Product Description
Energy in Nature and Society is a systematic and exhaustive analysis of all the major energy sources, storages, flows, and conversions that have shaped the evolution of the biosphere and civilization. Vaclav Smil uses fundamental unifying metrics (most notably for power density and energy intensity) to provide an integrated framework for analyzing all segments of energetics (the study of energy flows and their transformations). The book explores not only planetary energetics (such as solar radiation and geomorphic processes) and bioenergetics (photosynthesis, for example) but also human energetics (such as metabolism and thermoregulation), tracing them from hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies through modern-day industrial civilization. Included are chapters on heterotrophic conversions, traditional agriculture, preindustrial complexification, fossil fuels, fossil-fueled civilization, the energetics of food, and the implications of energetics for the environment. The book concludes with an examination of general patterns, trends, and socioeconomic considerations of energy use today, looking at correlations between energy and value, energy and the economy, energy and quality of life, and energy futures.

Throughout the book, Smil chooses to emphasize the complexities and peculiarities of the real world, and the counterintuitive outcomes of many of its processes, over abstract models. Energy in Nature and Society provides a unique, comprehensive, single-volume analysis and reference source on all important energy matters, from natural to industrial energy flows, from fuels to food, from the Earth's formation to possible energy futures, and can serve as a text for courses in energy studies, global ecology, earth systems science, biology, and chemistry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent service and the product
I am very happy with your very effecient and quick service which will be highly recommendable to all the customer incase if you are ready to choose it. Service offered by your company is beyond expectation and there will be no regret incase if you go for it. So, don't hesitate at all!!!!I am rating it as five star.

Essential Encyclopedia
I bought the book "blind", since MIT Press have not enabled "Look Inside".If you are in two minds about the book, here is the Table of Contents to help you make up your mind:

1. The Universal Link: Energetics, Energy, and Power
1.1 Evolution of Energetics: From Aristotle to Einstein
1.2 Approaches to Understanding: Concepts, Variables, Units

2. Planetary Energetics: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere
2.1 Sun: The Star and Its Radiation
2.2 Energy Balance of the Earth: Radiation Fluxes
2.3 Hydrophere and Atmosphere: thermal and Mass Fluxes
2.4 Water and Air in Motion: Kinetic Fluxes
2.5 Geoenergetics: Heat, Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes, Earthquakes

3. Photosynthesis: Bioenergetics of Primary Production
3.1 Photosynthetic Pathways
3.2 Global Primary Productivity
3.3 Productivities of Ecosystems and Plants
3.4 Phytomass Stores
3.5 Autotrophic Scaling

4. Heterotrophic Conversions: Consumer Bioenergetics
4.1 Metabolic Capacities
4.2 Ectotherms and Endotherms
4.3 Locomotion
4.4 Biomasses and Productivities
4.5 Heterotrophs in Ecosystems

5. Human Energetics: People as Simple Heterotrophs
5.1 Energy Sources and Basal Metabolism
5.2 Requirements and Uncertainties
5.3 Thermoregulation
5.4 Limits of Human Performance
5.5 Gathering, Hunting, and Fishing

6. Traditional Food Production: Humans as Solar Farmers
6.1 Extensive Practices
6.2 Permanent Cropping
6.3 Muscles, Implements, Machines
6.4 Cropping Intensification
6.5 Traditional Agricultures

7. Preindustrial Complexification: Prime Movers and Fuels in Traditional Societies
7.1 Animal Power: Human and Animal Muscles
7.2 Water and Wind: Wheels and Mills
7.3 Phytomass Fuels and Metallurgy: Wood, Charcoal, Crop Residues
7.4 Construction: Methods and Structures
7.5 Transportation: Roads and Ships

8. Fossil Fuels: Heat, Light, and Prime Movers
8.1 Coals: The Earliest Modern Fuels
8.2 Hydrocarbons: Crude Oils and Natural Gases
8.3 From Extraction to Combustion: Modern Fossil Fuel Industries
8.4 Mechanical Prime Movers: Engines and Turbines
8.5 Fossil-Fueled Electricity: Generation and Transmission

9. Fossil-Fueled Civilization: Patterns and Trends
9.1 Fuels and Fossil-Fueled Electricity: Energy Production and Trade
9.2 Nonfossil Contributions: Biomass and Primary Electricity
9.3 Global Consumption Patterns: Growth and Inequality
9.4 Qualitative Changes: Transitions and Efficiencies
9.5 Energy Conservation: Gains and Rebounds

10. Energy Costs: Valuations and Changes
10.1 Energy Cost of Energy: Net Gains
10.2 Basic Materials: from Concrete to Fertilizers
10.3 Structures and Products: From Buildings to Computers
10.4 Crops and Animal Foods: Subsidized Diets
10.5 Modern Food System: Gains, Costs, Efficiencies

11. Environmental Consequences: Metabolism of Fossil-Fueled Civilization
11.1 Power Densities: Energy and Land
11.2 Energy Conversions and Heat Rejection
11.3 Energy and Water
11.4 Energy and the Atmosphere
11.5 Interference in Grand Biospheric Cycles

12 Energetic Correlates: Complexities of High-Energy Civilization
12.1 Energy and the Economy
12.2 Energy and Value
12.3 Energy and the Quality of Life
12.4 Energy and War
12.5 Energy and the Future

13. Grand Patterns: Energetic and Other Essentials
13.1 Energy in the Biosphere
13.2 Energy and Civilization
13.3 The Challenges Ahead

Appendix: Tables of...
SI Units, multiple prefixes (kilo, giga, etc), common energy conversions, energy content of fuels, energy content of foodstuffs, energy flows:31 orders of magnitude, power of continuous phenomena,, power of ephemeral phenomena, efficiencies of common energy conversions, typical energy cost of common materials, global harvests, energy subsidies, and population densities, 1900-2000, table of natural, personal, and energy related risks, population and primary energy 1500-2005, Global Reserves, Resources, and Fluxes of Energies.

Selected Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

Name Index

Subject Index


Now, my review. How much energy does the Earth receive from the Sun every day?Why are humans able to live in environments ranging from very cold to very hot - a wider range than any other mammal? Could we run our civilization on biofuels, wind power, solar, or geothermal energy? Does extracting uranium from seawater to generate electricity cost more energy than it supplies? How much improvement can we expect in crop yields from genetic engineering? How efficient are compact fluorescent lamps versus incandescent bulbs or the new white LEDs? What was special about James Watt's steam engine?

Professor Smil has made a thorough and wide-ranging survey of the knowledge we have accumulated about energy flows on the grand scale. Inside the book you can find the answers to some of these questions. But, more importantly, in this book you can find enough about the processes involved to be able to assess other people's answers. The book gives you the building blocks to create your own knowledge.

On the negative side, tne book is marred by hundreds of small typos, and grammatical and formatting errors, for example "photovaltaic", "the France", "01.6".Sometimes the mistakes change the sense of what is being said: 1.6MJ per molecule is a whole different kind of energy to 1.6 MJ per mole - 6.02x10²³ molecules. Some diagrams have incorrect units - for example, in fig 3.11 a and b, the horizontal scales are log of body mass, and the vertical scales are log of growth rate and body length respectively. Once or twice, the text and diagrams appear to conflict.These are relatively minor irritations, though.

The book could be improved by including sub-headings or marginal notes when there is a change of topic within a section. For example, section 4.3, Locomotion, compares swimming, flying, and running, and then discusses some details of each in turn. So it has four sub-sections.However, there is no marker in the text to indicate the change of sub-topic. The whole section is just an undifferentiated mass of text, equations, and diagrams.

Never mind. I am satisfied with the book as it is, and I am sure I will be referring to it many times in the coming years.

Cogent analysis by a keen mind
A scholarly work relatively free of advocacy, except for advocating sticking to the facts.You will find more pages meticulously diagnosing the history of the energetics of agriculture, transportation and steel making than you will pages forecasting what future energy trends will be, or should be. The author reviews the history of some of these forecast attempts.Here is a sample from page 358:"Reasons for the large number of wrong forecasts can be found in the herdlike behavior of forecasters smitten by prevailing moods"."The U.S. Atomic Energy commission's 1974 forecast had 260 GW installed in the United States by 1985, and 1.2 TW in 2000. The actual 2000 number was 81.5 GW, and there were no clear prospects for fusion.""The same adjectives used to extol nuclear generation - inexhaustible, cheap, nonpolluting - reappeared in glowing descriptions of renewable energetics published during the 1970s as the advocates of small-scale, decentralized energy production promised a new, morally superior millennium devoid of nuclear and fossil fuel sins." And on page 362: "...by the year 2000...new renewables contributed just 3.2 EJ, only one-tenth of Lovins's forecast."

The author wants to avoid falling intoLovins's and the AEC's trap.Nevertheless,scientifically sound constraints on future activity are offered without hesitation, for example: the potential for hydroelectric development, the limits of photosynthesis and geothermal fluxes.But on page 384, the author perhaps becomes polemical: "The ultimate makeup of a new global energy system that may dominate in the second half of the twenty-first century will not resemble currently fashionable scenarios."Notice the choice of words: "will not" rather than "may not".Later on page 382: "I strongly believe that the key to managing future global energy needs is to break with the current expectation of unrestrained energy use in affluent societies." Whose expectation?I live in an affluent society and my energy use is not unrestrained and I don't expect it to be.I presume the sentence applies to other guys, who need tobe broken.

Well, let's not nitpick over that sentence.There is no scientific principle more productive than the principle of conservation of energy (my advocacy).There is no analysis of "how stuff works" with greater predictive power than that provided by a monitoring of the energy conversions.This book is a masterpiece by a honest scientist with enormous skill in organizing knowledge of energy.

See MIT Press for a detailed preview inside the book.
... Read more

Product Description

It is widely assumed that our consumer society can move from using fossil fuels to using renewable energy sources while maintaining the high levels of energy use to which we have become accustomed. This book details the reasons why this almost unquestioned assumption is seriously mistaken. It challenges fundamental assumptions and stimulates the discussion about our common future in a way that will be of interest to professionals and lay-readers alike.

Product Description
The 2006 International Energy Conservation Code encourages energy conservation through efficiency in envelope design, mechanical systems, lighting systems and the use of new materials and techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of Intl. Energy Conservation Code
This book was in excellent condition, and was very helpful in a professional exam that I had to take. ... Read more

Product Description
This book focuses on energy needs, trends, and long-term prospects and resource supplies.It discusses the physics of energy, atoms, nuclei, thermal energy, solar energy, alternative energy, and the consequences of energy production.For physicists, geologists, and geographers, or anyone who wants a better understanding of the production, consumption, and conservation of energy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Comprehensive, but hampered by production quality issues
I have just received the text (3rd Edition) and have read only a little so far, but my first impressions include:

Positives:

1) The text includes extensive coverage of many aspects of energy.The author has included numerous external references, with much of the data current to 2003-2004.A good index is also provided.

2) I like the structure of the text, particular the grouping of the chapters by resource type.I would suggest, however, that Part 5 on Fossil Fuels should be further structured by type of fossil fuel (coal, conventional oil, unconventional oil, natural gas).Chapter 12 contains a little of this structure, but with only a few pages on each type, it really can't do justice to any of them.

3) A companion website offers much more detailed discussions of select issues that are identified in the text.Unlike many textbook websites, this one is helpful and easy to navigate.It's almost like getting a second book for the price of one.

4) End of chapter summaries and problems and questions are a good practice for an introductory text.Some of the questions, however, are very involved or sketchily framed in a way that would seem to lead to very long digressions to explain/discuss/calculate the point.This leads me to think that, in practice, most of the questions and problems would not be used for a typical survey course.

Negatives:

1) The text suffers because of poor production quality.My biggest complaint is the quality of the figures.The black and white graphs are generally satisfactory (although there is smudging on some), but the reproduction of photographs is inadequate for almost any application.They are all black/white, which would be OK if they were of sufficient resolution, but they are fuzzy and grainy, and in some cases it is hard to see what they are showing.The captions are usually too short to provide the reader with an understanding of what is being illustrated by the photo.Also, the "Closer Look" and "Case Study" boxes appear as thought they are made from third generation photocopies, with an irregular, blotchy appearance.I think this kind of sloppy appearance may lead readers, however unfairly, to downgrade the quality of the information presented.Frankly, the book deserves better.

2) The other part of this text that I haven't gotten used to yet is the generally chummy writing style used by the author, including a lot of name-dropping and colloquialisms.While this can be effective in small doses, I can well imagine it will become grating by the time you reach the end of Chapter 26 on page 571.It also doesn't match a "just the facts" approach that I believe is more appropriate to a science text.As an example, I think the title "Tocsin" used for the final chapter 26 is overly dramatic.I understand the desire of the author to summarize the context for the book, raise awareness, and stir readers out of their complacency, but I believe it leads to some arm-waving editorializing that imputes motive without providing a technical basis for the assertion.

All in all, I think the text will be a useful place to look for a lot of information and uses many good practices.The text is probably too extensive to be covered effectively in a single semester course, particularly taking into account the detailed analyses presented on the companion webbiste.The text is, however, structured in such a way as to allow the instructor to use the sections that would fit without losing the thread of the text.The biggest issue, however, is that the text would benefit from a more professional editing/production job.I look forward to the 4th edition to see if they can address some of these shortcomings.

Not as described
This item said that it was in like new condition with no writing in it but on the very first pages there are stamps and the book looks like its been used a lot. This wouldn't have bothered me too much but the fact that it's in black and white does, especially since it's a science book with lots of colored charts and graphs that I'll need IN COLOR. It did not say that it was in black and white in the description anywhere.

Very modern energy-environment book with lots of information
A modern approach to energy and its relationship with the environment. It has a great amount of information on the main subject and also on related topics. It can be used as a textbook, but it also proves useful for theenergy professional. Fun to read.

This is potentially a great book, but it needs work.
I used this book to teach a class on Energy Resources one year ago.I liked its completeness, and the fact that he used original scientific literature as references.However, many of the problems were undoable withthe information given.This was true even in the first chapter and itfrustrated the students.The book was also too long for a 1 semestercourse.

This is potentially a great book, but it needs work.
I used this book to teach a class on Energy Resources one year ago.I liked its completeness, and the fact that he used original scientific literature as references.However, many of the problems were undoable withthe information given.This was true even in the first chapter and itfrustrated the students.The book was also too long for a 1 semestercourse. ... Read more

Product Description
This pocket reference book provides a wealth of practical information at your fingertips, whenever you need it. Rich in background detail, at-a-glance tables and diagrams, equations, and more, the Passive Solar Architecture Pocket Reference is a handy resource for architects, engineers and students.

Coverage includes:
• Definitions
• Load determinants and Responses (including world wide biomes and climates, building metabolism and response, thermal sources and sinks, passive building responses to sources and sinks, tuning the building to the environment, optimizing insulation & thermal mass for comfort)
• Contextual Aspects (including microclimate and siting, temperatures, humidity, wind, radiation and comfort parameters)
• Passive Components (including building envelope, passive solar terminology, orientation, apertures and glazing, thermal storage, thermal control and materials
• Design Tools (including sun path diagrams, sun peg diagrams, air flow relationships, thermal modelling and life cycle design)
• Specific Functions (including passive heating, passive cooling and ventilation, natural lighting, passive water heating, resource collection and Integrated design) ... Read more

Product Description
The 2003 International Energy Conservation Code is designed to provide up-to-date energy conservation provisions for residential and commercial buildings.It addresses building envelope requirements for thermal performance and air leakage, as well as the installation of energy efficient mechanical, lighting, and power systems.The model code regulations found in this book help result in the optimal utilization of fossil fuel and nondepletable resources in all communities.Prescriptive- and performance-based approaches to energy efficient design are emphasized.The 2003 edition is fully compatible with all the International Codes published by the International Code Council (ICC). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Still have never received this order
We corresponded with the seller and was put off constantly.We received all of our the other products ordered at the same time earlier than expected but this product never arrived and then a snide remark was made when we asked for a refund. ... Read more

Book Description
For multi-user PDF licensing, please contact customer service.


Energy touches our lives in countless ways and its costs are felt when we fill up at the gas pump, pay our home heating bills, and keep businesses both large and small running. There are long-term costs as well: to the environment, as natural resources are depleted and pollution contributes to global climate change, and to national security and independence, as many of the world's current energy sources are increasingly concentrated in geopolitically unstable regions. The country's challenge is to develop an energy portfolio that addresses these concerns while still providing sufficient, affordable energy reserves for the nation.
The United States has enormous resources to put behind solutions to this energy challenge; the dilemma is to identify which solutions are the right ones. Before deciding which energy technologies to develop, and on what timeline, we need to understand them better.
America's Energy Future analyzes the potential of a wide range of technologies for generation, distribution, and conservation of energy. This book considers technologies to increase energy efficiency, coal-fired power generation, nuclear power, renewable energy, oil and natural gas, and alternative transportation fuels. It offers a detailed assessment of the associated impacts and projected costs of implementing each technology and categorizes them into three time frames for implementation.
... Read more

Product Description

Winning Our Energy Independence shares energy solutions from S. David Freeman, a man who has spent his life at the forefront of energy policy.

Customer Reviews (15)

Pragmatic solution from an experienced energy executive
Winning Our Energy Independence: An Energy Insider Shows How by S. David Freeman is an excellent book by an expert. It is an apolitical pragmatic argument for how and why the USA should change our energy use from fossil fuels to renewables. Freeman spent decades rescuing power companies and improving their efficiency. If the guy called in to save failing power companies says making them greener saves them, we should probably listen. Freeman certainly has more accurate and thorough knowledge than the people claiming we can't afford to move to renewable energy. He provides a good critique of the distorted system that has led to current inefficiencies.

"... efficiency and renewables are cheaper even on the misleading pricing system we use. If we consider--and we must--the health costs of air pollution, the proliferation and radiation risks of nuclear, and the health and global warming costs of coal, it is a no-brainer."

Now that sustainable energy is economical--but still little used--Freeman proposes using subsidies to jump-start their implementation. He proposes a workable solution that will make the world a better place as well as saving money over the long term. I agree with Freeman's assessment of the situation and the end results of his proposed solution. I don't like all the details of his proposed solution, but it is probably more likely to happen than my preferred answer of removing the existing subsides to dirty power. The existing subsidies probably won't be removed, so this is a more pragmatic, less idealistic solution.

In addition to the solution provided, I like that Freeman provides some numbers to go with statements I have heard from other sources. For example, an interisting statistic that I hadn't seen anyone put a number with is that compared to the average car, a plug-in hybrid emits 1/4 the CO2. And that is when powered by coal generated electricity. The number goes down with cleaner power plants. This is in addition to the gasoline saved, "If everyone drove an HEV 60, it would cut gasoline consumption by over 70 percent."

This is an excellent book that debunks all the arguments against moving to sustainable energy. I wonder if Freeman puts too much emphasis on hydrogen for storage, but over all his solution is reasonable. I spent far more time searching for original sources and checking his math than I did reading the book. If I hadn't, this would have been a quick read. I would have preferred better footnotes, but the format used is appropriate for the intended audience. Winning Our Energy Independence makes my short list of books that everyone should read. As Freeman says, "There can be no more urgent task for humanity than to find, as rapidly as possible, alternatives to burning the limited fossil fuels on Earth." I hope it is effective enough that I am able to move it from this list to a list of books that are interesting for their historic impact.

Typical Leftist Fascist Solution and False Science.
When I browsed this book in the bookstore, I had a feeling that it would end being a Leftist Fascist diatribe.I was correct.

It emphasized technologies like solar, wind, and hydrogen which are and will be costly and inefficient for years to come.At the same time, it demonized solutions like coal and nuclear and deemphasized biofuels.

It also promoted overregulation and pie in the sky mandates that will hurt rather than help the solution.This is the typical shortsightedness of the Fascist Left.

Finally, it seems that the author thinks if you repeat the same false arguments in every chapter, it will become eventually become true.Sorry, but that is not the case.

I will keep this book, but only until I need kindling for my fireplace.

Perfect for debates and discussion.
Author David Freeman has some thirty years of clean energy pioneering and a business knowledge which applies this knowledge to objectives of profit in the renewable energy realm. His focus on the potentials of renewable resources challenges the U.S. and the world to recreate its energy grid through independent national homegrown, carbon-free renewable energy sources. A dream? Freeman explains how the reality can be now in a survey perfect for general-interest lending libraries and specialty college-level holdings alike. Perfect for debates and discussion.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

An Inspring Overview of our Clean Energy Future
This is a terrific book for anyone who is interested in understanding why a clean energy future is not only possible, it is inevitable. We don't need oil, coal, and nuclear. We can get all the energy we need from the sun, the wind, and other limitless renewable sources. Dave Freeman has been an energy executive for nearly six decades. You can take what he says in his book to the bank. A very worthwhile read.

Speaking Truth to Power
"The United States has a lot to learn from the rest of the world."

Bold and true.No one convinced Freeman it is polite to lie in order for America appear good.No one convinced Freeman it is for Americans to drive SUVs everywhere just because they need to express freedom.One can express freedom by farting out loud in a cafeteria, but I wouldn't be proud if I did it.I would be embarrassed.No one convinced Freeman that by holding onto your arrogance and downright stupidity that one shows a measure of authority necessary to keep the world in line.No one convinced Freeman it is necessary for troops to die in Iraq so that their deaths would not be in futility, and that this simpleton logic deserves no further exploration.Freeman is not convinced that America is not above learning.Freeman thinks America will actually benefit from learning.If one is so smart to be beyond all help then don't bother reading this book.

In the last three years there have been many books on the subject of energy independence, and while there is some agreement there are also distinctions.Freeman's positions are pro-Hydrogen, pro-Lithium, and anti-nuclear.Freeman will admit that Hydrogen fuel cells need work, but believes that work here will be worth the effort.I'm not sure how hydrogen fuel cells will work in a place like Phoenix if there are 2 million cars on the road giving off water vapor when it is 120 degrees in the shade.Water vapor emissions will cause an increase in humidity and also increases temperature as it is a strong greenhouse gas until it precipitates.Hydrogen is not ready for the market.Hydrogen needs a good deal of work to make it inexpensive for manufacture and available to the public.

While I like Richardson's plan, I welcome discussion of Freeman as it has become well beyond time to get on with a new energy plan for America.Let's stop taking down the solar panels from the White House and do something right for a change. ... Read more

Product Description

Extend Your Energy Management Capabilities

Managing energy usage via a company network allows you to create an energy management program that can be scaled company-wide, and this unique book shows you just how to do it. Through step-by-step instruction and real-world case studies drawn from the expert author team's own experience at Cisco, this book lays out an IP-based energy management strategy to optimize resources, dramatically increase energy savings, and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

How do you establish energy management across multiple functions, such as compute, network, and storage while preparing for building infrastructure convergence? How do you set up energy domains on a network? How do you bring this all together into one unified energy program—then deploy it, manage it, and measure results? Find the answers in this timely guide.

• Consider energy in terms of risk, cost, and resource management

• Gather raw data on where your company is now and set up benchmarking

• Create strategies across multiple stakeholders and goals, including facilities, IT, security, and sustainability

• Establish and administer energy domains

• Review the basics of energy accounting, measure results, and set up reporting

• See how to make your program sustainable and prepare for the future

Customer Reviews (1)

Nicely Done!
This is a very nicely done book really taking a practical look at how energy is used on your network. This is the first "benchmarking" book for energy worth a crap that I have read. Most of the "green" fluff out there today is loaded down with market so vendors can push their wares on your network. Hey, we all have mortgages to pay right? But come on man! I just read about energy efficient paper shredders that save you thousands a year...and it had the math to prove it! Here is the part and the question that is not being anaswered; "Where do those numbers come from and why?" As an engineer, I need a nice reference to level the playing field and bring everyone to the table. This book has successfully done just that.

I have interviewed Rob and John numerous times in the past for TechWiseTV and I have always been impressed with their honest desire to conserve energy and build the best network possible now matter who's gear you use. They took that same passion, common sense and applied it to this book. If you are burnt out on read "greening" pdfs from every vendor under the Sun and just want a honest and solid method for understanding the problem, designing a solution and being able to honestly report your before and after results, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend this to all networking geeks out there! ... Read more

Product Description

Now that the Energy Certificate for Buildings has been introduced throughout the European Union, we can expect to see a sharp rise in the number of building renovations.

Product Description

The impact of energy on global security and economy is clear and profound, and this is why in recent years energy security has become a source of concern to most countries. However, energy security means different things to different countries based on their geographic location, their endowment of resources their strategic and economic conditions. In this book, Gal Luft and Anne Korin with the help of twenty leading experts provide an overview of the world's energy system and its vulnerabilities that underlay growing concern over energy security. It hosts a debate about the feasibility of resource conflicts and covers issues such as the threat of terrorism to the global energy system, maritime security, the role of multinationals and non-state actors in energy security, the pathways to energy security through diversification of sources and the development of alternative energy sources. It delves into the various approaches selected producers, consumers and transit states have toward energy security and examines the domestic and foreign policy tradeoffs required to ensure safe and affordable energy supply. The explains the various pathways to energy security and the tradeoffs among them and demonstrates how all these factors can be integrated in a larger foreign and domestic policy framework. It also explores the future of nuclear power, the complex relations between energy security and environmental concerns and the role for decentralized energy as a way to enhance energy security.

Customer Reviews (1)

This should be a part of any college-level military or social issues collection
Energy Security Challenges for the 21st Century: A Reference Library offers a fine, timely book for any interested in energy and security connections. The best field experts join forces to consider the role of energy in modern life in countries around the world - and how these nations achieve energy security. 20 leading experts review the world's energy systems and vulnerabilities in a fine debate about resource conflicts, control and preservation. This should be a part of any college-level military or social issues collection.
... Read more

Product 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 (4)

Purchased for Class
Well I bought this for a class, and I'm happy I bought the kindle version, however following page numbers during a lecture can be somewhat difficult. I've not read much word for word, but the overall information is mostly accurate according to my professors and what research I've used during class along with the book. A good basic reference for anyone wanting to learn a little about various alternative energy applications. It starts with wood, coal, pellet, etc. stoves, and gets into more technical things later.

Simple, generalised overview, but erroneous in places
This book provides a simplified, generalised overview of options that are available for energy generation, from small scale (household size) to large scale options (only available in theory).
I found the structure of the book a little strange, mixing options for electricity generation in with options for heating a house, and mixing a discussion of energy transmission in with electricity generation later in the book. There were a couple of errors also, for example showing a diagram of an Australian single phase outlet labelled as a 3 phase outlet.
I think this book would be ok as an introduction to different options for generating energy but if you're looking for something to research a project then look elsewhere.

Not What You Might Expect
As a member of a family that has lived off-grid for the better part of three years -- heating with wood full-time, using a solar/wind/generator combination to provide for our electrical needs -- I'm always keenly interested in titles that promise insight into the world of alternative energy. With a title like Alternative Energy Demystified one might expect to encounter an ecologically oriented volume that praises the benefits of existing and groundbreaking alternative energy sources. Based upon that premise, a reader would be bound for disappointment.

Alternative Energy Demystified could perhaps better have been titled Energy Demystified as it covers all methods of heating, propulsion, and electricity generation. Designed as a self-study manual with end of chapter open book quizzes, and a closed book final exam, the concise, objective entries of an incredible range of technologies, and comprehensive index also lends itself to use as a reference work.

From the traditional and widely used oil and gas through to the rarefied and exotic magnetic levitation and ion rockets, there's a little bit of everything here. The standard alternative energy giants -- wind, solar, biofuels, geothermal etc. -- are also included, but are given no more emphasis than any of the other technologies discussed. Each technology or method of delivery is given a two or three page description along with any requisite mathematical formulas and conversions necessary to understanding the topic being discussed.

Being more practically oriented, and usually looking for practical hands-on details to implement on our own homestead, this title doesn't exactly fit the bill for us. There are no in-depth discussions, no installation details included, nor suggestions for specific set-ups. There are basic, generalized diagrams that provide some sense of how a real-life system might operate are included for every method discussed.

Author Stan Gibilisco is rather conservative in his writing, playing it safe as it were. For example, in the section concerning heating with wood stoves he recommends that anyone operating a wood stove wear fireproof clothing and protective gear at all times. Living in central Alberta where the mercury dips dangerously often has us filling the stove every two hours. To any experienced wood stove users, this suggestion sounds pretty silly.

Still, anyone looking to bone up on some of the basic details of various energy sources will be well served by Gibilisco's work. Perhaps you're just curious, or are in the initial stages of evaluating which energy sources will best fit your needs in a specific situation, in that case Alternative Energy Demystified might have the information you need to start down the road of deeper research. On the other hand, if you're a general interest reader, you'll certainly be able to impress your acquaintances with a broad, diverse understanding of the energy sources available today.

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

Product Description

This book presents the physical and technical principles of promising ways of utilising renewable energies. In this context, firstly the main characteristics of the available renewable energy streams are outlined. Subsequently, the book presents the technologies of heat provision from passive and active solar systems, ambient air, shallow geothermal energy as well as energy from deep geothermal sources. In the preceding chapters the book addresses the processes of electricity generation from solar radiation (photovoltaic and solar thermal power plant technologies), wind energy, and hydropower. In addition, a brief discussions of harnessing ocean energies is included.

The authors provide the important data and parameter sets for the major possibilities of renewable energies utilization which allow an economic and environmental assessment. Such an assessment enables us to judge the chances and limits of the multiple options utilising renewable energy sources.

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Product Description
In this unique and revelatory guide, the author of "The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine" shows how the forces related to ancient mystical, religious, and medical traditions are responsible for such phenomena as love at first sight and encountering long-lost friends shortly after thinking about them Targeted print ads. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A jumbled mess
I'm a granola-crunching, chakra-balancing New Ager, and I actually threw this book away rather than pass it on to a used bookstore and some unsuspecting customer. It's ludicrously inaccurate. The author "explains" his ideas by zooming from reiki to the chakras to feng shui concepts in the space of a few paragraphs, but he never cites any of these ancient and self-contained systems accurately or with integrity. Yes, these systems are all related at a basic level, but this book reads like a bunch of new age pamphlets that got accidentally shuffled together.

He describes this therapist who felt drained after she hugged her depressed patients. He counseled her to stop hugging them because "energy flows downhill," and bam, she no longer felt drained. Amazing! Now, if he'd shown her how to shield her energy, stop the draining effect, and maybe channel some positive energy into her clients while also giving them therapeutic hugs, there might have been some useful info in that section.

But it was when I got to the line "And here is a poem by the Native American poet Starhawk..." that I started laughing so hard I dropped the book. Folks, Starhawk is a cultural and ethnic Jew, a witch, and a co-founder of some major feminist Pagan movements, and well known for all these things. He's not only misinformed, he obviously didn't fact-check anything he wrote.

Ignore this hodgepodge. Some alternative starting texts would be: The Psychic Energy Workbook by Miller and Harper, Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith (a Western perspective on the chakra system), or Reiki: the Ultimate Guide.

A credulous approach to the world
Collinge catalogs a combination of myth, magic, apocryphal stories, and dubious references. He builds these into a house of cards which purports to support a theory that forms of "energy" exist which have one thing in common - they can't be measured. Nor can the supposed effects of any of these be predicted, with repeatable experiments. No wonder they are overlooked by science!

Collinge never expresses any real doubt about these sometimes contradictory approaches. Just one egregious example - he catalogs and then expands on the so-called "Mars effect". In doing so, he completely ignores the statistical analysis which shows that this effect is non-existent. Yet, he urges the reader to take seriously all sorts of nonsense, from Feng Shui to homeopathy.

Nothing is too ridiculous or worthless for Collinge to use as an example of the reality of his specious ideas.

If you want to understand the minds of those who believe anything they read, hear, or receive in email chain letters, read this book. Better yet, read "Why People Believe Weird Things"
by Michael Shermer.

If you would rather make good use of your time, take a look at the even more amazing (but true!) stories in books such as "The Elegant Universe", or anything by Stephen Hawking.

Unseen Energies 101
If you are just learning about the unseen energies around us, this is the book for you.If you have studied Feng Shui, Reiki, or any of the other topics covered in this book, you will at best be bored, at worst find "inaccuracies" (most a matter of opinion or preference) and overgeneralizations.It is a wonderful starting point though, and does a fine job of tying many different but related topics together.Start here, and then graduate to more advanced and detailed texts.

Not very deep, but comprehensive
This book gives an excellent overview of energies and forces that arecurrently not recognized by the mainstream of scientific research. I sharethe previous reviewer's scepticism at the author's detailed knowledge ofthe many topics he writes about, so I would not recommend this book tosomeone who seeks to study a particular topic in detail. However, as anintroduction or survey of the vast field of esoteric energies, it is morethan adequate.

Awankening to many schools of thought
I loved this book. It really opened my eyes to the variety of ways that energy affects our lives. Drawing from the most up to date science theories to thousands of years of mystic traditions, the author shows how all thingsreally are tied together with energy. Everyday we have opprtunities to seeand alter the exchange of energy with our fellow humans, the planet and theuniverse. Also by keeping the articles short, the author allowed me to pickup the book and put it down everyday, always having learned something new.A must read. ... Read more

Product Description
Prepared and peer-reviewed by some of the foremost experts in the field, this easy-to-use pocket reference offers a wealth of information relating to wind energy and wind energy technologies. Topics covered range from wind resources to wind turbines, covering offshore and onshore power, both stand-alone and grid-connected. The book also includes vital information on international economic support schemes and incentives and environmental issues and is peppered throughout with helpful illustrations, equations and explanations. Renewable energy professionals, students and wind energy entrepreneurs amongst others will find a host of answers in this book—a practical assimilation of data, fundamentals and guidelines for application. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Clear and at-a-glance details accompanied by charts and graphics
The pocket-sized WIND ENERGY POCKET REFERENCE contains specific scientific insights packing data, equations, and wind technology facts into a small pocket guide gathered from published literature and supplemented by personal information from experts in energy agencies, utilities, universities and research. The result is a reference for any interested in wind power systems, providing clear and at-a-glance details accompanied by charts and graphics - even in color!

Great for rookies.
If you are starting to learn about wind energy, this pocket reference book will get you oriented and going very rapidly. ... Read more

Product Description

Whatever your goals may be, the subtle energy centers known as the chakras offer a gateway to personal transformation. On Chakras, we join renowned teacher Anodea Judith for an experiential journey through this powerful system that profoundly influences our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Our adventure includes a 38-minute guided meditation that teaches the purpose of our seven primary chakras as well as how to sense, diagnose, and balance each one for better health and well-being. In one immersive session, Chakras offers us expert guidance to begin using this energetic system to restore wholeness and unleash our highest potential.

Customer Reviews (1)

Soothing Chakra Clearing
This work, although basic enough for beginners, is highly recommended for those more familiar with the topic as well. I use the guided meditation to clear and charge my chakras before providing Reiki or Oneness Blessing sessions which greatly enhances healing. George Hagar-Mckee, Framingham, Massachusetts, hagarmckee@rcn.com. Namaste! ... Read more

Product Description
Energy plays a crucial role in economic and social development. The analysis of energy issues and policy options is therefore a vital area of study. This book presents a hierarchical modeling scheme intended to support energy planning and policy analysis in developing countries. The authors examine the spreadsheet models, optimization models, and linear planning models that energy planners use, drawing illustrative case material from a number of countries throughout. Environmental considerations are also introduced into the analysis. The book will be of interest to students and practitioners of energy planning, and to those concerned with the wider development implications of energy policy. ... Read more

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A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO WIND ENERGY ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

This authoritative resource offers comprehensive details on effectively using wind energy as a viable and economical energy source. Featuring a multidisciplinary approach, Wind Energy Engineering covers physics, meteorology, aerodynamics. wind measurement, wind turbine specifications, electricity, and integration with the grid. Planning, site selection, cost assessment, environmental impact, and project management are also discussed. Filled with diagrams, tables, charts, graphs, and statistics, this is a definitive reference to current and future developments in wind energy.

Wind Energy Engineering covers:

• The business of wind energy worldwide
• Wind energy basics
• Meteorological properties of wind and air
• Aerodynamics of wind turbine blades
• Wind measurement, data management, and reporting
• Wind resource assessment
• Advanced topics in resource assessment, including wake, losses, and uncertainty
• Wind turbine generator components
• Electricity and generator basics
• Deploying wind turbines in the grid
• Environmental impact of wind projects
• Financial modeling, planning, and execution of wind projects

Customer Reviews (3)

A 'How To' for Wind Energy Development
Outstanding!If you are in the wind industry, want to be, or are considering a wind project of your own, read this book!While it's not easy to cover the many facets of wind energy development, Mr. Jain has accomplished this with seeming ease.Each piece of the development puzzle is covered with just the right level of detail.The science behind wind energy is fully and very understandably explained; then matched with tools you can use, bridging the gap between theory and practice.Mr. Jain's work is essential for the classroom, job-site, homeowner, small business or community considering a wind project.Once you read it, keep it close by because you will find it an easy and necessary reference tool.

Must have for PM's
A must have for project mangers (PM) in the wind industry.Book covers the routine to the complex in a clear, organized and well illustrated manner.Reader/PM will take away a better understanding of what is involved in harnessing wind power and more importantly what is required for a successful wind project. Chapters 9 through 14 are especially helpful; they cover everything from wind turbine components to the planning and execution of a wind project.This book would be an excellent addition to a seasoned PM's resource library, but equally important as a "field manual" for a PM venturing into wind projects for the first time.It covers what every a PM has to be familiar with and deal with on a wind project.As a PM who ventured into the wind industry, I see the value of this book and I highly recommend it.Well Done!

Clearly explained and brilliantly illustrated
Clear writing and extensive use of diagrams and charts make this book a great up-to-date and easy-to-understand resource on modern wind power engineering. There are over 90 pages dedicated to wind measurement and resource assessment, a most critical aspect for getting a wind project right. Chapter 2: "Basics of Wind Energy and Power" contains the clearest, most concise explanation of the physics of wind energy that I have come across. Not being an engineer but engineering-inclined, I was comfortable enough diving into the book but felt challenged as I progressed through the more advanced chapters. For its technical depth and comprehensiveness, it's not a very large book. I'd even suggest it for pool-side reading. However, I feel it's best suited as a reference for practitioners or those serious about entering the field of wind energy. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is designed to provide the economic skills to make better management or policy decisions relating to energy. It requires a facility with calculus and contains a toolbox of models along with institutional, technological and historical information for oil, coal, electricity, and renewable energy resources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good for Graduate and Beyond, NOT Undergrad.
The book was purchased for a 3-level Energy Economics course at a highly respected private college. Has some useful background information and charts, but overall, is geared more for graduate students, academics, and mostly for business owners who are already decently versed in medium to upper-level economic concepts. Tends to be dry and can be even dull at points. 3/5 for my purposes, i can see it being 4/5 for upper levels.

Accetable but requires some background to understand
With the price, the information in it is worth buying. However, readers should have some background in both econmics and energy to be able to understand the text and graph.

There are a few confusions due to partial mis-organization of the book.

All in all, it a great book but a bit expensive.

Useful, but only if some previuous background
The book contains an economics approach to international energy markets. It does provide some background into energy issues in order to explain the functioning of the markets using economic models. As a result, it is mainly useful from an academic perspective. It is not an introductory book. In order to go through it you need background both in economics and energy.

Excellent examples, great for use in an energy economics or business class
I was TA for a class, Energy Economics (ENNEC 484W), during the Fall 2006 semester at Penn State University.The professor for the class introduced Dahl's book into the class's curriculum during the Fall semester of 2005.The class covered the first 8 chapters of Dahl's book which included economic topics on perfect competition (explanation of supply and demand), natural monopoly, deregulation, dominant firm model, market structures, and externalities. Each of these economic concepts are fully developed using an example from energy markets.The examples are agreeably the most fitting for each subject.She discusses the deregulation of the electricity market for deregulation, coal markets for perfect competition, and OPEC for the dominant firm chapter.Each chapter is developed with clearly derived numerical examples and useful charts that develop an intuitive understanding of the amount of natural gas, petroleum, coal, etc. reserves in the world and their geographical distribution.I recommend this book for any class that deals with any aspect of energy markets.Since our class was rooted more in the economic theory of energy markets, we were able to use the first half of the text, in addition to extra material such as journal articles, to satisfy our objectives.All of the students in the class gave the book great reviews saying that it was the perfect aid to understanding lecture. ... Read more