Give them a copy of the Builder's Guide to Cold Climates, available for about $40 at the Energy & Environmental Building Association web site or by calling EEBA at 1-952-881-1098. Written by the renowned building scientist Dr. Joseph Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation, this guide is full of good diagrams and schematic drawings as well as clear, readable text that accurately explains ways to get the best building performance.

Energy efficiency doesn't happen by accident. It takes planning and the recognition that a building is a system, a system governed by the laws of physics. Even if you don't do everything this guide advises, it will help you understand what you must do to get performance and durability in your home.

For a preview of this guide visit Building Science's website.