Energy Efficiency Manual

Review: Energy Efficiency Manual By Donald R. Wulfinghoff Reviewed by Irwin Weintraub Brooklyn College Library, USA Wulfinghoff, Donald R. Energy Efficiency Manual. Wheaton, MD: Energy Institute Press, 1999. 1536 pp. ISBN 0-9657926-7-6. US$199.95 In today’s fast paced world where we spend a good part of each day in buildings at work and play, it is important to plan building energy systems that meet our needs for heating, cooling, air flow, and lighting successfully and efficiently. The Energy Efficiency Manual offers up-to-date and practical solutions for energy planning applicable to building environments in one comprehensive volume. Wulfinghoff presents the information you need to plan, design, and construct efficient energy systems in homes, businesses, institutions, factories, farms, and other buildings. This easy-to-read, heavily illustrated work will be used over and over again by architects, engineers, contractors, code officers, environmental advocates, students, and homeowners who are dedicated to producing energy activities that save resources, are cost effective, reliable, and function at maximum efficiency. Nontechnical language is used throughout and terms are explained and illustrated when appropriate. Thus, the volume will appeal to a wide audience of users who are involved in building maintenance and those who just want to read it and learn more about energy conservation concepts. The Manual is arranged in two parts. Part I, Energy Measures, presents 400 specific energy efficiency improvements and cost saving activities. The measures are arranged under 10 sections covering boiler plants, chiller plants, service water systems, air handling systems, air conditioning systems, building air leakage, building insulation, control and use of sunlight, artificial lighting, and independent components such as motors and pumps. Since many energy projects serve several parts of a building or facility, readers will find practical solutions to all their energy efficiency questions in this section. I chose some entries at random and was impressed with the wide coverage of nearly all aspects of energy design. There are measures for efficient operation of low load heating systems; managing refrigerants in cooling equipment; reducing energy consumption of water pumps; regulating outside air intake and building pressurization; improving the efficiency of heating with radiators and convectors; reducing air leakage through windows and window frames; insulating roofs to prevent heat loss during cold weather; using daylight to save energy in open buildings; spatial layout of fixtures and wiring to provide efficient lighting; and eliminating excess output in constant flow fans. Each measure gives an explanation of