Product Description
Learn how to cut the cost of your utility bills with these simple, inexpensive and effective measures. All the procedures are simple enough for beginners, and none require expensive tools. Throughout these pages, you will learn how to repair leaky faucets that needlessly add to your water and heating bills. There are also simple steps for cleaning coils on your refrigerator so it can cool better with less electricity, for sealing your house against hot and cold air leaks, for adding insulation where your house needs more, and making other proven, energy-saving repairs and improvements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

OK, not a whole lot new...
There were a few new thoughts, but most of the ways were things like "turn off the lights," which if you're spending the money on this book you hopefully are already doing. ... Read more

Product Description
Promises to cut home owners' energy consumption in half through simple, inexpensive home maintenance, improvement, and installation projects, from insulating attics and basements to increasing the efficiency of major appliances. Original. ... Read more

Product Description
Off the Grid confronts the ecological and cultural problems associated with the way we get and use energy, and explains how it is possible to live in a beautifully designed home using much less--no matter where your home is located. < BR> ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good Photography and Concepts
Lori can put together a good photography book of some great solutions to "sustainable" design. I enjoy studying the imagery, and the details I want to learn. The book doesn't get high marks for the detail explaining the ideas she shows, but it's a decent publication recording some good ideas.

Had I seen one of Lorie Rykers' books, I would not have bothered to buy either.
This book, "Off the Grid", and Lori Ryker's other book, "Off the Grid Homes", are just mildly interesting.I regret having ordered them both at the same time.Had I seen one, I would not have bothered with a second.In fact, had I seen one before before purchasing, I would not have purchased either.Kemp's book, "The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-grid And Sustainable Living", is what most people will find interesting and useful.

Stunning and inspirational
This is a tremendous book that provides great food-for-thought for those interested in both quality design and off- or nearly-off grid living.Even if some of the houses might be out of range as noted by one commenter, there are still boat-loads of ideas around every corner.

Great photos, too!

Inspiration for the earth-conscious homebuilder
My husband and I are looking into building an off-the-grid cabin, and Lori Ryker's book was really helpful for putting all the options in perspective.It is not a technical, in-depth how-to book; it is more of an overview of the different possibilities.The author, a working architect and a professor of architecture at Montana State University, looks at ten different homes that range from grid tied to completely independent for their energy needs.After reading Ryker's book we decided we could build a house that is entirely off the grid; in particular, I was inspired by the four entirely off the grid homes featured in the book, one of which was designed by the author.The homes were built for different environments and living situations--from a full-time 2620 square foot residence in a remote part of Australia, to a 620 square foot vacation cabin on an island in Minnesota, to a 2620 square foot vacation home that is open to the elements of the Texas Hill Country.Some of the energy solutions surveyed are relatively simple and inexpensive (collecting water in cisterns) and others are more high tech and expensive (solar electric panels).This book is a great starting place for someone who wants to see what the possibilities are.

Interesting, but not practical.
Although I liked this book, it is not necessarily helpful.Most of the featured homes are much too expensive for your average middle income homeowners.I was looking for housing solutions for the Southeastern US and like almost every other publication out there, this book completely ignores our region.I suspect it is because our hot, muggy conditions are not as conducive to off the grid living as the other areas featured. ... Read more

Product Description
An easy to use guide that explores many of the ways anyone in Hawaii canmake their home a more energy efficient and sustainable place to live. Withfacts and figures, personal anecdotes and suggestions from authorities inthe field, this book is a valuable tool whether you want to install a solar hotwater heating system, plant a tree to shade and cool your home or find outhow to get a community recycling bin at your local school.Organized into three sections with numerous photographs and illustrations,this book explores the latest in energy efficient technology and design forthe home, water saving and sustainable practices in the yard and opportunitiesto go beyond the Lanai and continue pursuing smart community buildingthrough recycling and volunteering.With our tropical climate and abundant natural resources steady tradewinds, unlimited sunshine and copious rainfall Hawaii has the opportunityto set the bar and lead by example, embracing sustainable practicesthat show our care and respect for the land and preserving its beauty forgenerations to come. Making your home a greener home is the first steptoward that goal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Green Hawaii
An very well written informative book that should be helpful to many people who are interesting in sustainable living.Wind power was the only topic not discussed and an excellent source of green energy that whould be considered in the islands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Experience behind the theory
Gives a great overview of the history of wind power, and a practical guide, backed up with decades of experience that any novice can understand.Great book for anyone who is new to small wind that wants to get involved or install their own system.

A Good Intro to a Much-Hyped Technology
Many would like to take advantage of the wind, a so-called 'free' energy resource to do things ranging from pumping water for irrigation to supplying their home or business energy needs.Over the course of the book, via extended examples of practical, functioning and active wind power systems, Paul Gipe makes clear just how 'free' this free energy source actually is.

While Mr. Gipe concedes readily that the wind can be harnessed to provide energy, he also patiently explains the limitations in doing so.Mr. Gipe is probably the technology's most level-headed advocate, and he makes clear what these systems can and can not do.

Although wind energy systems have lots of potential, they often fall short for several practical reasons.As Mr. Gipe quickly points out, not all sites are suitable for harnessing the wind, and the most important criterion for wind energy development is the stability of the wind resource, and not necessarily its maximum speed (as it turns out, practically all commercially available systems will not produce any energy above a certain speed, for aerodynamic reasons).This is the first and most common misconception that Mr. Gipe dispels, and throughout the book he provides a lot of clarification on many other wind energy myths and misconceptions.A second very common misconception among the public, who have been sold these energy systems based on their clean image (zero greenhouse gas emissions), is the ongoing confusion between power and energy, which many consider to be equal.Gipe takes us slowly through the mathematics, and shows us the important difference between power and energy.

Many unscrupulous advocates of so-called 'free' energy- solar and/or wind power have fooled more than a few technological neophytes by citing the high efficiency of such systems at converting the wind to power, er, ah, I mean energy.However, this is misleading for two reasons.First, power is not what we at home pay for; we pay for energy.Second, and most important, these knaves often cite efficiency at hub height, and not in terms of final output (which is what you really are paying for), when they 'sell' (more like hype) wind power.Granted there is lots of energy in the wind, but that is energy of motion, and that has to be ultimately converted into electrical energy to brew your coffee or run your toaster, and alas, the efficiency of such conversions is rather low, right around that for coal or petroleum fired electric power plants (and a bit below that of natural gas fired plants).

The book covers all the wind power basics, from estimating your wind resource (distribution of wind speeds for your particular site), to estimating your annual energy output with a given system, to costing the system and issues related to siting and installation.All in all, it is a very comprehensive book, complete with chapters devoted to each aspect of an individual wind energy system- rotor, transmission, tower, as well as issues dealing with interconnection to the utility and proper transformation of voltage for home use.

For me, the most important admission made in the book is the fact that no one can say exactly how much power (uh, energy!) the system will deliver.Because the wind is an intermittent resource, the amount of useful energy output depends to a great extent on the type of wind resource one has, namely the distribution of wind speeds throughout the year, and less on such things as the size of the rotor, the height of the tower and the efficiency of the entire system.In fact, because each system is unique in that it has a different rotor diameter, hub height and total system efficiency, one must estimate for each and every system under consideration the annual energy output.Failure to do so will mean overestimating the capability of your site and your wind energy system, and in turn, not getting all the energy you may require.As a result, knowing your site and its wind speed distribution (generally five years of data) is more important than the type of system you choose.

As a result, I have come to see wind energy systems for the home not as an enabling technology but as a limiting technology.This is the primary reason why investor owned and municipal utilities tend to use these systems as peak energy off-sets, and not as dedicated systems to meet fixed energy demands.Though Gipe does not say this in so many words, he does admit that the technology, while having many possible applications and lots of potential, also has a lot of fundamental limitations.

Mr. Gipe has written a few other books on the subject, some of them a bit more recent than this one.Still, this book makes for a good, clear and level-headed introduction to a much hyped technology.

Wind Power ... Gipe has presented a well organized picture
I have recently become interested in Wind Energy and the possibilities it presents for NY.With a finite supply coal/oil/ and other fossil fuels it is a matter of time before alternative forms of energy become costeffective.

Gipe was able to present an overview of Wind Energy.Heoffers mathematical equations for the energy produced, The differencebetween Energy and Power, and practical presentation of how, what, and whyWind is a viable source.

Chapters include: Measuring Wind, Estimatingoutput, Economics of the system, Towers, Interconnections with a Utility,Stand Alone, Water pumping, Installation, and Safety.

I would have likedto see more detail on placement added into the chapters but Gipe does giveyou other sources to look into.

Overall Gipe does an excellent job ofpresenting Wind energy in an understandable fashion.I would recommend anyinterested in venturing into wind energy would start with reading thisbook.I am reading it for a second time. ... Read more

Product Description

It is easy being green!

Teach Yourself Saving Energy in the Home offers you straightforward, achievable cost-cutting and energy saving strategies. It gives you various ways to save energy in the home, even if it's just a rented property, with practical advice on heating, hot and cold water, electricity and appliances, stand-by systems, lighting, cooling systems--even how to manage your teenager's use of energy. There are chapters on how to save energy in your garden and guidelines on how to generate your own power. The book will also offer practical suggestions for "responsible recreation," showing you how leisure interests can impact on the environment. It gives advice on green travel, including what make of car and which fuel to choose, and offers tips for saving energy in your workplace.

Product Description
This book is about how to operate devices and appliances in your home and how to drive your motor vehicle so you will save energy and therefore, also save money. Don't just guess at how much money you will save. Find out for sure. With simple but correct physics and easy mathematics, you will see how to calculate how much money you will save--not just once, but every year. This book explains how it's done, gives you specific money-saving techniques, and shows you just how much money you will save. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
The preeminent energy think tank in the United States, TheRocky Mountain Institute, estimates that $50 billion could be saved inthe U.S. each year using current materials and technology. HomemadeMoney is your guidebook to claiming your share of the savings! Ingreat detail, going so far as to give brand names, this book shows youhow to save energy on heating, cooling, appliances, and householdsystems. It also gives construction and remodeling techniques tomaximize energy savings. The book is organized to help readers sortthrough the huge number of choices and suggestions and set prioritieswithout being intimidated. Virtually anyone can implement enough ofthese strategies to save energy and money almost immediately. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Pick and choose your advice!
As with any book on making your home more efficient, a grain of salt must be held at the ready.Saving $50 a year may bea goldmine to some and may just be a private victory against oil corporations to others.Still, with all the info in this book, you'd have to be pretty wasteful to not recoup the purchase prise pretty quick!

Like the previous critic, I advise the ever-present grain of salt when reading anything that has yet to be proven scientifically. . . Like the wrapping of the water heater HAS. You WILL save energy and in turn money by doing so. So much to the point that the state of California now provides Water Heater Blankets with installation, free of charge, to anyone that wants one. Soon it will be a requirement.

Really well written- Some good advice, too!
Like the previous critic, I advise the ever-present grain of salt when reading anything that has yet to be proven scientifically. . . Like the wrapping of the water heater has.You WILL save energy and in turn moneyby doing so.So much to the point that the state of California nowprovides Water Heater Blankets with installation, free of charge, to anyonethat wants one.Soon it will be a requirement.

A highly cost-effective investment and reasonably practical.
The advice in this book spans the gamut-- everything from "First, go after holes a cat could crawl through." to triple-paned windows that take decades to pay for themselves. Whether you're looking to save a few quick bucks, or you approach conservation from an aesthetic, save-the-planet viewpoint, there is plenty here to keep you busy. Some of the advice is controversial (vapor barriers in attics) and some is bogus (wrapping your hot water heater, which is probably well insulated already), but the treatment of the subject appears thorough and reasonably practical. ... Read more

Product Description
Green living begins at home, and New Green Home Solutions tells you how. Most of the energy-derived pollution we produce comes as a direct result of our homes - how we heat them, how we cool them, how we keep them well-lit and full of things that make our lives so comfortable. The good news is that we have tremendous power to create change. Renewable energy design, better insulation and more efficient appliances could reduce energy demands by 60 to 80 percent. By embracing conservation and renewable energy, we can win our energy independence and help save the planet. 

Customer Reviews (3)

Handsome Book for Green Home Buyers
If you're like most people (especially those new or newish to ecohomes) you may wonder, if only subconsciously, that green homes have to be drab or boring looking. After all, healthy food doesn't taste as good as treats loaded with sugar and fat and safe cars tend to be boxy and unsexy. Well, New Green Home Solutions helps put the notion that green = dull to rest. It's filled with lots of high quality photos showing handsome ecofriendly homes. There is also advice among the photos, but you shouldn't buy this as a how-to book. But more for ideas: the big thesis being that you can create a house that feels as good to live in as it is good for the environment.

Renewable 101
This book is very easy to read and the pictures are outstanding.Many of the ideas presented in this book are viable and practical now especially with various incentives from the state and federal levels.I am personally planning for a PV system and greenhouse for vegetable gardening, and will check out the resources provided in the book.

A bright, appealing 'must' for any library serious about renewable resources
NEW GREEN HOME SOLUTIONS: RENEWABLE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING is a top pick for any library catering to either homeowners or architect/builders. It packs in 'green' ideas and solutions for both existing and new structures, with color photos supplementing ideas for solar space heating, wind power, passive heating and cooling systems, and more. A bright, appealing 'must' for any library serious about renewable resources.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Some valid, but very confusing
While some of the basic information in this book is valid, overall it is very confusing, very disorganized, rambling, and repetitious.The table of contents is of no help and there is no index, so trying to go back and find something is next to impossible. ... Read more

Product Description
ENERGY: USE LESS—SAVE MORE
THE CHELSEA GREEN GUIDES—A NEW SERIES OF POCKET-SIZED BOOKS TO HELP SAVE THE EARTH!
Did you know that lowering the temperature of your thermostat by a mere 2 degrees Fahrenheit could reduce your energy bill by 10 percent? Or that energy-efficient light bulbs last about 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs and consume one-fifth the energy? This is just the beginning of what you’ll learn in this handy book, containing more than one hundred ideas for saving energy. These tips will save you money, and help you take your first steps in the fight against global warming.Also available:
WATER: USE LESS—SAVE MORE
COMPOSTING: AN EASY HOUSEHOLD GUIDE
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: AN EASY HOUSEHOLD GUIDE ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Its tiny but it has a few good hints
I wouldn't spend $7 on a book so small (or $3 used) which can be read in less than an hour. However, contrary to the review above, it does have 100 tips. But, as stated, most of the tips are common knowledge such as putting jackets on water heaters, washing clothes in cold water, closing curtains at night, replacing energy hogging appliances, etc.

There are some good qualities to this book. It is a great starter guide to anyone who wants to delve in this subject deeper. Its pretty comprehensive in covering all areas of the house and offers simple tips anyone can follow versus other guides which are more about DIY projects. I never thought that cooking in the top rack of the oven was more efficient and was unaware how much energy our hair dryer used until I saw the list of appliances/kwh used.

The last chapter is pretty vague about the costs of alternative energy projects. It constantly repeats the line about tax breaks for solar, wind, etc. They never mention costs or specifics about such projects.

This might be worth checking out at your public library if you want a simple quick read. Its a good starter book into the world of energy efficiency.

would be great as a promotional pamphlet
I am a thrift conscious consumer, i.e. college student.I was looking for helpful ways to reduce my outrageous heating bill in the blistery north.I thought this would be a great book, it was cheap and promised 100 tips.I considered buying the other books in the series and I'm glad I didn't.

It's not that it was a bad book per se but it was not as insightful as I hoped.All the information in the book can be found on the internet, your local hardware store, or even given out by your utility provider.Needless to say I was disappointed to find that not only did I not learn anything new but all the information was available from many free sources. ... Read more

Product Description

Originally published in 1973,this book describes the medieval origins of the British education system, and the transformations successive historical events – such as the Reformation, the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution – have wrought on it. It examines the effect on the educational pattern of such major cultural upheavals as the Renaissance; it looks at the different parts played by church and state, and the influence of new social and educational philosophies.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

great book!
Even though this book is written for people looking to build or renovate a house, I think it would be a great book for anyone who is looking to simplify their life. There aren't a lot of pictures but the concepts in this book are well thought out and really make you stop and think. As a hippie at heart I am really enjoying this book =)

Do you want to be happy?
What this book is not -
It is not a book of low square foot home plans
It is not a book on how to build anything
It is not a book that tells you must live in a tiny little eco-pod or you are a bad person

Primarily it is a series of interviews of people who have chosen to live in less space, with less stuff, so that they can concentrate on what is most important to them; raising children, working fewer hours, dedicating their lives to a vocation, art or belief...

Through simple yet effective exercises it helps you to determine what strategies might work foryou to live in less space with fewer possessions, using less energy and creating a smaller ecological footprint.

It offers advice on building new, renovating old, or living in a completely non-traditional way - such as a tiny house on wheels or in a tipi.

If you read this book, and take any of it to heart, you will save money (by spending it on things that are actually important to you)and live better within your own means AND the means of the planet and your fellow humans. ... Read more

Product Description
Fixing up your home? Welcome to the place for all your Home Improvement and Repair needs.Here you will be able to purchase an ebook for $5 which will give you a vast knowledge for your needs. This ebook covers subjects like Decoration ideas and tips, how to transform your home at a small price, do it yourself basement waterproofing, carpet cleaningand repair tips, the list goes on and on. For any one who wants to improve or repair things at home and save alot ofmoney, this ebook is just the right thing. Now we're only charging $5 because quite frankly, we are living in tough economic times but that should'nt keep good people from living a good life. You will also find out how you can cut the cost of your energy bill and increase the value of your home. Want to change your mortgage or pay your home off in less than 10 years? Then you've come to the right place, this ebook is loaded with great information for the home owner.
... Read more

Product Description
Conventional wisdom assumes environmental initiatives and business interests have separate and mutually exclusive goals. Hence it is feared that environmental change requires regulation of business, paid for and maintained by tax dollars. Is there a better way to conserve energy that is cost effective and beneficial to all participants?Home Energy Tune-uP: Empowering Energy Savings Nationwide, answers this question by approaching energy conservation with market driven solutions. The idea is simple: homeowners should put their money where their house is by making homes more energy efficient and using the savings to pay for the improvements. Since 70 to 80 percent of the 6 to 7 million homes that are sold each year have a home inspection, and virtually everyone who buys a house makes some improvements, the opportunity to upgrade the energy technology of our aging housing stock is enormous.This publication starts by asking: what is a realistic goal for reducing the energy waste in existing homes using current technology? Is it affordable to homebuyers without a subsidy? It then explains the fundamentals of energyfrom how it is used - to how efficiency can be improved both by behavior changes and home improvements. This is followed by a detailed description of how an energy efficiency audit is conducted, what data are collected, what actionable information results, and how a homeowner can best implement the improvements. With numerous illustrations, informative tables, and a wealth of background information and reference material, this book makes the argument that energy efficiency improvements are the rational choice for all home-buyers and many home-owners. ... Read more