Product Description
In this new comprehensive volume, Chiras includes chapters on green building materials, earth-sheltered architecture, passive solar heating and cooling, sustainable approaches to water and waste, energy efficiency, and environmental landscaping. He sets the record strait on the vast potential for passive heating and cooling and provides a resource guide, recommendations, and a green-building checklist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The new ecological home
This books organically combines introductions into various aspects of green home building with practical suggestions, calculations and brief product reviews.

Not very practical
I was expecting a more practical book, like "green from the ground up", with more design guidelines.Although the nice cover does not reflect the quality of the contents, it's worth reading it.

Good General Guide
Having been the first of it's kind I have read, this book is well-organized and readable.It seems good for the person brainstorming on what steps to take in the design of their eco-home.For more specific information to carry out the tasks, I would suggest other resources.

great textbook!
This book could very easily serve as a textbook for a green building course. It's not a coffee table book - the photos are small, and black and white - but very useful in supporting the text.This is a serious book about alternative building written by and about a group of people who have been creatively, responsibly, thoughtfully building for a very long time. It's a good choice for builders who want to learn more about sustainability, students who want to go into the field, or homeowners who are looking to build.It'snot so much glitzy and inspirational as it is informative and useful: comprehensive from site selection and design through building options and techniques, to landscaping, it also contains a great resource guide.

Excellent introductionto wide array of green building options
During the planning phase of building our first home, this book was very helpful. We liked the emphasis right at the start on site selection -- what to look for in everything from the overall community to aspects of the land itself and how to environmentally protect that land during construction. A comparison checklist for assessing lots is included. Even though ours will not be a "natural House" (rammed earth, straw bale, etc.) and though those types of construction are covered, there was plenty of solid information on building a more energy efficient, and less wasteful, home of wood and concrete. Also included are chapters on design, using green and non- or less toxic materials, sustainable approaches to water and waste, environmental landscaping, and enery-efficient design, heating, and cooling. As this will be a retirement home, we especially appreciated the chapter on accessiblilty and ergonomic design. ... Read more

Product Description
Natural Home Heating is the first comprehensive guide to heating your home with renewable energy sources. Greg Pahl offers a well-organized, easy-to-understand tour of all available renewable home-heating options, including wood, pellet, corn and grain-fired stoves, fireplaces, furnaces and boilers as well as masonry heaters, active and passive solar systems, and heat pumps.Learn how to burn environmentally friendly biodiesel fuels, not just in your car, but in your furnace or boiler.Included is everything you need to know about the fuels, systems, technologies, costs, and advantages and disadvantages of each option. Pahl teaches homeowners how to retrofit existing heating systems and choose renewable replacements, or design an entirely new house that can be heated comfortably with minimal environmental and financial impact.

Consider:
- 95% of American homes are heated with fossil fuels (or electricity, which is generated mainly by fossil fuels).
- Oil and gas prices will continue to rise as supplies dwindle and sources become less reliable.
- Home heating costs could double or even triple in the event of a fuel crisis.
- The use of fossil fuels is the primary contributor to global warming.
- There are viable, clean, healthy, and affordable home heating alternatives!

Learn how to burn environmentally friendly bio-diesel fuels, not just in your car, but in your furnace. Find out how a ground-source heat pump works and why it can achieve 400% heating efficiency. Discover what it takes to make burning wood truly sustainable. Natural Home Heating explains all these details and more, making it unique for homeowners everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Busy hippie chick's dream
Greg Pahl's book organizes everything you need to know about heating with alternative fuels in a very "non-techy, quick to find salient facts" manner.I used his book to help me make choices in buying and installing a new wood stove to heat my dome house in Maine.With all of the alternatives out there, this book helped me intelligently sort through a myriad of choices and get a stove just right for my needs. ... Read more

Product Description
Leading real-estate author Robert Irwin provides home builders with valuable money-saving tips to building a home from the ground up in Tips & Traps When Building Your Home. Featuring a self-test to determine whether the reader is more suited to hiring it all out or doing some of it alone, this user-friendly guide outlines the perilous traps that often come with building your own home. Irwin helps readers determine whether or not to hire out the entire process or whether to act as the primary contractor. Once that is decided, Irwin then helps builders determine:

• How building and contracting effects home-owners' insurance
• Whether or not to hire an architect
• If building plans need to be presented to the local zoning board
• Contractors' and builders' adherence to electrical codes, sewage codes, and occupancy codes

Customer Reviews (10)

super information
Bought this for a friend who is going to build and they love it!! notes details that might be forgotten or not realized.super good price!!

very thought-provoking!
This book is a must for anyone who is planning on building a home.We purchased this book before we built a new home in 2002 and just bought another copy for my mom, who is thinking of building a new home.This book is a GREAT tool to read through with a highlighter/post-it notes and mark up to make sure your new home is user-friendly, well-thought out, and includes the things you want(and things that you want to AVOID in your new home . . .like two bedroom doors that open into each other).VERY easy-to-read format and practical ideas. I would not build another home without buying another copy of this book and going through it again and again!

A must have...
This is a must have to read before you build your new home.Great ideas that you need to consider even before you have blueprints.Easy reader, finished the book in a day, just reading for an hour here and an hour there.Very informative. Check out my other reviews on home building to see the 2 other books that gave me the confidence to general our new home.

Content was good, condition was not
Book has good content.However, I paid for a new book and recieved a used one.Contacted customer service and requested a discount.They never got back to me on my request.Dissapointing to say the least.

Book on building
This was quite a nice little book for anyone thinking of building your own home.Haven't done it yet, but got some good tips from the book. ... Read more

Product Description
A down-to-earth guide to building solar-powered log homes, complete with how-to illustrations and photos, plus enlightening stories from log home owners across the country. Follow the authors' journey of handcrafting an off-the-grid log home in the Colorado Rockies and discover how renewable energy is a perfect match for modern log home living, from small weekend cabins to expansive year-round homes. (The completed revised edition of "Logs, Wind and Sun") ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book.
This book gave us a great overview, made the whole process that we are setting out to do, seem do-able. I would recommend this book to anyone the least bit curious about setting up a log home to accept solar tech.

great book for off the grid do it yourselfers
THe book had many great ideas for setting up your own solar power, putting in a well and other ideas for people who want to go off the grid or live too far from the grid to hook up. Loved the book.

How does one build a new home and help the environment at the same time?
How does one build a new home and help the environment at the same time? "Crafting Log Homes Solar Style: An Inspiring Guide to Self-Sufficiency" is a complete guide to someone who wants to build an environmentally conscious home whether to live in or for a vacation home. The solar panels will also pay for themselves eventually with all of the money one is bound to save on electricity bills with the constant stream of renewable energy from the Earth's greatest source, its own Sun. Highly recommended for anyone who is pondering building a log cabin, and a must have for community library environmental collections. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

Are you rich?
Great intel but the cost of the ideas in here are way to high for the gains.

A MUST HAVE homeowner's guide for renewable & energy efficiency
This is a must have book for anyone wanting to read up on how to improve your environmental footprint. Good Source of information for both renewable energy and energy efficiency. The book is a easy read and I highly recommend this book as well as others that Dan Chiras has written.I love this author, he really knows what he is talking about.Not only does he talk about it, he also practices what he preaches.

Very user friendly, informative.
This is very good review of renewable options.You don't have to be an engineer yet it is more than you've read in the newspapers and such.I saw some things I hadn't heard of.It is realistic, not everything works everywhere.It takes into account cost and return.It is not a tech manual, you won't know how to install the whole system (whichever it would be) but you'll likely know which way to go if need more.If I have a beef it is that the photos could be more and better.

Ok book.
Could have used more content on solar theory and techniques, and less on what is available commercially...

More DIY info would be better.

MJL

The bible ofrenewable energy for the home.
This is an outstanding, readable, comprehensive presentation of the subject of renewable energy for the homeowner. For each topic the author presents the principles, salient facts and a range of projects from the simplest do-it-yourself to that which would require a professional installation. Illustrations are excellent. In solar hot water for example he presents projects which range froma mini batch system consisting of a coiled black hose to a professionally installed all weather solar collector, storage with on-demand gas supplement. Based on this reading I plan to build a freestanding outdoor thermosiphon solar shower using cast off materials and to replace an inefficient hot water tank with a propane on-demand all season hot water heater. Chiras educates the homeowner to think broadly and to plan very manageable projects suited to his/her needs. Superb! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

excellent gook
this book is worth the money (tho i bought it used b/c i truly believe in recycling whenever possible), the time to read it & i am very pleased with it. it has a lot of applicable info in it that i did not know.

Green Smile
This book is written by the survivalist - Joshua Priven.The title is a bit misleading - hoses are discussed amongst other "green living" approaches related to camping, kids play, shadow puppets, driving, mower-based exercises and catching rainwater with umbrellas.Some of the ideas make a lot of sense, while others are simply weird.Imagine the looks on the faces of your neighbors seeing yours morning "jog mow", "lunge mow", and "calf rise mow" exercises! The rough mix of big and small green strategies will not harm you though, if you preserve a good sense of humor while reading.After so much serious "green" talk and worries about the destiny of the planet, this book feels like a fresh gust of wind - it is both refreshing and energizing. With all my experience with architecture and green design I found myself being surprised and amused with the originality of the ideas and the way they are represented.All "green ideas" are described following the same format, consisting of overview, materials, list of steps and some related facts. Do not expect too much detail. The illustrations by Owen Sherwood are beautiful and clear and stand out on their own merit. Forget about the text. Just look at the pictures. They will tell you the story.I personally, will not double the structure of my house foundation to roof in order to support my roof-planted vegetation and will not shave myself following the offered recipe. May be you will. But we can both share a good time reading this book, and may be reevaluate some of our wasteful lifestyle habits. ... Read more

Product Description
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! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Light weight
I use to read Mother Earth News 30 years ago, I now belong to the local chapter of the Electric Auto Association, have installed solar light tubes, and solar hot water to my home so this book was light weight for me.

Battery technology and charging station technology are changing so fast that the best way to get into solar energy is to join a group like EAA and listen to the speakers. The engineers can be difficult but those who are actually building electric vehicles or adding solar energy items to their homes can answer your guestions. With a lot of help from EAA members I built an electric bike.

The best part of this book was the author explaining that you don't want to go completely off the grid unless you have to. The difficulty and expense of being completely independent is very great.

Looking deeper helps.
A great book as far as it goes, but working for a solar supplier (PV and thermal) here is one area which probably merits deeper exploration. This is the answer to the old chestnut question, which is: "How long does it take before I reach energy payback on my solar installation". While this is often addressed where the baseline is money, for a green technology the environmental baseline is at least as important. Our research suggests that the answer is:

PV installations - 5-7 years.
Complex solar thermal systems (low carbon mains electric pumps) - over 4 years.
Zero carbon, simple solar thermal systems (thermosyphon or PV pumped such as Solartwin) - 2 years or less.

The risk is that the "techno-bling" or "eco-bling" appeal of complex technologies can sometimes outsmart the environmental appeal of simpler technologies. Or insulating. Or using less heat in the first place!

regarding todays technology and this book.
SORRY, I COULDN'T FIND THE "SPELL CHECK" FIRST THE PENCIL THEN THE TYPWRITER AND NOW THE COMPUTER WITHOUT SPELL CHECK KEEPS MAKING MISTAKES.

THIS BOOK IS A GOOD STARTING PLACE TO LEARN THE TERMINOLOGY AND GLEAN IDEAS FOR SERIOUS, "BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING" STUDY.
I RECOMMEND BUYING IN ADDITION OTHER BOOKS AS LONG AS THEY HAVE AN INITIAL PUBLICATION DATE OF 2010 OR 11 NEXT YEAR ETC.

DO NOT BUY A NEW BOOK ON TECHNOLOGY THAT IS EXPANDING LIKE A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION UNLESS IT IS FIRST EDITION CURRENT YEAR.

(TV SETS 5 YEARS AGO LO DEF PLASMA2 YEARS AGO CHEAPER PLASMA AND LCD 1 YEAR AGO HIDEF LCD THIS 2010 HIDEF AND 3D AND NOW 4 COLOR TECHNOLOGY.ACCORDING TO THE ADVERTISING AS LAST MONTH.)

WHEN YOU BUY ANYTHING THAT USES ELECTRICITY TAKE THE TIME TO DETERMING ESTIMATED KWH AVERAGE AT 70 DEGREES F.UNLESS OF COURSE MONEY DOES NOT MATTER.

IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WITH THE CURRENT THINKING OF THE GOVERNMENT AFTER NOVEMBER 2006 YOU ARE GOING TO BE PENALIZED FOR HAVING POWER HUNGRY APPLIANCES.
(THEY ALREADY GOUGE YOU ON YOUR INEFFICIENT AUTOMOBILE CLASSES AS A GUZZLER).

HOWEVER,,,
THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF CONCERN WHEN IT COMES TO SOLAR POWER CHOICES.

FOLKS WITH NO MONEY AND NO PHYSICAL ACCESS TO MATERIAL
FOLKS WITH GOBS OF MONEY AND ARE WILLING TO SPEND IT WISELY.

FOLKS LIKE A CERTAIN NOBEL PRIZE WINNER WHO HAS THE LARGEST SINGLE FAMILY ELECTRIC BILL IN THE NATION AND THE MILLIONS TO PAY IT WOULD NOT NEED THIS BOOK.

THIS BOOK IS IN-BETWEEN BUT MORE TOWARD THE TOP OF THE RANGE OF NEED.
PROBABLY A 7 OF 10 IF YOU NEED A REFERENCE POINT.

SOLAR ELECTRIC IS GOING FORWARD SO FAST IT IS AMAZING BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE COST IS ALSO GOING AHEAD AT THE SAME SPEED LIKE THE CARROT IN FRONT OF THE MULE.

ACTUALLY THE SOLAR ELECTRIC COST IS GOING UP FASTER THAN THE SAVINGS. BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING CHECK THE BOTTOM LINE WHEN COMPARING THE COST OF THE PAID FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM AT THE END OF IT'S GUARANTEED LIFE TO THE COST OF THE ELECTRICITY YOU DID NOT USE. KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WILL BE BILLED FOR THE PAPERWORK EACH MONTH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH YOU USE.
ASK THE ELECTRIC COMPANY HOW MUCH YOU ARE PAYING PER KWH BASED ON 500 PER MONTH OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE BEEN USING. THEN DIVIDE YOUR CONSUMPTION INTO YOUR ACTUAL BILL IN PENNIES (MATH BECOMES COMPLICATED OTHERWISE) AFTER BEING PREPARED FOR A SHOCK.
I PAY $36 FOR THE FIRST THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER I USE.THE ACTUAL WATER IS MORE LIKE $1.25 BUT THE ADD-ONS HAVE ME FOR LUNCH.

AVERAGE WAGE IN JAPAN IS AROUND $60,000 USD WHICH IS WAY AHEAD OF AVERAGE U.S. WAGES, AND STILL THE JAPANESE PEOPLE SPEND ALL THEY MAKE JUST TO LIVE. THIS IS THE SAME FOR ANYBODY NOT LIVING ON A TECHNOLOGY EXPLOSION CURVE.

THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE TIME TO READ AND STUDY THIS BOOK ARE NOT LIVING ON THE EXPLOSIVE CURVE AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO INVEST IN A SYSTEM THAT WILL TAKE 30 YEARS TO PAY FOR IT'S SELF.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO DO ACTUALLY INSTALL SOLAR ELECTRIC BECAUSE THEY MUST.
PEOPLE LIVING A 3000 FEET DOWN A 30 DEGREE HILL FROM THE GRID NEED SIXTEEN POLES AT $8000 A POLE JUST TO GET ELECTRICITY.THIS IS $128,000 JUST FOR THE POLES.SOLAR ELECTRIC AND WATER LOOKS VERY GOOD THEM.

YOU CAN BUILD A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR A THIRD OF THE ELECTRIC COMPANYS POLES COST IN THE CASE ABOVE AND BE IN ELECTRIC SERVICE IN A WEEK AFTER THE JOB STARTS. FIGURE HOW MUCH YOU NEED AND THEN DOUBLE IT FOR PRACTICALITY.

I KNOW ABOUT THE ABOVE BECAUSE ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS IN THIS SITUATION, AND FOR 10 YEARS HAS LISTENED TO PROMISES FROM THE ELECTRIC COMPANY GO UNFULFILLED.AFTER 10 YEARS OF GENERATOR POWER HE BORROWED THE MONEY AND CONTRACTED THE SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM. HE DID NOT READ A BOOK BUT INSTEAD WENT TO A SYMPOSIUM HELD BY THE SALES ORGANIZATION.THE BOOK IS OF NO VALUE TO THE NON TECHNICIAN EXCEPT FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF LEARNING WHAT THE WORDS AND NUMBERS MEAN.

THIS SAME PERSON IN THE PARAGRAPH ABOVE BOUGHT A SOLAR WATER HEATER SYSTEM WHICH HAS NO MOVING PARTS WITH THE TANK MOUNTED AS PART OF THE PANEL. (NO ELECTRIC FOR A PUMP)AGAIN HE DID NOT READ A BOOK AND HAD THE SOLAR SALES GUY CONTRACT THE INSTALLATION.IT WAS NOT THE BEST CHOICE OF PLUMBING ARANGMENT (I SERVICE FIVE DIFFERENT BRANDS OF HOT WATER SYSTEMS) AND IT HAD PROBLEMS THAT I WAS ABLE TO EASILY FIX BY DOING THE CORRECT ROUTING AND PLUMBING TO MAKE IT RELIABLY DO WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF IT.
THIS SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM PAID FOR IT'S SELF IN VERY SHORT ORDER. HIS PREVIOUS HEAT CAME FROM PROPANE TANKS HE HAULED TO THE PROPANE STORE TO BE FILLED. IN HAWAII ENERGY IS SOLD BY THE BTU WHETHER IT IS GASOLINE DIESEL, PROPANE, OR ELECTRICITY.YOU PAY FOR THE ENERGY YOU USE AND NO SYSTEM PROPERLY USED IS CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER.

THINK OF THIS.
ALL WATER HEATERS AND STORAGE TANKS LOOSE ENERGY THROUGH THE SHELL. SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS,, A LOT BETTER. GAS HEATERS ALSO LOOSE ENERGY THAT GOES OUT THE CHIMNEY (DON'T BURN YOUR FINGERS TESTING THIS).

(YOU WOULD BE AMAZED AT HOW MANY HOUSES AND CONDOS HAVE STRANGE PLUMBING RESULTS DUE TO SIMPLE ERRORS)
IMAGINE THE NEXT DOOR CONDO USING YOUR HOT WATER. CONDOS ARE USUALLY FLIPFLOPPEDBR TO BR KIT TO KIT. STUFF HAPPENS.
I DISCOVERED THIS 40 YEARS AGO WHEN AN OWNER SUDDENLY HAD NO HOT WATER IN THE BATH BUT DID HAVE IT EVERYWHERE ELSE. I FOUND THE ELECTRIC BEING OFF NEXT DOOR WAS THE KEY TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE BATH HOT WATER WAS SWITCHED. (IN CONDOS THE COLD WATER IS PROVIDED UNMETERED IN VERTICAL STACKS FOR TWO ADJACENT APARTMENTS) SWITCHING COLD PIPES IS INCONSEQUENTIAL UNTIL YOU TRY TO SHUT THE WATER OFF AND THE MISPLUMB IS INVOLVED
(ALL WATER FOR ONE CONDO UNIT IS TERMINATED AT ONE PLACE NEAR THE KITCHEN IN MOST CASES).
ANOTHER TIME I FOUND THE ELECTRIC FOR TWO (WALL COMMON) HEATERS WERE SWITCHED. THE OWNERS WERE PAYING EACH OTHERS BILL. ONE GUY KEPT TRYING TO CONSERVE AND THE OTHER GUYS BILL KEPT GOING DOWN SO HE DID NOT CARE ABOUT USAGE.

SOME FOLKS THINK THAT A PLUMBING INSPECTORS JOB IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THE SYSTEM IS SAFE AND WILL WORK PROPERLY.THE "SAFE" PART PROBABLY,,, BUT WORK PROPERLY IS NOT NECESSESSARILY GOING TO HAPPEN. THE FIRST CHALLENGE TO THE PLUMBING AND ELECTRIC INSPECTOR IS TO COUNT THE FIXTURES TO SEE IF THE QUANTITY MATCHES THE APPROVED PERMIT. TOO MANY OR TOO FEW WILL BE CAUGHT BY THE INSPECTOR. PERMITS PRICING IS BASED ON ESTIMATED COST AND NUMBER OF TERMINATIONS.
SOME REALISTIC REASONING IS ALSO APPLIED BUT VERY LOOSELY.
CODES MUST BE MET WHERE SAFETY IS INVOLVED SUCH AS TERMINATING THE T&P VALVE OUTSIDE OF A LIVING SPACE AND PROPER GROUNDING PRACTICES. THE T&P OF A SOLAR HEATER PANEL IS RARELY BROUGHT DOWN TO A PROPER DRAIN OR SAFE AT GROUND LEVEL VENT.(STEAM FROM A PANEL THROUGH A 3/4 INCH PIPE CAN AND WILL BE OVER 300 DEGREES AND WILL DESTROY ROOFING AND PLASTIC GUTTERS IN SECONDS. (LIKE A CHEAP PLASIC CAN IN YOUR DISHWASHER)

(THAT STRANGE OFF-COLOR YOU SEE NEAR ONE END OF A SOLAR WATER PANEL IS NOT FROM STUFF IN THE TAP WATER, IT IS FROM SUPER HEATED WATER THAT IS INSTANTLY BROUGHT TO BOIL WHEN THE PRESSURE IS RELEASED AND BLEW OFF TO CORRECT THE OVERHEAT WHEN THE PUMP ELECTRIC OR THE PUMP IT'S SELF FAILED.
ANYBODY IN THE PATH OF IT IS GOING TO BE SEVERELY BURNED,
(YET IT MEETS CODE).

KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU DEPEND ON REDDY KILOWATT TO POWER THE SOLAR SYSTEMS WATER PUMP AND FOR ANY REASON THE POWER GOES OFF THE SUN DOESN'T.
YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES AT THAT TIME.
1. COVER THE PANELS WITH A SILVER TARP.
2. ACCEPT THE DAMAGE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE PANEL TRIPS THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE VALVE AFTER YOU TURN OFF YOUR WATER AND RELEASE THE CITY PRESSURE LEAVING THE HOT TAP OPEN SO THE STEAM WILL GO INTO YOUR NON PLASTIC SINK OR TUB.
(THAT PLASTIC DRAIN PLUMBING WILL NOT DO WELL IN 180 DEGREE, OR HOTTER, WATER)YOU CAN TEST THIS BY RUNNING A P TRAP THOUGH A DISHWASHER CYCLE IN THE BOTTOM RACK.
(SOME DISPOSERS WILL BE DAMAGED BY SUPER HOT WATER). THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU WOULD IMAGINE
(I SERVICED ISE BRAND FOR 40 YEARS AND SOME HAD PLASTIC PANES IN THEM THAT WOULD DEFORM WITH 180 DEGREE TAP WATER AFTER TEN OR MORE MINUTES).

IN HAWAII GROUNDING IS A JOKE BUT THE CODE IS MET ANYWAY. GROUNDING CODES ARE BASED ON ORGANIC SOIL WHICH IS THE RESULT OF A MILLION YEARS OF MOTHER NATURE DOING HER THING. SOME CODES REQUIRE SOIL CONDUCTIVITY TESTING AND SOIL ADDITIVES ARE NECESSARY (THIS WORKS WIHT ORGANIC SOIL)
HAWAII DOES NOT HAVE ORGANIC SOIL. YOU CAN PICK MY FARM SOIL UP WITH A MAGNET.

NOT EVERYTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS AND YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

Pass on this
Not worth the money, have read much better books, with more explanations and more details. Just not that good.

Great for Information Gathering
This is a well written, comprehensive source for information on all types of home solar systems. It has a wealth of information for the home owner who wants to see if solar is is the right choice. I would recommend this book to users in the information gathering phase. Well worth the money to get you started. ... Read more

Product Description
In much the same way astrologers compare charts, Bartlett shows how to balance the yin and yang of a relationship and the space in which it takes place to enrich and intensify the connection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Practical approaches in a fun, no-nonsense book
While trying to build my Feng Shui library, I found many books to be either too complicated and wordy or too focused on one particular aspect of the art.Also, most books don't provide simple and practical suggestions that aren't just silly or superstitious cures.While I do believe in the principals of balancing energies and helping the chi to flow through environments, I have a hard time believing in some authors' ideas.

I received this book as a gift and on first impression was prepared to be amused.However, this book is by far the most referred to book in my library!It provides a thorough study of working with the bagua, as well as the elements, colors, and Eastern astrology to create harmony within your home and your life.

It relies a bit on crystals and candles, which I understand is a Westernization of Feng Shui.But it is not heavy-handed with "cures" and delves deeply and comprehensively into the big picture of the art. ... Read more

Product Description
The wind power industry has been transformed in the 1990s by dramatic breakthroughs in efficiency, economy, and adaptability. Wind Energy Basics is the most up-to-date source available of information about small wind systems. The book includes the unique "standard small wind turbine rating" developed by the author, which is designed to help readers wade through conflicting performance claims by manufacturers in the U.S. and overseas. Also included is detailed information on planning, siting, and installing a wind system, and on integrating wind power with solar for more cost-effective and reliable off-the-grid applications.

In addition, Gipe provides a discussion of "net metering" and intertie possibilities, explaining how homeowners in many states can now sell their excess electricity back to the utility company.

Wind Energy Basics is an excellent introduction to wind power for educational programs concerned with state-of-the-art renewable energy options, and will be indispensable for those considering today's generation of quiet, efficient, and reliable "micro" wind turbines.

Wind Energy Basics describes a new class of small wind turbines, dubbed micro turbines, which are so small that they can be purchased for less than $1000 and carried in your hands.

The debut of micro wind turbines brings the technology within reach of almost everyone. These inexpensive machines, when coupled with readily available photovoltaic panels (solar cells), have revolutionized living in remote homes off-the-utility grid. And the increasing popularity of micro wind turbines has opened up new applications previously considered off-limits to wind energy, such as charging electric fences and powering remote telephone call boxes, once the sole domain of solar cells.

Micro wind turbines have been around for decades for use on sailboats, but they have gained increasing prominence in the 1990s as their broader potential for off-the-grid applications on land has become more widely known. While micro wind turbines have yet to reach the status of widely available consumer commodities such as personal computers, the day may not be far off. The use of wind power is "exploding," say Karen and Richard Perez in their foreword. "There are currently over 150,000 small-scale RE (renewable energy) systems in America and they are growing by 30% yearly. The small-scale use of wind power is growing at twice that amount--over 60% per year," according to the Perezes, the editors of Home Power magazine.

Southwest Windpower awakened latent consumer interest in micro wind turbines with the introduction of its sleek Air 303. Since launching the 300-watt turbine in 1995, Southwest Windpower has shipped 18,000 of the popular and inexpensive machines.

"What Americans, and folks all over the world, are finding out," the Perezes say, "is that wind power is an excellent and cost-effective alternative" to extending electric utility lines, and fossil-fueled backup generators.

Wind Energy Basics explains how it is possible—in some states—for homeowners to run their kilowatt-hour meter backwards with a small wind turbine.

This book confronts the common but controversial practice of "power rating" that may mislead consumers about the potential of some small wind turbines. Known for his frank style, Gipe quickly cuts through technological jargon and the hype surrounding power ratings.

"Nothing tells you more about a wind turbine's potential than rotor diameter—nothing. The wind turbine with the bigger rotor will almost invariably generate more electricity than a turbine with a smaller rotor, regardless of their generator ratings," he says.

Gipe also comes down hard on roof-top mounting. "Don't bother," he warns. "It's not worth the trouble." He also minces few words on mounting wind turbines in trees. "Sometimes wind energy isn't the right choice," Gipe says. "If you live in a forest of tall trees and you can't afford a tower tall enough to clear the trees, then wind energy isn't for you."

Worldwide, wind energy is booming. Not since the heyday of the American farm windmill has wind energy grown at such a dramatic pace. By the new millennium, more than 40,000 medium-size wind turbines will be in operation worldwide, mostly in California, Europe, and India. These commercial wind turbines, including those found in California's giant wind power plants, will produce 20 terawatt-hours (20,000 million kilowatt-hours) of wind-generated electricity annually—enough to meet the needs of more than three million energy-hungry Californians, or twice that number of more energy-conscious Europeans.

The commercial success of medium-size wind turbines, or wind farm machines, is only part of the story. Small wind turbines have found their role expanding as well. Whether it's on the contemporary homestead of Ed Wulf in California's Tehachapi Mountains, in the Chilean village of Puaucho overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or on the Scoraig peninsula of Scotland's wind-swept west coast, small wind turbines are making an important difference. While their contributions may be small in absolute terms, small wind turbines make a big difference in the daily lives of people in remote areas around the globe. Small wind turbines may produce only a few tens of kilowatt-hours per month, but this electricity goes much further and provides as much, if not more, value to those who depend upon it as does the generation of their bigger brethren.

Today there are more than 50 manufacturers of small wind turbines worldwide, and they produce more than 100 different models. Altogether manufacturers in western countries have built about 60,000 small wind turbines during the last two decades. And tens of thousands more have been manufactured in China for use by nomads on the Mongolian steppes.

Wind Energy Basics is richly illustrated with photographs of small wind turbines, from those on the Patagonian steppes at the tip of South America to those on the wind-swept shores of Denmark.

The book contains information on most major small wind turbines on the international market. It also provides photographs of common wind turbine applications, including their use for wind power plants, vacation homes, third world villages, farms, water pumping, and so on.

Engineers will like the "exploded views" of popular micro and mini wind turbines such as the Ampair 100, Southwest Windpower's Air 303, and Bergey Windpower's BWC 850 and BWC 1500.

The book also introduces the "griphoist" to American readers. This amazing tool, coupled with new lightweight wind turbine towers that have recently become available, has the potential to transform the installation of micro turbines. With the "griphoist", two people can safely raise a micro wind turbine on a specially designed tower without resorting to cumbersome electric winches.

The appendix to Wind Energy Basics includes detailed product specifications for most popular micro and mini wind turbines, as well as sources for wind pumps (farm windmills), used wind turbines, anemometers, inverters, trade associations, and mail-order catalogs that sell wind turbines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A fabulous read
I needed to do a power point on wind energy and it is a subject I'm interested in for my retirement property.Paul Gipe really put all of the technology in easy to understand terms and spelled out the formulas.It was a productive and concise read.

Wind Energy Basics
I ordered this book because I am interested in potentially installing a wind energy system in my home.I did not find this book helpful to that end.It is too technical.It gave details I don't think I need and did not give me information on how to determine if my home is a good candidate for wind energy.Not what I was looking for.No practical information for a home owner.

Wind
Nice photos, but no real useful information. Ordered by mistake, and returned. Not worth the money, in my opinion.

WIND ENERGY BASICS
THIS IS A LITTLE TECHNICAL TO UNDERSTAND, ANDSOME OF THE GRAPHS AND CHARTS DONT HAVE ENOUGH EXPLANATION TO THE AVERAGE PERSON . I EXPECTED A EASY TO FOLLOW BASIC BOOK ON HOW TO , POSSIBLY MAKE YOUR OWN, IN A PICTURE OR ILLUSTRATIVE WAY . THE BOOK TOUCHED ON IT, BUT WAS TOOCOMPLEXFOR A BASIC BOOK .. I SAW NO IDEA OF HOW BIG THEELECTRICAL USE OF THE AVERAGE HOUSE WAS, SO I DONT KNOW HOW LARGE A WINDMILL MUST BE MADE OR PURCHASED.. PROBABLY A GREAT BOOK FOR ELECTRICIANS ,BUT NOT BASIC ENOUGH FOR ME .I WAS WANTING TO MAKE MY OWN ( FROM SCRATCH )AND HAVE THE BOOK TELL ME WHAT I NEEDED ..

Wind Power Wanted
Very good starter book for any interested in getting up to speed on Wind power solutions. ... Read more

Product Description

A hands-on, step-by-step guide to properly maintaining your home

Your home requires regular maintenance to operate safely and efficiently. The expert advice in this second edition of Home Maintenance For Dummies can help you save literally thousands of dollars each year by showing you how to perform home maintenance yourself!

This new edition provides the latest tips on how to tune up your home and make repairs to every room of the house, from basement to attic. By combining step-by-step instructions and expert information, this practical guide gives you the skills to tackle everything from furnace tune-ups to leaky roofs. You'll also learn how to conduct routine inspections, keep major appliances running efficiently, and increase energy efficiency.

• Shows how to keep your home in tip-top shape, preserve its value, and avoid costly repairs
• Covers all rooms of the house, in addition to the roof, foundation, and exterior
• Explains how to keep all home systems and major appliances running smoothly
• Includes a seasonal maintenance schedule
• Provides the latest green maintenance options to help lower your utility bills

James Carey and Morris Carey have a radio show, a newspaper column, and a Web site, all called On the House, and appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning. They are also the authors of Home Remodeling For Dummies

If you've always wanted to tackle home repairs like a pro, Home Maintenance For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your ideal resource! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Good but not great
My husband and I got this book when we bought our first house.We thought it would give detailed instructions on how to do things around the house.It has some good information, but it's not very detailed.Someone gave us a copy of Home Depot's Home Improvement 1-2-3, and it's much more of what we were looking for.

You can teach an old dog new tricks
We have been living in our current home for over 20 years but I purchased this book for my husband anyway as he is a big fan of the Carey Brothers. He absolutely loves it from the do it yourself cleaning solutions to the home maintence checklist. So whether you are a first time homeowner or have owned your home for 20 years like us this book is must have.

Bible of Home Repair
My husband and I depend upon the information given to us by James and Morris Carey that write the popular book, "Home Maintenance for Dummies."Without this book and the Carey Brother's radio show on Saturdays, my husband and I would be lost when it comes to carrying for my elderly parent's home and our home.Thank you, Carey Brothers for putting out a new and updated edition.

Anyone with a home should have this book!
The Carey Bro's are the pros!From the driveway ,to the roof and down to the basement... this book covers it in an easy way for most anyone.It will address home emergencies, toilet troubles, landscaping, decks, fences, windows, vents, fireplaces. I thought I needed a new alarm since it would not stop chirping after putting 3 sets of new batteries... and all I needed to do was to vacuum the dust out!Lost of great simple little tips. I love it and we refer to and use it often.I know I can call the show if there is a question I can't figure.
Great gift for Fathers Day, House warming, or the you 'need tap into these projects' and save some money.Every home should have one!

Good balance between depth and breadth
It's easy enough to find instructions on how to do anything on the net.But there's no way to know whether the author knows what he or she is talking about.
When it comes to my home, I want something more authoritative.

Things don't get more "authoritativer" than James and Morris Carey on home
maintenance issues.As authors, broadcasters and contractors, they've seen the
issues Do-It-Yourselfers like me face every day.

No one can know everything, and, if we're honest, we embrace our Dummy-ness when
it shows up.In my own case, my electrical skills might not be too bad, but plumbing and painting are fields about which I know nothing -- and it shows in my work.

Like most homeowners, I'm inclined to do a job, then plan it, then do it again.The Careys do their best to urge us to do better, with the mantra "Plan, Plan, Plan."

While the book is designed as a reference one uses as needed, I found that nearly every page taught me something about this important field.

There's no way that a book with chapters on, say, plumbing, will be able to treat plumbing as deeply as a single-subject text.But my home never limits itself to single-subject problems, so something broad is usually what I need.

I unhesitatingly recommend "Home Maintenance for Dummies" by Morris and James
Carey. ... Read more

Product Description
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint is the world citizen's guide to pushing back the advance of global warming. This colorful handbook offers 500 practical, easily achievable ideas that conserve energy, prevent pollution, and save money. Did you know that unplugging appliances and cell phone chargers when not in use can reduce electricity bills by 10 percent? Or that recycling just one glass bottle saves enough power to run a computer for 30 minutes? Whether the subject is jet travel, dishwashing, or any of the 50 topics in the book, surprising statistics and innovative graphics will inspire action and demonstrate that simple habits can lead to big results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Low carbon Diet book
Great pocket saver book coourful and quick to identify problems in and around the home. I am using it for our Low carbon diet program here in Australia and is a great use for me. Thank you.Book is seciond hand in Brand new order. Thanks

Small book Packs a big punch!
I remember in the late 80's and early 90's when taking a "rope bag" to carry your groceries home in was almost like a fashion statement. Books like "10 small things you can do to save the planet" were popular at the time.Why do need to be reminded of these lessons all the time?
This book picks up in earnest where that era left off.

This book has a small physical "footprint" itself, at only slightly larger than the size of large postcard, however, it packs in a LOT of information.

It basically breaks down, with very colorful graphics on smooth paper, each area of the life of consumer.These include Heating and cooking, washing and cleaning, shopping, children, work, transportation, etc.

Each graphic is then filled with "call out boxes" that list areas that you can save energy or reduce your carbon footprint.

I find the book very useful in making cognizant choices in specific areas.It would be a wonderful book for school children also.(10 and up)Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This absolutely indispensable and lavishly photographed guide will become a cornerstone work for years to come. It redefines the best way to "go green" and addresses a timely topic in a way designed to appeal to a growing and eager audience. Completely user-friendly and filled with motivational case studies and informative graphics. Every page leads would-be remodellers through the process of understanding their home and surroundings so they'll arrive at the perfect design solution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Site and climate are key!
Lovely book which teaches you to look at site and climate as well as use of rooms to create a "greener" more liveable home.

Neatly done.
Jane

Natural Remodeling - Natural Living
This book is written by two architects - Carol Venoliaand Kelly Lerner, who use their own Oregon based practice as a conversation start point. The target audience consists mainly of homeowners of small to mid-size homes located in the moderate and dry climate zones of the US.

The authors explain the principles of green design from architect's stand point in an understandable and down to earth language.All basic ideas are illustrated by beautiful and easy to read diagrams. There is a comprehensive appendix containing check lists and resources.

An unusual quality of the narrative is the emotional component, which accompanies the theory and the facts. This book is yet another manifesto of "live green" idea reminding us that indeed home is much more than a machine to live in as Le Corbusier proclaimed.

The book offers both mental framework and practical advice for homeowners who would like to reevaluate and reestablish the harmony between lifestyle, home and nature in their living environment.

Ecologically Responsible at a reasonable cost!
A fresh look at "Going Green".All of a sudden, you don't have to spend MegaBucks to do the environmentally responsible thing.And, Oh-by-the-way, it can be both pretty and efficient.The concepts of using-what-you-have and starting-where-you-are are liberating to those of us who can neither afford nor wish to spend a Million dollars on a new, "environmentally appropriate" dwelling.Thanks to Carol Venolia I can stand on my front porch, look around and begin to make responsible plans for the future.A GREAT book, a Great concept, a great buy.

I love this book
If you a remodeling or building, and are interested in restoring and/or maintaining your health, then this book is a must have.I believe that once you have lived in a healthy home, you will want to work from home too.An office will feel very unhealthy after that - you can really feel the health of a home or any building once you have experience a healthy home!

great book
As an architect, I appreciate this thorough and detailed look at natural remodeling techniques and am applying some of these to my own home. ... Read more