Energy Saving Home Improvements from A to Z: Real Estate Investor, Homeowner, Home Buyer and Seller Survival Kit Series Review

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(More customer reviews)When my wife and I wanted to make a lot of repairs and upgrading to our home we read many books on the subject before starting the work or hiring contractors. This book was a great help since it contains a ton of expert advice, research, and information about the best ways to make repairs and improvements (both minor and major upgrading) in the most cost effective manner. The added bonus of the information in this book is that we learned how to reduce our utility consumption by about half! The topics show you how to make all the updating with energy efficiency in mind at no extra cost to do the work. That we a great bonus to the instructions. Some of the work opn our house were major updates and had to be done by professional builders and contractors. With what we learned from this book my wife and I were able to double check the estimates and work performed by the pro contractors to make sure they did everything the correct and most energy and cost efficient manner. We did detect some aspects of the job that we told the contractors to do differently from what we learned in the book(instead of them cutting corners to increase their own profits). All in all - great book and great choice for any home owner serious about make energy saving home improvements!

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Nemmar Real Estate Training is ranked as the most exclusive real estate appraiser, home inspector and real estate investor training service since 1988. Our real estate books, DVDs, CDs and Videos are rated number one in their real estate categories nationwide! Our products have taught thousands of home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals worldwide. You too can learn everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. With this knowledge you will save thousands of dollars when you buy, sell, or renovate your home. You will also learn how to eliminate safety hazards and properly maintain a home. Statistics show an average savings of at least $4,700.00 per home for customers who have read our books. Our home inspection, appraisal, and home improvement books have been called the "Bible" of the real estate industry. Written by Guy Cozzi who has decades of experience as a licensed appraiser, home inspector, consultant, and real estate investor. This top selling author has been quoted as a real estate expert by the New York Times and many other publications. He has been a guest speaker on real estate investment TV shows and has taught thousands of people how to inspect, appraise and invest in real estate and provides advice to many banks and mortgage lenders.Don't let your dream house be a Money Pit in disguise! Everything you need to know about energy saving home improvements from Asbestos to Zoning. "Don't buy, sell, or renovate your home without this!" Includes everything you need to know about making minor home improvements that increase the value of your home plus save energy and drastically reduce your utility bills from A to Z. You'll learn how to: - Reduce your energy bills by 50% or more.- Lower house maintenance and capital costs. - Decrease environmental impact - Dramatically enhance comfort and health for you and your family. - Anyone can benefit from this book: home buyers, home sellers, home builders, home renovators, home inspectors, appraisers, builders, contractors, and all real estate professionals. Every aspect of homes are covered: - Home Renovations and Additions - Appliances - Heating - Cooling - Heat Pumps - Fireplaces and Wood Heating - Water Heating - Water Savings - Insulation - Doors and Windows - Roofs - Lighting - Landscaping - Swimming Pools - Solar Energy - Everything under the sun and more! The real facts other books don't tell you! You'll learn how to lower your utility bills by 50%, live more comfortably, and help the environment. Home builders and contractors "cut corners" to maximize their own profits when doing home repairs and renovations. This is unquestionably the only book of its kind that teaches you how to prevent those pitfalls. You get information that the professionals use to make you an educated consumer enabling you to negotiate a much better price on the purchase, renovation, or sale of your home. Whether you are looking to become a home builder or contractor, or just to buy, sell or renovate your own home - this book has it all. Do you really know the true condition and energy efficiency of your home? Don't let your dream house be a money pit in disguise! This "A to Z Home Improvement" book will assist you with the biggest investment of your life - your own home. These products were originally designed to train top-notch, professional home inspectors, appraisers, investors, builders, contractors, and Realtors and are now available at a price affordable to everyone. All homes need to be inspected,appraised and updated for safety hazards, routine maintenance, and energy efficiency This book has many pages of photographs and illustrations covering every topic. The photos are detailed to show you what to look for when making energy saving home improvements. By identifying any problem conditions before you buy, sell, or renovate, you'll be able to save a lot of money. 288 pages with 8.5" x 11" dimensions. This book and the Real Estate from A to Z series are now being offered at a very large discount via the Internet compared to our normal professional training school prices. Key Benefits:- Crucial Advice to Assist You: This book tells you the truth, unlike others that gloss over the hard facts. Aspects of home improvement and real estate investment that tell you the realities so you don't walk into it with your eyes closed. This information will be invaluable to you in a home purchase, sale or ownership. - Safety Concerns: Eliminate safety hazards to make your home safe for you and your family. Help prevent accidents before they happen! Learn how to identify safety and health hazards around your own home. - In-Depth Home Improvement Topics: You'll learn every aspect of energy saving home improvements. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this book is easy to read and understand. Get all of the important information you need in just one book. Never buy, sell or renovate a home without this!

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Biofuels from Agricultural Wastes and Byproducts Review

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(More customer reviews)I have read many books and papers on bioenergy and related issues over the years, but not until I read this book have I discovered one that presented academic knowledge and "real world" knowledge together. There is enough technical information to satisfy the scientist, and enough non-technical information to satisfy the rest. An excellent read that stays on my desk at all times.

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Traditional agriculture and emerging biofuels technology produce a number of wastes and by-products, ranging from corn fiber and glycerin to animal manure, that have the potential to serve as the basis for additional sources of bioenergy that includes both liquid biofuels and biogas.
Biofuels from Agricultural Wastes and Byproducts is the first book to focus solely on the production of biofuels primarily from agricultural waste and by-products. The book is divided roughly into two sections. The first section looks at liquid biofuel production from agricultural byproducts, densification of agricultural residues, and the delivery from farm to processing plant of waste and byproducts for use in biofuel production. The second section focuses on anaerobic digestion of food and animal wastes, microbial diversity, molecular and biochemical aspects of methanogensis.
Together these sections solidify Biofuels from Agricultural Wastes and Byproducts as a definitive source of information on the use of agricultural waste and by-products in biofuel production.

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Logs, Wind and Sun: Handcraft Your Own Log Home ... Then Power It with Nature Review

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(More customer reviews)Logs, Wind and Sun is one of those rare books that is both packed with useful information and enjoyable to read. I only wish it had been available five years ago when my husband and I started drawing up plans for our own log home. We spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars trying to get utilities to our remote mountain building site. This book clearly lays out alternative power solutions that can give you the freedom to live with all the modern conveniences you need miles from the nearest power pole. The authors personal experience provides the framework for the book, but they have obviously done their homework, and all their recommendations are backed up by copious facts. The book is generously sprinkled with photos and illustrations that de-mystify and explain and personal stories that entertain and inspire. LaVonne's Verities and Rex's Maxims give you personal insights and quips. And the writing is several notches above most other how-to books, offering emotional insights into the process of building your own home, as well as the more expected practical fare. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who's ever dreamed about building a log home.

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Greening Your Home: Sustainable Options for Every System In Your House Review

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(More customer reviews)This book provides good information on choices available to those of us wanting to be less of a negative impact to our environment, starting with lifestyle changes as well as what we can do when furnishing, renovating, or building homes. The author recognizes that choices are important because everyone has different constraints and preferences, and what matters more is that individuals can make choices they can commit to.
The book is divided into three parts. Part One discusses building material substitutes that are environmentally friendlier than those they can replace. Part Two goes over technologies and devices that help enhance energy efficiency and improve water usage. Part Three suggests lifestyle changes that one can make to help eliminate waste, and government-sponsored programs that provide monetary assistance or incentives to individuals investing in energy-saving technologies or practices.
Each chapter explains how or why a material, device, or practice is superior to another in terms of environmental friendliness. In many -- but not all -- cases, relative cost comparisons are provided, and the discussion includes other potential tradeoffs so that readers are made aware of pluses and minuses. Almost all but two chapters end with a Resources Section that directs readers to other online information sources.
For me, a key take-away from this book is: Many of the choices that we make to contribute positively to the health of our environment not only make us healthier as well, but could also benefit us in other ways. For example, using energy-saving appliances can lead to net savings in time and money, as owners of front-loaded washing machines will tell you. So despite having minor shortcomings (some of which I've mentioned above), the book is, in my opinion, very well worth reading.

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Choose Green Systems That Conserve Resources While Matching Your Budget and Lifestyle

A vital conservation and money-saving tool, Greening Your Home provides helpful information that will help you select sustainable green options that match your specific needs for every system in your house. This "one-stop" guide provides the latest information on systems and materials that conserve resources for a cleaner, more energy-efficient home.
From the lively writing, with illustrations and examples, you will learn how to incorporate sustainability into your house in beautiful, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible ways. Both inspirational and practical, Greening Your Home features:
A wealth of green building and remodeling options for homeowners
Photographs and information on green products and systems and their advantages

Your Complete Guide to a Green, Energy-Efficient Home
Material Options: • Structural Insulated Panels • Low-VOC Paints • Replacement Windows • Green Certified Doors • Glass Block • Fly Ash Concrete • Bamboo and Cork Flooring • Plastic Plumbing Pipe • Red Cedar Siding • Recycled InsulationRecent Technology: • Power Consumption Monitors • Timers and Motion Sensors • Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures • On-demand Water Heaters • Radiant In-floor Heating • Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators • Whole-house Fans • Spray Foam Insulation • Induction Cooktops • Horizontal Axis Washers/DryersGreen Practices: • Reducing Your Carbon Footprint • Green Power • Saving Money Twice • Community-Supported Agriculture • Growing Your Own Food • Composting Biodegradables • Using Graywater • Making Your Own Cleaning Products • Reusing Containers • Xeriscaping

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Alternative Energy Demystified Review

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(More customer reviews)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.

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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.

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Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden)) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a good introduction to how the energy from the sun can be put to practical everyday use. If you don't like to read a lot of technical stuff, this book is for you. Quick, easy reading the non-technical average person. with references for more information. This book has practical projects for the person who already has some knowledge of solar energy as well. If you're looking for a really detailed technical book of how to design and install your own solar collector (electrical or water), better get a different book. My 5-star rating is for those who are beginners or those that have a little knowledge of solar energy.

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The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated edition
Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you're looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you!
This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you'll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible.
Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the home
New small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applications
Rik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firm

Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

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Solar Water Heating: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Despite Federal tax credits (up to 30% of the total cost, including installation) for solar water heating there's a lack of information on the subject.
For a handyman with good plumbing skills, or a homeowner wanting to learn about solar water heating, this is the best book available.
After a history of solar water heating in the US, the book describes various systems that use the sun to heat and store water. Climate, freeze conditions, water quality and amount of sunlight available are some of the factors considered in choosing a system, and the book describes them all. Individual components are detailed in a logical, straightforward way. It's obvious the authors have extensive practical knowledge. The writing style is informal and easy to read.
Besides all the solar water heating information, this book also has a good section on radiant floor heating, detailing the use of PEX tubing to heat a concrete slab.
The book uses a lot of drawings to demonstrate how things work. More actual photographs of systems and components would have been helpful. I also wish the authors would have included brand names and sources for equipment. The industry still suffers from the stigma of poorly designed systems of the 1970's and 80's. Some reassurances from the authors regarding which component manufacturers are good would have been nice.
For the past five years, I've lived with a solar water heating system I bought as a package and installed myself. I've been happy with all the "free" hot water it's provided. If this book had been available when planning my system I would have had a much better idea of what I was doing. Having all the components matched and sized with specific instructions gave me a lot of confidence during installation. In my opinion, for the neophyte, a component package is a good way to go.
For anyone planning a residential sized solar water heating system, this is the best book available. It's an excellent guide, whether you decide to choose the individual components yourself, buy a package, or hire a contractor to install a turnkey system.
If you're a contractor or someone wanting to get into the solar water heating business, "Solar Hot Water Systems - Lessons Learned 1977 to Today" (Tom Lane) is very good, but the amount of technical detail implies you already have a good working knowledge of plumbing and roofing. [...]
Good luck getting into hot water!

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Heating water with the sun is almost as old as humankind itself, and it is done all over the world. Yet there are strangely few resources on the topic in North America.

Solar Water Heating fills this gap. It reviews the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, then presents the basics of solar water heating, including an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation and energy economics. Drawing on the author's experience as an installer of these systems, the book goes on to cover:

Types of solar collectors, solar water and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages
System components, their installation, operation, and maintenance
System sizing and siting
Choosing the appropriate system.

Since people often get turned off by the up-front cost, the book focuses especially on the financial aspects of solar water or space heating systems, clearly showing that such systems can save significant costs in the long run. Well-illustrated, the book is designed for a wide readership from the curious to the student or professional.

Bob Ramlow is the solar thermal consultant for the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program. The owner of a renewable energy company, he has over 30 years experience with solar energy systems and is a founder and director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). Benjamin Nusz currently works as a solar water heating consultant and site assessor in Wisconsin.

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