BTU Bill’s Guide to Energy Conservation

BTU Bill’s Guide to Energy Conservation cover

“A data-driven, myth-busting guide to home energy conservation, BTU Bill’s Guide equips homeowners with professional audit tools, climate-specific case studies, and 190+ proven tips to cut utility costs where it actually counts.” 

KEYWORDS: energy conservation, energy tips

109 pages 
6x9 Trade book 
Available as a Paperback, PDF book, or ebook 
Read a 15-page preview at Blurb.com

About the Book

From veteran energy auditor and radio personality William H. Clark II comes BTU Bill’s Guide to Energy Conservation — a no-nonsense, engineering-driven handbook that cuts through the marketing noise to reveal which home improvements actually save money and which ones don’t. Clark challenges the conventional wisdom pushed by contractors and government programs alike, arguing that expensive upgrades like new windows and siding rarely deliver a meaningful return on investment.

Instead, Clark directs homeowners and building managers toward the high-payback fundamentals: roof insulation, attic ventilation, behavioral shifts, and smart water heating practices. Backed by custom spreadsheet tools — including his Energy Auditor 2.0 and Thermo-Stat 2.0 programs — readers can perform their own professional-grade energy audits tailored to their specific climate and building type. With climate-specific case studies spanning Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Denver, and over 190 actionable tips, this book delivers real, measurable savings grounded in physics, not hype. BTU Bill’s Guide is the essential reference for anyone serious about reducing utility bills and living more efficiently.

Target Audience

  • Homeowners and renters seeking to reduce monthly utility bills
  • Building managers and property owners focused on operational efficiency
  • DIY enthusiasts and technically minded readers
  • Energy auditors, contractors, and green building professionals
  • Readers skeptical of government and industry energy program claims

Key Themes

  • Data-driven energy auditing vs. industry marketing hype
  • Roof insulation and attic ventilation as the highest-ROI interventions
  • Behavioral and lifestyle changes as low-cost efficiency tools
  • Climate-specific analysis across major North American cities
  • The physics of thermodynamics applied to everyday home management
  • Skepticism toward government grants and industry-promoted “green” products
  • Spiritual and ethical dimensions of environmental stewardship

 Detailed Table of Contents

  1. Introduction — Establishes the author’s philosophy that energy conservation must save both energy and money, and introduces his proprietary audit spreadsheet tools.
  2. Air Conditioning — Explains SEER ratings, proper system sizing, humidity control, and airflow maintenance for maximum cooling efficiency.
  3. Lights — Compares incandescent and fluorescent lighting efficiency and advocates for maximizing natural daylighting strategies.
  4. Electrical — Addresses appliance efficiency, electric lawn tools, and strategies for eliminating costly phantom energy loads.
  5. Plumbing — Details the high energy cost of water heating and provides fixture selection and plumbing layout guidance for new construction.
  6. Landscaping — Demonstrates how trees, shrubs, and grass function as passive cooling systems and reduce mechanical energy loads.
  7. Lifestyle — Argues that clothing choices, hydration habits, and behavioral shifts like midday rest can meaningfully reduce dependence on mechanical cooling.
  8. Vehicles — Advocates for vehicle simplicity, proper maintenance, and fuel-conscious driving habits to maximize fuel economy.
  9. Appliances — Covers fans, thermal mass, and refrigerator and freezer maintenance as tools for reducing household energy consumption.
  10. Interior Design — Explores how furniture and furnishings act as insulation and thermal mass, influencing perceived and actual indoor temperatures.
  11. Politics — Critiques energy policy failures, including SUV classification loopholes and the real-world efficacy of ozone-safe refrigerants.
  12. Spirituality — Examines ethical and spiritual traditions of environmental stewardship, framing conservation as a global moral responsibility.
  13. Energy Tips — Presents 190+ actionable, low-cost conservation tips applicable to homes and offices across all climates.
  14. From the Author — Shares personal anecdotes about the author’s own high-efficiency lifestyle and the motivations behind writing the book.
  15. The Programs — Provides instructions for using Energy Auditor 2.0 and Thermo-Stat 2.0 to conduct professional-grade home energy audits.
  16. Project Calculations (Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver) — Delivers climate-specific case studies showing how roof color, ventilation, and insulation interact across major North American regions.
  17. Tables — Offers technical reference data including AC efficiency ratings, heating system COPs, and U-values for roofs, walls, and glazing materials.

Purchase the Book

Please visit the book’s landing page on Blurb.com for a 15-page preview and options to purchase the paperback or PDF.

Further Reading

Visit the author’s website Energy-Tips.org for more energy-saving ideas + a search engine with thousands more energy tips!