Product Description
The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence. The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy tells you how. It starts by outlining the likely impacts of fossil fuel shortages and some basic facts about energy. It then discusses energy conservation to slash energy bills and prepare for renewable energy options. Focusing carefully on specific strategies needed to replace specific fuels, the book then examines each practical energy option available to homeowners: Solar hot water, cooking, and water purification Space heat: passive and active solar retrofits Wood heat Passive cooling Solar electricity Wind-generated electricity Electricity from microhydropower sources Emerging technologies-hydrogen, fuel cells, methane digesters, and biodiesel The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy gives readers sufficient knowledge to hire and communicate effectively with contractors and, for those wanting do installations themselves, it recommends more detailed manuals. With a complete resource listing, this well-illustrated and accessible guide is a perfect companion for illuminating the coming dark age. Dan Chiras has studied renewable energy and energy efficiency for three decades and has installed several renewable energy systems. He lives in a self-designed passive solar/solar electric home. An award-winning author of over 20 books, he is a sustainability design consultant who teaches courses on renewable energy, green building, and sustainability at Colorado College.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 15 reviews)

A MUST HAVE homeowner's guide for renewable & energy efficiency by J. Godard (Denver, CO)

5 Stars
August 16, 2009
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. by DanC

4 Stars
May 25, 2009
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. by Michael J. Laramee (Jacksonville, FL)

3 Stars
January 08, 2009
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 of renewable energy for the home. by Michael Roberts (Massachusetts and Maine)

5 Stars
November 30, 2008
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 from a 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!

Very interesting and readable book by Michelle M. Reid (Kansas)

5 Stars
June 04, 2008
Not only did I find this book useful, I enjoyed reading this book. I am not a techy science person, nor do I usually seek out nonfiction, but I found that this book was written for people like me - people who are interested in making some changes in our homes to help our planet and lower our bills. The book was set up with clear chapters outlining the pros and cons of various types of renewable energy sources (wind, water, solar, and more) and how we can retrofit our homes to use them. It contained several comparison charts for the different options described, including cost comparisons, and the author provided detailed information about the information in those charts. The book also explored small changes we could easily make, and there was a section about the future of renewable energy. Written to be thoroughly understandable and readable, this book helped me become much more aware of things I could do to make some "green" changes, which was exactly the information I was seeking. All in all I recommend this book highly!

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