Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts

Keeping Warm in Hard Times: The Art of Saving Money on Home Heating Costs Review

Keeping Warm in Hard Times: The Art of Saving Money on Home Heating Costs
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Have you ever wished at times that you knew everything that someone who knows the home heating field knows? Here is all the inside information and knowledge that I have about how to keep your house warm for less. I wrote this book because I was unable to find a book like it. A book that is focused on saving on home heating costs, not on reducing your "carbon footprint" or just the little minor energy savings projects featured in other books. I also made it a point to correct the deficiencies I disliked in other books, like omitting key details like books on wood heating failing to discuss how to light a fire. Failure to recommend specific models or list a price or a web page for more information. I also include installation details so you know what it takes to install something, and I also cover how to operate it. While I do cover the many little things you can do to reduce drafts and improve the efficiency of your existing heating unit, in my book the main point is about the big things that you can do to greatly reduce your home heating costs. If you have been reading the news for the last few years, you already know that in the near future we can expect large increases in the cost of energy. The purpose of my book is to educate you about what options are available to heat your home for less, and what you can do now to dramatically reduce what it costs to keep your home warm. So when energy costs do go through the roof, you will still be able to afford to heat your home. Folks, as bad as things maybe at the moment, this is still the calm before the storm. Now is the time to get ready by remodelling your home so it is easier to heat and can be heated with cheaper fuels in more efficient heating units. I also strongly advise the wisdom of having more than one source of heat, so that you have a back up in case one fuel becomes too expensive to heat with or is unavailable. I also cover what to do in black outs and when you can't afford to pay the heating bills. Plus I have one chapter on air conditioning on how to reduce your AC electric bill or even how to be comfortable without AC.
If by the time you are reading this; energy costs have already exploded and you have no money to do much of anything with, I also cover things that you can do yourself without spending a lot and some heating tricks that don't cost a dime but can save you some money. While you would have been far better off to have taken corrective steps earlier, you can still make the best of it by doing what you can to reduce your heating costs. I discuss what you can do to improve your current heating system performance and what you can do to keep from freezing when you can not afford heat or don't have heat.


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How would you like to reduce your monthly heating bill by over 75 percent? Huge reductions in heating costs are possible for most homeowners. Learn how you can reduce your heating costs by reducing your home's heat loses, upgrading to a higher efficiency-heating unit and switching to a cheaper heating fuel.Learn what heating options are available today including geothermal heat pumps, outdoor wood boilers, coal, solar heating, wood pellets, corn, grass pellets, biofuels and others, and see how they stack up against each other in terms of installation costs and operating costs. Included are what to do when you cannot afford heat, when the furnace breaks, heating in blackouts, when the gas stops as well as how to save on air conditioning costs and how to super insulate your house. A do-it-yourself book about how you can retrofit your existing house into the energy efficient home of tomorrow. (20 chapters, 356 pages)

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Biofuels from Agricultural Wastes and Byproducts Review

Biofuels from Agricultural Wastes and Byproducts
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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

Logs, Wind and Sun: Handcraft Your Own Log Home ... Then Power It with Nature
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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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Who Owns the Sun: People, Politics, and the Struggle for a Solar Economy Review

Who Owns the Sun: People, Politics, and the Struggle for a Solar Economy
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"Who Owns the Sun?" is a densely packed, well written book with many surprising and practical revelations about where solar energy technology came from, how it has developed in the U.S. and where it presently stands. Drawing on the history of public vs. private power, the potentially crucial role of organized labor in the solar movement and the decisions being made by those who use energy primarily as a way to make money, Berman and O'Connor give a perceptive look into why our energy mix stands as it does today. By discussing the societal and environmental impacts of this mix we see renewable energy cast in a refreshing light. Gone is the euphoric notion of slapping some photovoltaics on your roof to solve the world's problems. Rather, by looking at the powers who control the energy supply and what they are doing to maintain that control into the future, we get a clear vision of the strategies that need to be considered by people concerned about the direction our world is going in. Cleaner less polluting options exist, but will these paths be followed by the same people who control the show right now? Probably not, and the authors give many lengthy examples as to why they feel this way. Ultimately, "Who Owns the Sun?" exposes much of the energy industry for what it really is, profit driven. By accepting this idea, the logic of the utilities and others controlling our energy fate becomes clear. And by acting on this logic we're able to begin stacking the deck in favor of consumer and environmental driven ideals.

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Alternative Energy Demystified Review

Alternative Energy Demystified
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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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Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits: 140 Simple Solutions to Lower Energy Costs, Increase Your Home's Efficiency, and Save the Environmen (Tab Green Guru Guides) Review

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits: 140 Simple Solutions to Lower Energy Costs, Increase Your Home's Efficiency, and Save the Environmen (Tab Green Guru Guides)
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I was really happy to find a book on doing an energy audit for my home. I picked up the book without truly scanning it as it promised to provide me with '140 simple solutions.' I also expected information how to detect energy leaks around the house. However I was very disappointed with the information.
The layout of the book is well done and will be helpful to someone with very little knowledge. Note that an audit is an exam where you look to find what is wrong. That is not really provided here, what is provided is what to do about problems. But even some of the 140 solutions are issues to me. Below are a couple of examples from the book:
#30 Turn off the water when brushing your teeth - To me this is common sense, not a home energy audit related task.
#70 Turn off lights when not in use - Once again...
#95 Replace your home clothes dryer - The author is very pro about getting new appliances since they use less energy and will save money. However, the save money is not always accurate if you have a relatively new appliance and a new one is very expensive.
Other information that is important to know is that at least 25 pages of the book focuses on CO2 induced global warming. The author makes it clear that if you have any thoughts that CO2 is not the sole cause of global warming, you are ignorant
The book does conclude strongly with some resources to get additional information, however overall from pictures that were taken from websites to a couple interesting format choices, the book does not feel like a full price purchase. Perhaps at a less than $10 rate this would be well worth it.

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Reduce your utility bill and your carbon footprint
This hands-on guide shows you how to access your home's energy efficiency, and offers 140 energy- and money-saving solutions you can use right away. Inside, you'll find simple, no- and low-cost measures to identify problems and increase your home's livability and efficiency--as well as your expendable income--each and every year.
Whether you're moving into a brand new home, buying an existing property, or improving your current residence, you'll find the practical tips and step-by-step projects inside Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits will dramatically reduce your energy usage and boost your savings in no time.
Discover how to:
Implement immediate no- and low-cost improvements for lighting, heating, electricity, insulation, water use, and more
Identify and modify the most costly appliances in your home
Reduce carbon emissions
Develop a personal energy plan
Determine how and when to contract your green renovation
Understand ratings, standards, and conversions
Fund your green home improvement projects and take advantage of grants, rebates, and tax incentives


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The Home Energy Diet: How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy-Smart (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series) Review

The Home Energy Diet: How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy-Smart (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series)
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This book is a clearly written guide to saving money on energy around the home while simultaneously achieving greater comfort levels. As summed up in the introduction, Scheckel argues that following his "Triple A" approach to home energy usage will make you healthier, happier and wealthier. This approach involves: Awareness of the ways your home uses and loses energy, Assessment of your home's energy requirements, and Action taken to reduce energy consumption to a minimum. Scheckel, a career energy efficiency auditor, writes from experience. Over the years, he has visited thousands of homes and businesses and learned from observation and interviews how we use and waste our energy. In this book, he explains where energy comes from and how advanced technologies can help us use less of it while creating a more comfortable home environment.
Topics discussed in the book include energy literacy, electricity as a means of transporting energy, electrical appliances, hot water, heating and air conditioning, insulation and windows, and purchasing new appliances. Appendices include forms for calculating total energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and home heat load, as well as a list of household appliances with average energy requirements. You don't need to be an electrical engineer or have a degree in physics to follow the text. Scheckel provides clear examples of energy calculations that anyone with a hand calculator should be able to follow. The only real math prerequisite that would be useful is an ability to read and interpret pie charts, since Scheckel relies on them extensively in his discussions of energy sources and usage.
In the text, Scheckel writes about a fictional family who has called him to do an energy audit. He writes that many families contact their electrical companies for audits because their bills are high so they figure there must be something wrong with the meter. He notes that faulty meters are very rarely to blame for high bills; instead, he provides a long list of energy-wasters that he commonly finds in people's homes. Some families are so aggravated by high electric bills that they want to go solar. Scheckel has to point out to these families that with their current energy usage, they would need gigantic solar systems that would be prohibitively expensive. If they truly want to go solar, they will probably need to cut energy usage down to 3-5 kilowatt hours per day (depending on their location) in order to be able to get by on a reasonably sized solar installation. This book provides plenty of ideas for approaching such a goal without compromising on quality of life. But even so, without subsidies, solar systems still won't make economic sense-unless energy prices happen to go a lot higher.
Seven years ago, our family electrical usage was averaging 20 kW hours per day. We've tried out many of the ideas Scheckel recommends in this book, and we're now down to 5-6 kW hours per day, but still not satisfied with our savings. We're going to implement a few more of Scheckel's suggestions to see if we can get down to 3 kW hours to day or better. We're also going to work with some of the other ideas that Scheckel provides for saving money through more efficient water heating, insulation, and windows.

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With rising energy costs, homeowners are beginning to examine the energy efficiency of their own homes, asking questions about where energy comes from and how much it costs, how to choose new appliances and what options exist for renewable energy.

The Home Energy Diet answers all these questions and more while helping readers take control of their personal energy use and costs so they can save money, live more comfortably and help the environment. Energy auditor Paul Scheckel first explores energy literacy, and then describes how your home uses—and loses—energy you pay for via:

Electricity Hot water Heating and air conditioning Windows, walls and insulation

The Home Energy Diet involves readers in learning about their own homes by: measuring, metering, investigating and considering habits related to household energy use; learning how to quantify energy consumption and cost and making informed decisions about cost-effective improvements and upgrades. The book explores the misunderstood concept of efficiency versus cost by comparing fuel costs and equipment choices, including the possibility of using renewable energy for meeting home energy needs. This authoritative guide makes efficiency fun through personal anecdotes and humorous "tales-from-the-basement" energy misadventures.

Since energy efficiency is an investment that offers returns greater than Wall Street, readers can earn several hundred dollars every year just by following the advice in this book. As a bonus, many of the energy-saving strategies described can make for improved indoor air quality and healthier, more comfortable homes.

Paul Scheckel is an energy auditor who has visited thousands of homes, educating people about energy efficiency, cost-effective improvements and indoor air quality. With a passion for efficiency and renewables, he walks the talk by living in a solar-powered house and driving a car powered by vegetable oil in his home state of Vermont.


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

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