Book Description

The fast and easy way to get up-to-speed on alternative energy

Because of current events, geopolitics, and natural disasters, the cost of fuel is front and center in our lives. This book provides a concise look at all forms of energy, including fossil fuels, electric, solar, biodiesel, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and renewable fuel cells. You will get explanations, definitions, and analysis of each alternative energy source from a technological point of view.

Customer Reviews (1)

Good introduction
This book provides a good overview of present and future alternative energy sources. It discusses the fundamentals from wood stoves to nuclear fusion. Note, this is an overview book, NOT a HOW-TO book. You aren't going to get blueprints on building a wind turbine but you will get a brief discussion of the technology and an overview of some very basic design criteria. The material is well laid out and very practical. Because it is something of a technical book, there are a few very simple (junior high level) algebraic equations throughout the text. Most anyone with an interest in the subject will find the book useful and an inexpensive introduction to the subject. The end of chapter quizzes help cement core concepts. The book's title lives up to its claim. ... Read more

Book Description

The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence.

The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy tells you how. It starts by outlining the likely impacts of fossil fuel shortages and some basic facts about energy. It then discusses energy conservation to slash energy bills and prepare for renewable energy options. Focusing carefully on specific strategies needed to replace specific fuels, the book then examines each practical energy option available to homeowners:

• solar hot water, cooking and water purification
• space heat: passive and active solar retrofits
• wood heat
• passive cooling
• solar electricity
• wind-generated electricity
• electricity from microhydropower sources, and
• emerging technologies -- hydrogen, fuel cells, methane digesters and biodiesel.

The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy gives readers sufficient knowledge to hire and communicate effectively with contractors and, for those wanting do installations themselves, it recommends more detailed manuals. With a complete resource listing, this well-illustrated and accessible guide is a perfect companion for illuminating the coming dark age.

Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series

Customer Reviews (10)

Good review to renewable energy
I found this book to be more satisfying that the author's more popular book, "The Solar House".Of course, they aren't functional substitutes for each other.This book goes deeper into renewable energy systems available to address the energy needs of residential buildings and related topics.I appreciate his discussion on conservation, the breakdown of the energy consumption of a 'typical' residence, etc.This book goes deeper into energy than "The Solar House" goes into passive design, providing almost enough information to evaluate and size some systems.The amount of information presented varies by system, as solar photovoltaic and wind power get a more detailed treatment than biomass.For someone wanting enough information to select, size and/or design systems -- or more realistically to evaluate the proposals generated by a systems provider -- supplemental information will probably be required.

A decent overview; left me wanting more details.
I read this book cover-to-cover over the course of a couple of weeks.I'm new to the field of renewable energy, so you'll have to take my criticisms for what they are, a critique of the writing:

1)The author frequently repeats himself, and sometimes goes so far to state that he is repeating himself, and that the reader should refer back to a previous section.

2)Many of the references are "so and so claims such and such" or references to the Home Power magazine.It's great that the author cites his sources, but it often left me wondering if the author placed any stock in the claim being reported.

3)The author frequently refers to his own house, which was designed from the ground up to use renewable energy.While this is neat, it doesn't seem applicable to readers who already own houses (with a 99% chance that they're not nearly as efficient, and that it's not possible to convert them).

4)I would have enjoyed more information on solar power, since it seems to be the most applicable in urban and suburban areas.Instead, it received basically equal treatment alongside micro-hydroelectric and wind power.

Still, it's a good book - 3.5 stars - and contains a number of references to other sources of information on the topic.

Very informative book.
I found this book to be very informative.It provides a wealth of knowledge about being self-sufficient.I am particularly interested in solar and wind power and this book provided some very good information about each of these subjects.Would highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about living green.

The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achievi...
This is an excellent book, because it has much information in general, different green ideas for your home. And that is important for you and the Planet today and future.

Great Direction
My wife and I are in the process of designing our retirement home here in the Colorado foothills.We want to build one that is both energy efficient/independent and retain that "curb appeal".This book has provided us with a great many ideas that will help us achieve that goal. ... Read more

Book Description
Alternative Energy systematically approaches various alternative sources of energy, discussing in layperson's terms the current state of public policy, energy technology and the political, economic, and social feasibility of the alternative energy paradigm. The goal is to help the less technically-minded become active participants in choosing the energy future for their community. ... Read more

Book Description
This fourth volume of the Wiley Series in Environmentally Conscious Engineering, Environmentally Conscious Alternative Engergy Production describes and compares the environmental and economic impacts of renewable and conventional power generation technologies. Major topic areas include: Economic comparisons of power generation technologies, Efficiency comparisons of power generation technologies, Methods of improving the environmental impact of conventional technologies, Solar thermal systems, Photovoltaics, Fuel cell technologies, Geothermal power generation, Hydroelectric power generation, Wind power generation, Cogeneration, The hydrogen economy, Energy efficient building design, Industrial energy conservation, and Codes, standards and legislation, and others. ... Read more

Book Description
More than 20 countries generate electricity from geothermal resources and about 60 countries make direct use of geothermal energy. A ten-fold increase in geothermal energy use is foreseeable at the current technology level.

Geothermal Energy: An Alternative Resource for the 21st Century provides a readable and coherent account of all facets of geothermal energy development and summarizes the present day knowledge on geothermal resources, their exploration and exploitation. Accounts of geothermal resource models, various exploration techniques, drilling and production technology are discussed within 9 chapters, as well as important concepts and current technological developments.

* Interdisciplinary approach, combining traditional disciplines such as geology, geophysics, and engineering
* Provides a readable and coherent account of all facets of geothermal energy development
* Describes the importance of bringing potable water to high-demand areas such as the tropical regions ... Read more

Book Description
With nearly all of the world’s energy consumption dependent on non-renewable resources,Powering Our Future challenges consumers to support changes that will create sustainable energy in the future.

The four biggest energy sources—oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium—currently power our earth. What would happen to our society if we experienced severe shortages of one or more of these resources? Such a glimpse into the future may become reality sooner than we think. Oil production is soon expected to begin a rapid descent, with natural gas in close pursuit. Powering Our Future is an educational tool that opens the door to a future fueled by sustainable, renewable energy. Consumers will learn:

·
• How our world has become dependent on four nonrenewable resources. ·
• How each resource impacts us politically, economically, and environmentally. ·
• How renewable resources such as hydrogen, fuel cells, wind power, solar energy, hydropower, and more are waiting in the wings. ·
• How the transition to renewable resources will take place, offering economically stable and environmentally safe choices.

Book Description
A balanced introduction to tomorrow's energy sources


Over the course of the next fifty years, there will be a shift in the quest for sustainble energy, including a major change in transportation from internal combustion engines burning petroleum-derived fuels to newer technology engines using new transportation fuels. Alternative Energy Reources examines our options for energy sources with a focus on hydrogen as a large-scale, secondary energy vector parallel to electricity.

As the price of petroleum products increases, the world is scrambling to find a suitable replacement energy source. In this comprehensive primer, Professor Paul Kruger examines energy use throughout history and the exponential expansion of our energy use beginning with the Industrial Revolution through the present day. The book then analyzes the various alternative energy sources available, including renewable energy (hydroelectric, solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal), nuclear, and hydrogen. He addresses each energy source's pros and cons based on our needs, availability, and environmental impact aspects. Finally, Dr. Kruger proposes the use of hydrogen as a fuel to sustain our energy supply produced by appropriate technology mixtures of renewable and nuclear energy. ... Read more

Product Description
Be your own power company and let Mother Nature provide the energy! By investing in affordable, new technologies, you can join the thousands of homeowners who get free electricity from the sun, wind and water. In this updated 2nd edition of Power With Nature, you'll learn how easy it is to use renewable energy to become self-sufficient and live well anywhere! - Off-Grid Solar PV, Wind & Micro-Hydro Systems
- Homeowner Profiles (Personal Power Companies)
- Utility Grid-Tie Options
- Sizing Your Renewable Energy System
- Charge Controllers, Inverters, Batteries
- Putting It All Together Safely
- Heating of House and Water
- Pumping Water
- Worksheets, Maps, Resources, Glossary, Index and much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book for breaking into alternate power
I borrowed the book from the library and read it cover to cover. I wanted it for future reference so I bought it.

Realistic, Informative, Practical Book
We recently purchased an off-grid log camp.We saw an article about this book in a log homes magazine, so purchased it.Excellent book - it gave practical information on why and how to set up to live off-grid.It gave real advice on how to calculate and choose solar, wind and hydro equipment.I'd recommend this book to all who might consider living off-grid and choosing alternative powers sources.

an excellent primer
If you are confused by the components, their arrangement and connections, this is the book for you. The story in the beginning is a bit silly, but it does serve it's purpose - to anchor concepts in your memory. It is worth enduring. You will get a decent background in components and terminology from this book, very readable, and an excellent introduction to RE.

Pumps to appliances: alternate options
Plenty of energy guides for homeowners advocate getting off the grid; but few do such a good job of explaining just how to go about it as does POWER WITH NATURE: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS - now in its updated second edition. From off-grid solar, wind and hydro systems to grid tie in options, systems which can be customized, and appliances which lend to running on solar, chapters offer the latest facts plus maps, resources, worksheets and more. The chapter on putting different systems together is particularly notable for its focus on protecting the systems and people from energy spill problems and damage, while that on pumping rainwater, water for fire protection, and using cisterns offers methods other books usually gloss over: essential for rural homeowners. An outstanding, highly recommended guide.

Should be mandatory reading for all environmentally conscious folk
First, I want to give this book an extra star - I award it 6 out of 5 stars, it's that good.
The book itself gets off to an unusual beginning.The fable style takes you by surprise at first then, as you persevere everything clicks into place.That fable provides background for the rest of the book which is exactly what the author intended.To have a book that, by necessity provides technical information, yet lets you read it without even considering a lack of a science degree is a critical success factor.
This book is immensely useful and readable... and enjoyable.Whoever says conservation and science are stuffy subjects needs to have this book to reverse their view.
My wife, Mary, and I are going to retire to a home with solar and wind energy.We know that will be daunting task.Rex Ewing's book provides enough to remove the fear and trepidation of our plan.Thanks to you Rex and your wife LaVonne. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

someone else should have wrote this
A great title like this should be written by someone with experience in the field. There are a lot of sources from this guy named.... or this person from... This seems like someone just wanted to get a paycheck for writing a book on a hot topic.

Not Too Technical
Homeowners interested in sustainable living will want to delve into this book, which will give them the basics to begin thinking about alternative energy.

a sound , basic overview.
This is a great book for those who are looking at this topic for the first time. I wld recommend it to those who have just developed an interest in this area. It gives a basic overview & should wet the tastebuds for more - further information & weblinks are given in the back.

Perfect for the Public
This book gives just the right level of detail to get homeowners going with renewable energy.It gives the right level of detail to make financial and behavioral decisions.I liked the large number of references, as well--they give the reader the ability to look into particular subjects with more detail.

This book covers all the bases without getting to lengthy and losing the reader's interest.It will get you informed and then get you on your way.

Excellent Easy to Read Guide
This book covers all of the basics that you need to know. I was particularly interested in the solar stuff. The author explains how you can save and avoids being too technical. Highly recommended. Truthfully, this is the kind of book that should be required reading for every home builder, home owner, and school kid. ... Read more

Book Description
Whether you're building a new house or have an existing one, "Basics of Energy Efficient Living" shares the principles behind energy efficient living. Have you ever wondered: What is R-value? How much energy could I get from my creek? Can I use alternative energy in the city? How much heat will it take to keep my house warm? How much heat will I lose if I put in a bigger window?Learn what it takes to save energy, then take the next step and collect your own.Find out how much energy you can get from water, sun, wind, and wood.Discover how much energy you need by making an energy budget specific for your house. Learn energy principles as you design a house step-by-step. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Practical for Real People
These days it seems that energy advice is available on every street corner--"turn down your thermostat", "caulk your house" or "buy a solar panel".Unfortunately, most of this "common sense" is either massively expensive or based on "cut back" and save.It's hardly inspiring or practical for real people.

This book restores my confidence in practical energy solutions.It's not "preachy" or "environmentalist"---it simply lays out how energy works and options to cut energy waste.It's easy to read, yet packed with information.I haven't seen technical writing this good in years.

The content is fairly evenly divided between discussions on preventing energy loss, recapturing lost energy, and obtaining "free" energy.The explanations are lucid, logical and cover the major energy options.The book also includes worksheets for calculating energy use in your own home.

Overall, what I appreciate most is this book doesn't preach/promote a specific energy solution.Instead it simply explains the options and lets you decide what will give you the most gain for your specific house/lifestyle.Once you read this book I guarantee you won't think about energy the same way again. ... Read more

Book Description
This book / CD-combo publication, tested on several students and professionals in the USA and in the UK, is an excellent introduction to hybrid and fuel cell automotive principles, applications and practical examples. It discusses the basic methods, tools and technologies with several industrial and research case studies discussed and demonstrated by industry experts in videos and in 3D. The over 400 interactive screens include 20 digital videos, 7 lesson plans, and several highly interactive 3D objects of automobiles, covering:

* Welcome and Introduction;
* Why Alternative Energy Sources? Professor Ranky's Introduction to the Case;
* The Focus of the Case;
* The Clean School Bus Initiative: A U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Activity; Web-links to Some Excellent Examples, Exercises and Eco Science Games for Both Students and Teachers;
* A USA Military Fuel-saving program; Pollution Prevention and Reduction;
* The Core Challenges in this Case and Our Problem Solving Method;
* Rules for Brainstorming; Main Discussion Points and Activities;
* Californian Fuel Cell Consortium Activities and Examples;
* Canon's Design for the Environment Methods and Examples;
* Main Challenges and Problems;
* References and Further Reading (with web-links);
* Some Design, Manufacturing, and Customer Requirements Aspects of Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles, with General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, The Californian Fuel Cell Consortium, Ford, Honda and Toyota Examples;
* Some Design, Manufacturing, and Customer Requirements Aspects...;
* General Motors Examples; DaimlerChrysler Examples;
* The Californian Fuel Cell Partnership Example;
* Ford Focus Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Examples; Honda Examples;
* Toyota Examples of Hybrid Electric Vehicles;
* Main Challenges and Problems; References and Further Reading (with web-links);
* Interactive Analytical Exercises and optional Laboratory Kit Experiments Introduction;
* Dimensions and Tolerances;
* Pressure Holding Cylinders;
* Power Screw Mechanics;
* The Effect of Temperature on Objects;
* Electric Motor Experiments;
* References and Further Reading (with web-links).

Other, Useful Resources in this eBook Publication;

* Lesson Plan Template (NJIT Pre-college Program) (MS Word File);
* Lesson Plan1: Alternative Energy Resources (MS Word File);
* Lesson Plan2: Some Design, Manufacturing, and Customer Requirements Aspects of Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles (MS Word File);
* Lesson Plan3: Dimensions and Tolerances (MS Word File and Excel spreadsheet to calculate with your own data);
* Lesson Plan4: Pressure Holding Cylinders (MS Word File and Excel spreadsheet to calculate with your own data);
* Lesson Plan5: Power Screw Mechanics (MS Word File and Excel spreadsheet to calculate with your own data);
* Lesson Plan6: The Effect of Temperature on Objects (MS Word File and Excel spreadsheet to calculate with your own data);
* Lesson Plan7: Electric DC Motors (MS Word File);

Furthermore, we cover Case documentation guidelines; Useful spreadsheet templates for educators and students; A Major Glossary of Terms; Customizable, open-source MS-Excel Tools & Templates to perform your own calculations, and a section of Advanced 3DVR Object Demos and Beautiful Images/ Videos to relax.

A web-browser readable, interactive 3D multimedia case-based / problem-based / project-based eBook (electronic book) - a first of its kind in the World! This reward winning eBook library includes the equivalent of over 400 interactive screens, 260 pages of text, full color, high quality images, interactive diagrams, 2D and 3D animations, over 45 minutes of interactive digital videos, 3DVR (3D Virtual Reality) objects, 360 degree panoramas of virtual tours inside hybrid automobiles, 7 worked-out lesson plans with plenty of problems and solved examples for students and faculty, with multimedia demos, and active - spreadsheet code with examples, an extens ... Read more

Book Description
Praise for Future Energy

"Do not despair. Energy independence is in our future and this book has the road map! Bill Paul, one of the most astute observers of the energy scene, describes the new technologies that are taking us there and that will change our lives. A must-read book showing how business, citizens, and investors can take advantage."
—Consuelo Mack, Anchor and Managing Editor Consuelo Mack WealthTrack

Concerns over the availability and security of world energy supplies, especially when it comes to crude oil, have many people wondering what the future of this industry holds and how technology will continue to change it. Thanks to the energy technology revolution currently taking place, a promising "new" oil industry is quickly beginning to take shape-and it will, without a doubt, affect every company, household, and investor.

In Future Energy, author Bill Paul-a national energy and environmentaljournalist for more than thirty years-skillfully addresses the investment implications of this new oil industry and shows you how to profit from the changes that lie ahead. Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Future Energy will introduce you to some of the most essential issues found within this new environment, including:

• The companies that will be counted on as the producers andinfrastructure providers of the new oil industry
• Why you should consider holding "oil shock" absorbing investmentsin your portfolio
• How electricity will become a new transportation fuel, providingunprecedented transportation fuel diversity
• The role that substitute liquid fuels (SLFs) will play in the newoil industry
• And much more

Customer Reviews (4)

Worse than amateur
Bill Paul wastes our time and money with this worse than worthless book. Here are a few examples of its problems:
- On page 1, Mr. Paul dismisses global warming as an "environmental anxiety", as though anyone concerned with global warming is suffering from a type of delusional and irrational phobia. Global warming is never brought up again (according to the index), as the author expounds on and extols such environmental horrors as oil from coal and oil from tar sands.
- In the one potentially redeeming chapter, "The Power of Efficiency", the author somehow recommends the Chevrolet Corvette as "the spirit that I feel must guide the new oil industry". Perhaps one can conjure up a worse symbol, such as a Mercury Navigator, but there are far better ones, such as the Toyota Prius.
- The same chapter starts with a diagram showing "Kilowatt Gasoline" as a type of efficiency, clearly a false representation.
- The author is so untechnical that he doesn't know the difference between power and energy.

The book is filled with so much misinformation, that the author should receive a negative royalty with each copy sold.

good but incomplete introduction
The reader should know that one purpose of this book is to give investorsadvice on companies to invest in. Mr. Paul hardly mentions solar or wind power, though in Denmark the wind provides 20% of the country's energy. The author believes that, except for a difficult transition period because we have failed to plan and with a few caveats, basically everything will be just fine. The author also believes that with more government control that things will be even better, despite the government's past failings in this area. The facts the author himself mentions would indicate a less rosy picture.
Nonetheless, I gave this book 3 stars. It is clearly written, not too abstract or technical; has a good glossary, index, appendixes and footnotes; and has a list of relevant internet web sites. The author states that one of his purposes is to open a discussion. I believe the author has succeeded in that area.

Excellent on some points, misses the boat on others
Bill Paul's book takes a stab at predicting what the energy sector of the future will look like.It's refreshing to see a journalist taking the future of energy seriously.I really like some of his analysis.For example, he calculates that if all the hidden subsidies were included, the cost of a gallon of gasoline would be at least $11 a gallon.These subsidies include such things as military expenditures, lost economic opportunities due to transfer of funds to oil-producing countries, and the like.Paul is certainly correct here.In my opinion, $11 a gallon is actually a lowball figure.For example, he says nothing about one of the most destructive forms of government subsidy, local regulation requiring the provision of certain numbers of parking spaces around businesses and residences.Most American localities have such regulations, which are known as parking requirements.The idea behind parking requirements is to make sure that free parking is always available.Unfortunately, the effect is to favor automobile travel over other forms of transportation, like walking, that don't require all that vehicle storage space. It's a form of enforced inefficiency.U.S. building codes also favor the automobile in other ways, such as by requiring very wide streets.Parking requirements are one of the main reasons why housing is so expensive in the U.S.The cost of parking requirements in the United States is in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year, which would shove up that per gallon price a few more dollars. For more on this, see Donald Shoup's book "The High Cost of Free Parking."

Paul assumes economic growth is a good thing.Economic growth is generally measured by GDP, which as a measure of well-being is so inaccurate as to be almost laughable. GDP is measured by counting up what is spent on various items. This works more or less OK if you're counting food bought by hungry people, but very poorly indeed if you're counting money spent on bombs or automatic rifles, or on parking garages for rich people's cars. GDP is not corrected for increasing population, pollution, exhaustion of natural resources, or declining quality of life. More accurate measures of economic growth, such as the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare or Genuine Progress Indicator, tend to show that there has been far less genuine economic growth than the official statistics suggest. For more on this, see McKibben's book "Deep Economy," Daly's "Beyond Growth," or Brian Czech's "Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train."

I think Paul is too optimistic on how easy it's going to be to make the switch to new technologies and keep our current American lifestyle going.Driving 90 minutes alone each day just to get back and forth to work in my opinion is not a viable option for the long-term future, no matter how efficient the car.The U.S. population is still climbing.None of Paul's proposals will work if this continues.Even if we managed to find a way to fuel all the existing cars with alternative fuels, it's very unlikely we could find enough to fuel cars for all the newcomers, not to mention housing, heat, lighting, etc.No matter how you look at it, a stable population is the first requirement for a sustainable economy.In the U.S. that means we have to take reducing immigration seriously.If we want to keep any semblance at all of the current U.S. lifestyle, we can't invite an unlimited number of people to this party.

Paul is excited by the possibility of converting garbage and other wastes to energy.I tend to disagree with him here.A great deal of the wastes we deal with today are themselves products of the age of cheap oil.An example is meat by-products, such as turkey offal.Cheap turkey is itself a product of cheap grains, which are produced using natural gas-based fertilizers and shipped long distances using diesel fuel.These products are not likely to be available for energy production in the future.For more on this see Kunstler's book "The Long Emergency."

Paul devotes a chapter to "Every Drop of Oil We Can Get is Important," discussing how to get more oil out of of the ground to meet demand.Paul has this completely backward.The more we push to get the last drop out of U.S. oil fields now, the sooner the earth's oil endowment will run out.Fossil fuels are the product of millions of years' worth of sunlight falling on ancient swamps.When they're gone, they're gone.We'd do better keeping them in the ground for a while longer.That oil will be worth a lot more in 50 or 100 years than it is today. What we need to be aiming for is the softest possible landing when making the transition away from fossil fuels. The sooner we start, the longer we'll have at least some of those fuels around to ease the transition.

Paul thinks raising gas taxes is a loser because of how Americans feel about their cars and trucks.He prefers a scheme known as Tradable Gasoline Rights, or TGR.I simply don't see the advantage of this over conventional gas taxes. I think a rise in gas taxes would work fine if it were carefully handled.The most important point is that it needs to be a tax shift, not a tax increase.Raise gas taxes while reducing income taxes, with the shift in tax types being dollar-for-dollar as closely as possible.Why would people object to this?After all, if they really wanted to, they could simply take their income tax savings and spend them on gas.We need to tax less things we want--like income and employment--and more of things we don't want--like fossil fuel use.

Paul also doesn't like gas taxes because they can hurt the poor.Wake up!Anyone who can afford a car these days probably isn't among the poor.

I really enjoyed Paul's analysis of the risk of large shocks in oil prices.This is a serious problem that doesn't get enough attention.

The High Cost of Free Parking
The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century
Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development
Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future
Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train: Errant Economists, Shameful Spenders, and a Plan to Stop them All

Future energy provides realistic options for the future;by the time you are done, these expectations will be things of the past!
Though Future Energy by Bill Paul provides pheasible expectations for our country/planets energy future, I feel the book was too slow a read to be rated highly. Though the facts were good, I see this book as a waste of blank pages. I give this book a 2 star rating out of pity and respect for facts. ... Read more

Book Description
A unique electrical engineering approach to alternative sources of energy

Unlike other books that deal with alternative sources of energy from a mechanical point of view, Integration of Alternative Sources of Energy takes an electrical engineering perspective. Moreover, the authors examine the full spectrum of alternative and renewable energy with the goal of developing viable methods of integrating energy sources and storage efficiently. Readers become thoroughly conversant with the principles, possibilities, and limits of alternative and renewable energy.

The book begins with a general introduction and then reviews principles of thermodynamics. Next, the authors explore both common and up-and-coming alternative energy sources, including hydro, wind, solar, photovoltaic, thermosolar, fuel cells, and biomass. Following that are discussions of microturbines and induction generators, as well as a special chapter dedicated to energy storage systems. After setting forth the fundamentals, the authors focus on how to integrate the various energy sources for electrical power production. Discussions related to system operation, maintenance, and management, as well as standards for interconnection, are also set forth.

Throughout the book, diagrams are provided to demonstrate the electrical operation of all the systems that are presented. In addition, extensive use of examples helps readers better grasp how integration of alternative energy sources can be accomplished.

The final chapter gives readers the opportunity to learn about the HOMER Micropower Optimization Model. This computer model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), assists in the design of micropower systems and facilitates comparisons of power generation techniques. Readers can download the software from the NREL Web site.

This book is a must-read for engineers, consultants, regulators, and environmentalists involved in energy production and delivery, helping them evaluate alternative energy sources and integrate them into an efficient energy delivery system. It is also a superior textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fills a need, but one could hope for better
This is an almost entirely non-mathematical introduction to the topic described in its title.It is easy to read and provides an easy stepping-stone to more complete treatments of the individual topics.I liked the inclusion of a chapter on HOMER which is a free, easy to use and quite useful small system simulation program from NREL.

It seems to suffer by the authors' being in an academic institution in a country that does not supply the technology described forcing them to rely on published information for much of the contents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

new edition available
I use this book as a text book for a 12 th grade elective course on energy.there is a new edition available from Kendall Hunt Publishing

Excellent work on all energy sources. Easy to understand.
The book starts by reviewing some basic energy principles and then goes on analyzing each energy source along with its environmental impact. The layout of the book is excellent. It has chapters reviews and questions andproblems. Very easy to understand, even for the layman. Fun to read for thepro. Lots of information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

have we reached Peak Oil?
The book is both a history of the main energy sources used globally, and of the prospects for energy generation going forward into this new century. So we get a walkthrough of how OPEC arose, and how the 1973 Yom Kippur war triggered an oil crisis that gave OPEC much power. But after 1979, this diminished for some 20 years.

Other energy sources are studied. Especially coal, which tends to be more evenly distributed around the world than oil. Perhaps more to the point, US and China have ample supplies. Which means that coal is unlikely to diminish in importance.

The most intriguing question posed in the book is the Hubbert hypothesis. Otherwise called the Peak Oil idea. Namely that global oil production has peaked, or will peak soon. To be followed by a gradual but relentless decline. Naturally a disquieting prospect. Especially since China and India (as well as other developing natioons) want to continue to modernise, and will presumably need more oil. Read this part of the book carefully. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Includes products ranging from simple energy-saving devices like compact flourescent lights to home-scale energy-harvesting systems that utilize the sun, wind, and water to make electricity for people living "off-the-grid." Chapters on Independent Living, Land, Shelter, Harvesting Energy, Managing Energy Systems, Heating and Cooling, Water, Energy Conservation, the Nontoxic Home, Home and Market Gardening, Mobility and Electric Vehicles, and Livelihood and Learning.Committed to selling only products that promote environmental responsibility at an honest value, The Real Goods Trading Company is one of the fastest-growning companies in America.Many of the products listed in another of our favorites,The Millenium Whole Earth Catalog, can be purchased by mail from Real Goods.

"The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient technology for common folks." --Whole Earth Review ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

'Must' read on solar and alternate life style power

After many years of planning, we built our solar efficient home from scratch (4.5 kw of PV, & batteries off-grid, and thermal radiant heat loops); er, yes, I'm an engineer.This book is a great introductory, up to fairly advanced level.If at all interested in solar photo-voltaics, this is key.site planning, batteries, outputs, setting up a energy budget, just about all you need to get started..after sucking up this book, the next level would be the tech data on Outback Energies web sites, by reading their use and design guids.

The Real Deal
This product is great for anyone interested in getting involved in keeping their enviroment healthy. The products and information contained within the pages of this book will guide the novice to the right product choice for their needs. This book is the stepping-stone for a sustainable life in harmoney with nature. At the least this liturature will be informative and enlighten the reader to one's place on earth.

One of the major areas addressed in this catalog is waste management. The average family consumes more than fifty gallons of water a day in toilet water, which must be recycled either through chemical or natural treatment before it can be used by humans again. Another problem caused by human consumption in normal life is garbage. This book addresses both of these issues rationally and offers suggestions to limit and eliminate some of the causes of this enourmouse amount of consumption.

Out of everything consumed by the human population, what we consume the most is energy; we need energy in one form or another to power our vehicles, homes, and to produce the products we use. This book focuses on products that use renewable energy sources the sun, wind, and water. It also informs people that some apliences, even when off, are still eating energy in the form of phantom loads, this can account for twenty-five percent of an energy bill. Addressing this issue can mean a significant savings. This book also offers products that cut energy consumption in half when in use.

Another catagory is enviromental quality of the home and office, ofering healthy cleansers, an alternative to the heath threatening harsh volitile organic compounds commonly found. Features of these products are recycled material and more biodegradeable components.

This catalog offers a large range of products, from construction material, to household essentials, to resource guides and how-to books. It is a great help for anyone who wants a healthy life for their family.

A fair introduction to Alternative energy sources
Be aware that this product is 25% information and 75% sales catalog. It provides a brief overview of a particular technology and then presents the reader with many pages of products addressing that technology. Whilst this is a useful introduction to (say) wind generators for home use, $... is a lot of money to charge for a catalog. This book/catalog tries to address everything from passive solar to hydro-electric power generation, but doesn't really do a great job on any of it. Not a bad introduction, but certainly not a "must have' kind of book.

Worth every cent in having understanding of alternatives!
At least for anyone looking to cheese off the oil and power companies!! I'm not a bleeding heart, but I do kind of have to live on this planet!If I can do so without mucking it up, well, that's probably a good thing.This book made it easy to clean up at least my own act!

This book has paid for itself a dozen times over in the money I have saved in electrical costs! The tech chapters were over my head, but my electrician understood them and (thank God) was willing to try something new! A fine book!!

A necessary book for all interested in effficient living
From novices to pros, this book explains Renewable energy and efficient building practices.Great reference to start design and cost estimation from each section.One of the best features of this book is the additionof the National Electric Code for RE systems.It's possible to pick abuilding material to build a house, design a solar electric system, decideon appliances, determine the use of a greywater system, and more from 562pages.No more looking up pages on the net! ... Read more

Book Description
The book covers all the major aspects of wind energy conversion technology. In contrast with other publications on this subject, the author gives due emphasis to wind resource analysis and its economic aspects. The subject is treated from its basics and gradually developed to the advanced level. Such a treatment caters the needs of readers with different subject backgrounds. Each section is discussed with illustrative examples and practical problems. Software, based on the analytical techniques discussed in the publication, is provided on an enclosed CD-ROM. An extensive bibliography is appended to each chapter to give further guidance to the readers. ... Read more