. I received one as a gift for speaking on peak oil last month, and I really like it. It's the Readylight from Brookstone (http://www.brookstone.com). A little bit of cranking lasts a long time with the LEDs, and it can also charge your cell phone (if you have the right kind).

Another great gift you might consider for someone who has a very leaky attic hatch or stair door is the Attic Tent (http://www.attictent.com). It's an insulated fabric cover that you staple and caulk to the framing in the attic. When you zip it shut, it's airtight and stops the opening from sucking heat out of the house.

Yet another one is a gift certificate for a home performance assessment or home energy rating. This is a whole house analysis with recommendations for how to spend your money on improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck. See the ENERGY STAR website (http://www.energystar.gov) for more information and to locate someone who does this.

The best book I've found on making your house more efficient and comfortable is "Insulate and Weatherize" by Bruce Harley (http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070649.asp). I refer to it frequently.

A more technical book is "Residential Energy" by John Krigger and Chris Dorsi (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1880120127/qid=1134690675/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-7466807-4346301?s=b ooks&v=glance&n=283155). This one's for real energy geeks, and it's wonderful. I use it all the time.

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Heading Out on December 15, 2005 - 10:18pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Having sat through some power failures, let me also recommend the hand-cranked flashlight.  It seemed to work better for those of us who "have to read" than the four-candle alternative that was also in use across the table.
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Donal on December 16, 2005 - 12:05am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Did you look at the Wulfinghoff book?  It got good user reviews, but it is expensive:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0965792676/qid=1134705620/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-7859296-94902 03?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
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ab3 on December 16, 2005 - 6:36am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
No, I hadn't seen that one before, but based on the info on Amazon, it looks like one that I want to have. The two books I mentioned above focus only on residential energy use, but this one seems to cover everything (which explains its 1500+ pages and 8 pounds).

Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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Donal on December 16, 2005 - 9:36am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
At his energy conference, Bartlett touted it and asked presenter Wulfinghoff to display it on the table during his talk.  I've been mulling over whether to buy it since then.  Your book citations might be better (and more affordable) for what I'm doing at home, but I think our office should have a copy of the big book.  If you get it, please post your thoughts.
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Stoneleigh on December 16, 2005 - 8:30am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top
Here's an Amazon link to a book I found useful and readable:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0973323310/qid=1134735322/sr=8-6/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/103-146338 8-3447052?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

It's called Smart Power: An Urban Guide To Renewable Energy and Efficiency by William H Kemp.

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