This resource guide contains a wealth of information on renewable energy listed by chapter. Information is periodically updated on my website: danchiras.com.
Introduction
Publications
Campbell, C. J. The Coming Oil Crisis, Petroconsultants Sa, 1997. Detailed and authoritative analysis of world oil supplies. Paints a rather dismal future.
Campbell, C. J. “The Oil Peak: A Turning Point,” Solar Today 15(4), 2001. A brief analysis of the future of global oil.
Darley, Julian. High Noon for Natural Gas: The New Energy Crisis. Chelsea Green, 2004. A look at natural gas supplies and the impacts of the imminent peak in global natural gas production.
Hartmann, Thom. The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Warming Up to Personal and Global Transformation. Three Rivers Press, 1999. A philosophic look at the decline in oil.
Heinberg, Richard. The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies. (revised and updated version) New Society Publishers, 2005. A grim look at the prospects for human society as global oil production peaks.
Heinberg, Richard. Power Down: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World. New Society Publishers, 2004. A frank discussion of our options as global oil production peaks.
Howe, John. The End of Fossil Energy: A Plan for Sustainability. McIntire Publishing, 2003. A short overview of energy problems and what we can do about them.
Rifkin, Jeremy. The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the World-Wide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth. Tarcher/Putnam, 2002. Excellent analysis of world energy troubles and an optimistic look at the role hydrogen could play in our future.
Udall, Randy. “From Cleopatra to Columbia,” Home Power 100, 2004. An insightful look at energy in an historical perspective.
Udall, Randy and Steve Andrews. “Methane Madness: A Natural Gas Primer,” Solar Today 15(4), 2001. A frightening look at natural gas production.
Udall, Randy and Steve Andrews. “When Will the Joyride End?” Home Power 81, 2001. An insightful look at oil production and consumption with emphasis on peak oil production.
Videos
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream. A gripping video on the impacts of peak oil and natural gas production. Paints a dim future for human culture. To order a copy contact: endofsurburbia.com.
Organizations
Global Public Media. This organization helps to spread the word about peak oil and natural gas and tracks important developments. Website: globalpublicmedia.com. PeakOilAction.org is another group dedicated to helping spread the word about the proximate peaks in global oil and natural gas production. Website: peakoilaction.org. The Post Carbon Institute is working to spread the word about the proximate peaks in global oil and natural gas production. Website: postcarbon.org.
Chapter 1: Renewable Energy — Clean, Affordable, and Reliable
Publications
Aitken, Donald W. “Germany Launches Its Transition,” Solar Today 19(2), 2005. A fascinating look at Germany’s plans to achieve 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources.
Aitken, Donald W. “The Renewable Energy Transition: Can it Really Happen?” Solar Today 19(1), 2005. A valuable look at a very important question.
Asmus, Peter. “Power Solutions in Our Own Backyards,” Solar Today 15 (1), 2001. An interesting look at dispersed energy production.
Bihn, Dan. “Japan Takes the Lead,” Solar Today 19(1), 2005. A look at Japan’s aggressive pursuit of renewable energy.
Brown, Lester R. “Harnessing the Wind for Energy Independence,” Solar Today 16(2), 2002. A good overview of wind energy.
Brown, Lester R. “The Short Path to Oil Independence,” Mother Earth News 208, 2005. How hybrid cars and wind energy can slash our oil imports.
Chiras, Daniel D. Lessons From Nature: Learning to Live Sustainably on the Earth. Island Press, 1992. Describes transitional steps to a renewable energy economy.
Chiras, Dan. “All About Insulation,” Mother Earth News 195, 2003. A detailed look at insulation options.
Chiras, Dan and John Richter. “Money Matters: Does an RE System Make Economic Sense?” Home Power 131, 82–85, 2009.
Flavin, C. “Rethinking the Energy System,” In State of the World 1999. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 1999. Part of an ongoing series of books on ways to restructure the global energy system that are good for people and the environment.
Home Power Staff. “Clearing the Air: Home Power Dispels the Top RE Myths,” Home Power 100, 2004. Superb piece for those who want to learn more about the many false assumptions and beliefs about renewable energy.
Kohn, Lin. “Solar in San Francisco,” Solar Today 1 (4), 2003. An exciting look at what one progressive city is doing to increase its reliance on renewable energy.
Perlin, J. From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity. Aatec Publications, 1999. A wonderfully readable history of solar electricity.
Perlin, John, Lawrence Kazmerski, and Susan Moon. “Good as Gold: The Silicon Solar Cell Turns 50,” Solar Today 28(1), 2004. A brief history of PV research and development.
Prugh, Tom, Christopher Flavin, and Janet L. Sawin. “Changing the Oil Economy,” In State of the World 2005. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2005. Examines oil production declines from the standpoint of national security.
Renner, M. “Creating Jobs, Preserving the Environment,” In State of the World 2000. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2000. Shows the economic and employment benefits of renewable energy.
Renner, M. “Employment in Wind Power.” World Watch 14(1), 2001. Fascinating look at the employment boom in the wind energy sector.
Roodman, D. M. “Reforming Subsidies.” In State of the World 2000. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2000. Extremely important reading.
Sawin, Janet L. “Charting a New Energy Future,” In State of the World 2003. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2003. An overview of renewable energy potential and what other nations are doing to create a sustainable energy future.
Sawin, Janet L.Mainstreaming Renewable Energy in the 21st Century, Worldwatch Paper 169, Washington, D.C.: Worldwatch Institute, 2004. Overview of the prospects of renewable energy.
Sawin, Janet L. “Making Better Energy Choices,” In State of the World 2004. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2004. An overview of what people are doing worldwide to switch to a renewable energy strategy.
Sindelar, Allan and Phil Campbell-Graves. “How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Home,” Home Power 103, 2004. Very useful article.
Starrs, Tom. “Green Tags: A New Way to Support Renewable Energy,” Solar Today 15 (4), 2001. Describes ways that individuals can support renewable energy production without having to install a system on their homes.
Stronberg, Joel B. “A Common-Sense Solution,” Solar Today 19(2), 2005. A look at the renewable energy strategy in light of current affairs.
Strong, Steven J. “Beyond Petroleum,” Solar Today 15(2), 2001. One of my all-time favorite stories: British Petroleum’s shift to renewable energy.
Swain, J. “Charting a New Energy Future,” In State of the World 2003. Linda Starke, ed., Norton, 2003. Examines the potential of renewable energy resources and many other important subjects.
Swezey, Blair and Lori Bird. “Businesses Lead the ‘Green Power’ Challenge,” Solar Today 15(1), 2001. What some major corporations like Toyota are doing to increase their reliance on renewable energy.
Swezey, Blair and Lori Bird. “Buying Green Power — You Really Can Make a Difference,” Solar Today 17(1), 2003. An in-depth look at ways, such as green tags, that homeowners can tap into renewable energy without installing a system on their home.
Wilkerson, Mark W. “Solar in the Heartland,” Solar Today 14(5), 2000. An inspiring tale of a small unincorporated village in north central Illinois that has gone solar.
Yerkes, Bill. “40 Years of Solar Power,” Solar Today 18(1), 2004. A historical look at PV development from an insider.
Yewdall, Zeke. “Alternatives that Don’t Cost an Arm and a Leg,”Home Power 101, 2004. A useful article on energy efficiency and other ways to acquire electricity from renewable sources if your site is not ideally suited for them or your pocketbook prohibits the investment.
Chapter 2: Conservation Rules — The Cornerstone of Your Energy Future
Publications
Bailes, Allison A. “How Efficient is Your House?”Home Power 106, 2005. Great article on home energy ratings and blower door tests.
Barker, Jennifer. “Buying an Energy-Efficient Refrigerator,” Home Power 104, 2005. For those interested in upgrading their refrigerators, this article is a must.
Carmody, John, Stephen Selkowitz, and Lisa Heschong. Residential Windows: A Guide to New Technologies and Energy Performance. Norton, 1996. Important resource for energy-efficient home designers.
Chiras, Dan. “Hunting Phantom Loads,” Home Power 82, 2001. My own experience with phantom loads in my solar electric home and advice on eliminating them.
Chiras, Dan. “Minimize the Digging: Frost- Protected Shallow Foundations,” The Last Straw 38, 2002. A brief overview of frost-protected shallow foundations.
Chiras, Dan. “Retrofitting a Foundation for Energy Efficiency, The Last Straw 38, 2002. Describes ways to retrofit foundations to reduce heat loss.
Chiras, Daniel D. “The Energy-Efficient Home,” Solar Today 18(5), 2004. A primer on energy-efficient home design.
Connor, Rachel. “Basics to Building a Better Home,” Home Power 126, 40–45, 2008. Extremely important reading to those interested in minimizing energy consumption in a home or business.
Fine Homebuilding.The Best of Fine Homebuilding: Energy-Efficient Building. Taunton Press, 1999. A collection of detailed articles on a wide assortment of topics related to energy efficiency including insulation, energy-saving details, windows, and heating systems.
Hurst-Wajszczuk, Joe. “Save Energy and Money — Now!” Mother Earth News 189, 2001. More ideas on ways to save energy in your home.
Kerr, Andy. “Doing Well While Doing Good: Conservation of Energy as a Rational Financial Investment,” Home Power 86, 2002. A look at the economics of household energy savings.
Johnston, David and Kim Master. Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time. New Society Publishers, 2004. Superb coverage of many ideas on ways to boost energy efficiency in existing homes.
Johnston, David and Scott Gibson. “Green from the Ground Up,” Home Power 129, 66–70, 2009. This article contains a lot of useful information on foundations for energy-efficient homes.
Johnston, David and Scott Gibson. “Green Framing Options,” Home Power 130, 58–64, 2009. Important information on ways to build more energy efficient homes.
Lstiburek, Joe, and Betsy Pettit. EEBA Builder’s Guide — Cold Climate. Energy Efficient Building Association, 1999. Superb resource for advice on building in cold climates.
Lstiburek, Joe, and Betsy Pettit. EEBA Builder’s Guide — Mixed Humid Climate. Energy Efficient Building Association, 1999. Superb resource for advice on this climate. Lstiburek, Joe, and Betsy Pettit. EEBA Builder’s Guide — Hot-Arid Climate. EEBA, 1999. Superb resource for advice on building in hot, arid climates.
Magwood, Chris, ed., “Roofs and Foundations,” The Last Straw 38, 2002. An excellent resource for those who want to learn about efficient foundations.
National Association of Home Builders Research Center. Design Guide for Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations. NAHB Research Center, 1996. Also available online at nahb.org.
Pahl, Greg. Natural Home Heating: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Options. Chelsea Green, 2003. A detailed overview of natural home heating options.
Pinkham, Linda and Joe Schwartz. “Washing Machine Spin-Off: Maytag Neptune vs. Frigidaire Gallery vs. Thrift Store Model,” Home Power 103, 2004. A good comparison of several of your options for energy and water-efficient washing machines.
Salomon, Thierry and Stephane Bedel. The Energy Saving House. Centre for Alternative Technology Publications, 1999. Good guide to home energy savings.
Scheckel, Paul. The Home Energy Diet. New Society Publishers, 2005. A great guide for energy conservation in homes.
Scheckel, Paul. “Efficiency Details for a Clean Energy Change,” Home Power 121, 40–45, 2007. Ten fantastic tips on saving energy.
Schwartz, Joe and Doug Puffer. “The Perfect PV: Home Power’s 2007 Solar-Electric Module Guide,” Home Power 121, 70–78, 2007. Check this out when buying PV modules. Look for the updated version published every year in Home Power.
Sikora, Jeannie L. Profit from Building Green: Award Winning Tips to Build Energy Efficient Homes. BuilderBooks, 2002. A brief, but informative overview of energy conservation strategies.
Williams, Jeff. “Warm Light, Cool Savings,” Solar Today 19(2), 2005. An introduction to energy-efficient windows and doors.
Wilson, Alex. “Windows: Looking through the Options,” Solar Today 15(2), 2001. A great overview of windows with a useful checklist for those in the market to buy new windows.
Organizations
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036. Tel: (202) 429-0063, Website: aceee.org. Numerous excellent publications on energy efficiency, including Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings.
Building America Program. US Department of Energy. Office of Building Systems, EE-41, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20585. Tel: (202) 586-9472. Leaders in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy to achieve zero-energy buildings.
Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association. Your place to shop for information on cellulose insulation. 133 S. Keowee St., Dayton, OH 45402. Tel: (937) 222-2462. Website: cellulose.org.
Consumers Union. Tel: (800) 500-9760. Publishes Consumer Reports and Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide, which rates appliances for reliability, convenience, and efficiency. Website: consumerreports.org.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse. P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116. Tel: (800) 363-3732. Great source for a variety of useful information on energy efficiency.
Energy Efficient Building Association. 490 Concordia Ave., P.O. Box 22307, Eagen, MN 55122. Tel: (651) 268-7585. Offers conferences, workshops, publications and an online bookstore. Website: eeba.org.
National Fenestration Ratings Council. 1300 Spring St., Suite 120, Silver Springs, Md. Tel: (301) 589-6372. For information on the energy efficiency of windows. Website: nfrc.org.
National Insulation Association. 99 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 222, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: (703) 683-6422. Offers a wide range of information on different types of insulation. Website: insulation.org.
US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program. Tel: (888) 782-7937. Website: energystar.gov. Energy-efficient appliances and heating systems
Publications
Fine Homebuilding. Energy-Efficient Building. Taunton Press, 1999. Contains a collection of extremely useful articles on mechanical heating systems.
Fust, Art. “A Simple Warm Floor Heating System,”The Last Straw 32, 2000. Contains much useful information on radiant floor heat.
Grahl, Christine L. “The Radiant Flooring Revolution,” Environmental Design and Construction January/February, 2000. Superb introduction to radiant-floor heating.
Hyatt, Rod. “Hydronic Heating on Renewable Energy,” Home Power 79, 2000. Practical advice on installing a radiant-floor heating system using renewable energy.
O’Connell, John, and Bruce Harley. “Choosing Ductwork,” Fine Homebuilding June/July, 1997. Essential reading for anyone interested in installing a forced-air heating system.
“Hydronic Radiant-Floor Heating,” Fine Homebuilding, October/November, 1996. Extremely useful reference. Well-written, thorough, and well-illustrated.
Siegenthaler, John. Modern Hydronic Heating. Delmar Publishers, 1995. Everything you would ever want to know about hydronic heating.
Thorne, Jennifer, John Morrill, and Alex Wilson. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, 8th ed. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 2003. Excellent resource, full of vital information on energy-saving appliances.
Weaver, Jennifer. “Tankless Is In,”Home Power 105, 2005. Excellent overview of tankless water heaters.
Wilson, Alex. “A Primer on Heating Systems,” Fine Homebuilding, February/ March, 1997. Superb overview of furnaces, boilers, and heating systems.
Wilson, Alex. “Radiant-Floor Heating: When It Does — and Doesn’t — Make Sense,” Environmental Building News 1, 2002. Valuable reading.
Organizations
Consumer Product Safety Commission. Office of Information and Public Affairs, CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207 or call their hotline at (800) 638-2772. Offers a wealth of information on space heaters, including safety precautions. Website: cpsc.gov.
Radiant Panel Association. 1433 West 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80539. Tel: (970) 613-0100. Professional organization consisting of radiant heating and cooling contractors, wholesalers, manufacturers, and professionals. Website: radiantpanelassociation.org.
Energy-Efficient Landscaping
Publications
Dramstad, Wenche E., James D. Olson, and Richard T. Forman. Landscape Ecology: Principles in Landscape Architecture and Land- Use Planning. Island Press, 1996. A useful textbook on the subject.
Moffat, Anne Simon, Marc Schiler and the staff of Green Living. Energy-Efficient and Environmental Landscaping. Appropriate Solutions Press, 1994. Contains an abundance of information on energy-efficient landscaping strategies and plant varieties suitable for various climate zones.
NREL. Landscaping for Energy Efficiency. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 1995. DOE/GO-10095-046. Provides a decent, though somewhat disorganized, overview on the topic.
Striefel, Jan and Wesley A. Groesbeck. The Resource Guide to Sustainable Landscapes. Environmental Resources, Inc., 1995. Excellent resource.
Magazines
Earthwood Journal. Eos Institute, 580 Broadway, Suite 200, Laguna Beach, Ca. 92651. Phone: 1 (714) 497-1896. A glossy permaculture magazine published by Eos Institute and the Permaculture Institute of Southern California. Geared to the professional designer, architect, and land-use planner.
The Permaculture Activist. P.O. Box 1209W, Black Mountain, NC, 28711. Tel: (828) 298-2812. Publishes articles on a variety of subjects related to permaculture; includes an updated list of permaculture design courses. Website: permacultureactivist.net.
Permaculture Drylands Journal.
Permaculture Drylands Institute, P.O. Box 156, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Tel: (505) 983-0663. Quarterly journal that focuses on the practice of permaculture in arid lands, especially Arizona and New Mexico. Website: permaculture.net.
Permaculture Edge. Permaculture Nambour, Inc. P.O. Box 148, Inglewood 6050, Western Australia. Reports on cutting-edge developments in permaculture.
Permaculture Magazine. Permanent Publications, Hyden House Limited, Little Hyden Land, Clandfield, Hampshire PO8 ORU, England. A quarterly journal published in cooperation with the Permaculture Association of Great Britain, containing articles, book reviews, and solutions from Britain and Europe. Website: permaculture.co.uk.
Permaculture Resources. P.O. Box 65, 56 Farmersville Road, Califon, NJ, 07830. Tel: (800) 832-6285. An educational publisher and distributor of permaculture resources and publications.
The Last Straw. TLS, P.O. Box 22706, Lincoln, NE 68542. Tel: (402) 483-5135. This journal publishes articles on natural building and features articles on passive solar heating and cooling. Website: strawhomes.com.
Organizations
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702. Tel: (800) 346-9140. This organization is actively involved in the permaculture movement.
International Permaculture Institute. An international coordinating organization for permaculture activities such as accreditation. P.O. Box 1, Tyalgum, NSW 2484, Australia. Tel: (066) 793 442.
Chapter 3: Solar Hot Water Systems — Satisfying Domestic Hot Water Needs with Solar Energy
Publications
Butler, Barry. “Solar Wand: Hot Water Assist for Cold Climates,”Home Power 104, 2005. Illustrates and describes a quick retrofit for existing water tanks.
Galloway, Terry. Solar House: A Guide for the Solar Designer. Architectural Press, 2004. A technical guide on a wide range of solar designs, including active solar.
Guevara-Stone, Laurie and Ian Woofenden. “Choosing Your RE Installer,” Home Power 127, 48–52, 2008. Read this article before you start calling potential installers.
Lane, Tom. “Solar Pool Heating Basics, Part 1,”Home Power 94, 2003. Excellent overview of solar pool heating systems.
Lane, Tom. “Solar Pool Heating Basics, Part 2,” Home Power 95, 2003. Excellent overview of solar pool heating systems.
Johnston, David and Kim Master. Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time. New Society Publishers, 2004. Contains many ideas to boost energy efficiency in existing homes and increase one’s reliance on renewable energy, including active solar.
Lane, Tom and Ken Olson. “Solar Hot Water for Cold Climates, Part II: Drainback Systems,” Home Power 86, 2002. Detailed look at drainback systems. (Part I of this series is Olson’s article on closed-loop antifreeze systems, listed below. Part III, written by Marken and Olson, is also listed below.)
Marken, Chuck. “Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating,” Home Power 92, 2003. Great overview of heat exchangers.
Marken, Chuck. “New Life for Your Old Water Heater: Water Heater and Solar Tank Anode Rods,” Home Power 106, 2005. A must read for anyone who has a conventional water heater.
Marken, Chuck. “Get Into Hot Water: Home Power’s 2008 Solar Thermal Collector Guide,” Home Power 123, 66–74, 2008. Just like other Home Power consumer guides, this one is priceless. Be sure to look for periodic updates of this guide in more recent issues of the magazine.
Marken, Chuck. “Solar Collectors: Behind the Glass,” Home Power 133, 70–76, 2009. A detailed look at solar hot water collectors.
Marken, Chuck and Ken Olson. “Installation Basics for Solar Domestic Water Heating Systems,” Home Power 94, 2003. The first in a series of three articles for those who would like to install their own solar hot water systems.
Marken, Chuck and Ken Olson. “One-Tank SDHW Storage with Electric Backup,” Home Power 96, 2003. All about retrofitting an existing electric water heater tank for solar hot water.
Marken, Chuck and Ken Olson. “DSHW Installation Basics. Part III: Drainback System,” Home Power 97, 2003. Excellent reference for installers and do-it-yourselfers.
Mehalic, Brian. “Solar Hot Water Storage: Residential Tanks with Integrated Heat Exchangers,” Home Power 131, pp. 70–78, 2009. Superb resource.
Mehalic, Brian. “Flat-plate and Evacuated-Tube: Solar Thermal Collectors,” Home Power 132, 40–46, 2009.
Mehalic, Brian. “Drainback Solar Hot Water Systems,” Home Power 138, 78–85, 2010. Valuable reading for those who want to learn about one of the most popular solar hot water systems on the market today.
Olson, Ken. “Solar Hot Water: A Primer,” Home Power 84, 2001. Excellent overview of solar hot water systems and your options.
Olson, Ken. “Solar Hot Water, Homebrew Style,” Home Power 88, 2002. For those who want to learn more about drain-back systems.
Olson, Ken. “Solar Hot Water for Cold Climates, Part I: Closed Loop Antifreeze System Components,” Home Power 85, 2001. For those interested in installing a solar hot water system in a climate where wintertime freezing is a regular occurrence.
Owens, Bob. “Florida Batch Water Heater,” Home Power 93, 2003. For those interested in installing a solar batch heater.
Owens, Bob. “My Solar Heated Hot Tub,” Home Power 105, 2005. For those interested in solar hot tubs, this article is a must.
Patterson, John and Suzanne Olsen. “Single-Tank Solar Water Systems,” Home Power 124, 42–46, 2008. A detailed look at one of the important and economical options for a solar hot water system.
Perlin, John. “Solar Hot Water History,” Home Power 100, 2004. A great overview of the history of solar hot water.
Sindelar, Allan and Phil Campbell-Graves. “How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Home,” Home Power 103, 2004. Very useful article.
Sklar, Scott. “Selecting a Solar Heating System,” Solar Today 18(5), 2004. A good look at the economics of solar hot water systems.
Sklar, Scott, and Kenneth Sheinkopf.
Consumer Guide to Solar Energy: More Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills and Save the Environment. Bonus Books, 1995. Delightful introduction to many different solar applications, including solar hot water.
Tonnessen, Roy W. “Solar Water Heating,” Home Power 91, 2002. A case study worth your while to read.
Weaver, Jennifer. “Tankless Is In,” Home Power 105, 2005. Excellent overview of tankless water heaters.
Wilson, Jib. “Hawaiian Heat,” Solar Today 14(3), 2000. Production builders are adding domestic solar hot water systems with help of the state.
Magazines and Newsletters
Backwoods Home Magazine. P.O. Box 712, Gold Beach, OR 97444. Tel: (800) 835- 2418. Publishes articles on all aspects of self-reliant living, including renewable energy strategies such as solar. Website: backwoodshome.com.
The CADDET Renewable Energy Newsletter. 168 Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 ORA, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 123335 432968. Quarterly magazine published by the CADDET Centre for Renewable Energy. Covers a wide range of renewable energy topics.
Earth Quarterly (formerly Dry Country News). Box 23-J, Radium Springs, NM 88054. Tel: (505) 526-1853. A new magazine devoted to living close to, and in harmony with nature. Covers all aspects of natural life including homebuilding and renewable energy. Website: zianet.com/earth.
EREN Network News. Newsletter of the Department of Energy’s Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network. See listing under organizations.
Home Energy Magazine. 2124 Kittredge Street, No. 95, Berkeley, CA 94704. Great for those who want to learn more about ways to save energy in conventional home construction.
Home Power. P.O. Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520. Tel: (800) 707-6585. Publishes numerous extremely valuable how-to and general articles on renewable energy, including solar hot water, PVs, wind energy, microhydro electric, and occasionally an article or two on passive solar heating and cooling. This magazine is a gold mine of information, an absolute must for anyone interested in learning more. The magazine also contains important product reviews and ads for companies and professional installers. CDs containing back issues can be purchased from Home Power website: homepower.com.
Inside and Out. Newsletter of the Passive Solar Industries Council. See listing under organizations.
Mother Earth News. 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. One of my favorite magazines. Usually publishes a very useful article in each issue on some aspect of renewable energy. Website: motherearthnews.com.
Solar Today. ASES, 2400 Central Ave., Suite G-1, Boulder, CO 80301. Tel: (303) 443- 3130. This magazine, published by the American Solar Energy Society, contains lots of good information on passive solar, solar thermal, photovoltaics, hydrogen, and other topics, but not much how-to information. Also lists names of engineers, builders, and installers and lists workshops and conferences. Website: solartoday.org.
Organizations
American Solar Energy Society. 2400 Central Avenue, Suite G-1, Boulder, CO 80301. Publishes Solar Today magazine and sponsors an annual national meeting. Also publishes an online catalog of publications and sponsors the National Tour of Solar Homes. Contact this organization to find out about an ASES chapter in your area. Website: ases.org.
Center for Building Science. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Center for Building Science works to develop and commercialize energy-efficient technologies and to document ways of improving the energy efficiency of homes and other buildings while protecting air quality. Website: eetd.lbl.gov.
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (CREST). 1612 K St. NW, Suite 410, Washington, D.C. 20006. Tel: (202) 293-2898. Nonprofit organization dedicated to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living. Website: thinkenergy.org.
El Paso Solar Energy Association. P.O. Box 26384, El Paso, TX 79926. Active in solar energy, especially passive solar design and construction. Website: epsea.org/design.html.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse. P.O. Box 3048, Merrifield, VA 22116. Tel: (800) 363-3732. Great source of a variety of useful information on renewable energy.
Florida Solar Energy Center. FSEC, 679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922. Tel: (321) 638-1000. A research institute of the University of Central Florida Research and education on passive solar, cooling, and photovoltaics. Website: fsec.ucf.edu.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association. P.O. Box 249, Amherst, WI 54406. Tel: (715) 824-5166. Actively promotes solar energy and offers valuable workshops and a superb annual energy fair. Also sponsors a smashing annual event on the Summer Solstice, the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair. It’s a must-do — many times! Website: the-mrea.org.
National Renewable Energy Lab. NREL, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401. Tel: (303) 384-7349. Center for Buildings and Thermal Systems. Key players in research and education on energy efficiency and passive solar heating and cooling. Website: nrel.gov/buildings/highperformance.
North Carolina Solar Center. Box 7401, Raleigh, NC 27695. Tel: (919) 515-3480. Offers workshops, tours, publications, and much more. Website: www.ncsc.ncsu.edu.
Renewable Energy Training and Education Center. 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922. Tel: (407) 638-1007. Offers hands-on training and certification courses in the US and abroad for those interested in becoming certified in solar installation.
Solar Energy International. P.O. Box 715, Carbondale, CO 81623. Tel: (970) 963- 8855. Offers a wide range of workshops on solar energy, wind energy, and natural building. Website: solarenergy.org.
Solar Living Institute. P.O. Box 836, Hopland, CA 95449. Tel: (707) 744-2017. A nonprofit organization that offers frequent hands-on workshops on solar energy and many other topics. Be sure to tour their facility if you are in the neighborhood. Website: solarliving.org.
The Evergreen Institute: Center for Renewable Energy and Green Building, 3028 Pin Oak Road, Gerald, MO 63037. Tel: (303) 883-8290. The author’s educational center, which offers hands-on workshops in solar hot water, home energy efficiency, passive solar, small wind energy, green building and many other topics. Be sure to tour the facility, but call first for a tour. Website: evergreeninstitute.org.
Chapter 4: Free Heat — Passive Solar and Heat Pumps
Passive Solar
Publications
Chiras, Daniel D. “Build a Solar Home and Let the Sunshine in,” Mother Earth News 193, 2002. A survey of passive solar design principles and a case study showing the economics of passive solar heating.
Chiras, Dan. “Learning from Mistakes of the Past,” The Last Straw 36, 2001. Describes common errors in passive solar design.
Chiras, Dan. “Passive Solar Retrofit,” Home Power 138, 106–111, 2010. A detailed examination of ways to retrofit a home for passive solar.
Chiras, Daniel D., ed., “Solar Solutions,” The Last Straw 36, 2001. Over a dozen articles, many by me, on passive solar heating, integrated design, thermal mass, and more.
Chiras, Dan. “Sunshine from a Tube,” Mother Earth News 202, 2004. Brief introduction to solar tube skylights.
Chiras, Daniel D. The Solar House: Passive Solar Heating and Cooling. Chelsea Green, 2002. A detailed, readable guide for designing and building homes for passive solar heating and cooling.
Chiras, Dan. “Sun-Wise Design: Avoid Passive Solar Design Blunders,” Home Power 105, 2005. Important look at the most costly and most common mistakes in passive solar design.
Crosbie, Michael. J., ed., The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook. John Wiley and Sons, 1997. A fairly technical manual on passive solar homes.
Contains detailed drawings and case studies.
Crowther, Richard I. Affordable Passive Solar Homes: Low-Cost Compact Designs. SciTech Publishing, 1984. Contains some valuable background information on passive solar design and numerous designs for passive solar homes.
Energy Division, North Carolina Department of Commerce. Solar Homes for North Carolina: A Guide to Building and Planning Solar Homes. North Carolina Solar Center, 1999. Available online at the North Carolina Solar Center’s website.
Galloway, Terry. Solar House: A Guide for the Solar Designer. Architectural Press, 2004. Fairly technical guide on a wide range of solar designs, including passive solar.
Gillett, Drew and Nick Pine. “Soldier’s Grove Soldiers On,” Solar Today 17(6), 2003. Inspiring look at a solar town in Wisconsin that uses passive and active solar technologies to provide heat to homes and stores.
Johnston, David and Kim Master. Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time. New Society Publications, 2004. Many ideas that boost energy efficiency in existing homes and increase reliance on renewable energy, including passive solar.
Kriescher, Paul. “New England Style Passive Solar,” Solar Today 14(3), 2000. An interesting case study in residential passive solar heating.
Kachadorian, James. The Passive Solar House. Chelsea Green, 1997. Presents a lot of good information on passive solar heating and an interesting design that has been fairly successful in cold climates.
Kubusch, Erwin. Home Owner’s Guide to Free Heat: Cut Your Heating Bills Over 50%. Sunstore Farms, 1991. A self-published book with lots of good basic information.
Amanda Griscom. “Super Solar Homes Everyone Can Afford,” Mother Earth News 207, 2005. Those interested in building a new home should check out this article.
Marken, Chuck. “Solar Hot Air System Design,” Home Power 98, 2004. Valuable resource for those who can’t retrofit for passive solar or solar hot water heating systems.
Marken, Chuck. “Solar Hot Air Systems, Part II,” Home Power 99, 2004. Valuable resource.
Miller, Burke. Solar Energy: Today’s Technologies for a Sustainable Future. American Solar Energy Society, 1997. Extremely valuable resource; contains numerous case studies showing how passive solar heating can be used in different climates, even in some solar-deprived places.
Moore, Steve and Carol Moore. “Winter Food Production in Pennsylvania — Without Fossil Fuels,” Home Power 99, 2004. Learn to grow much of your own food year round without artificially heating a greenhouse.
Niklas, Mike. “High Performance Schools — It’s a No-Brainer,” Solar Today 16I (3), 2002. A fascinating look at the greening of a high school in Oregon, including energy efficiency, passive solar heating, passive cooling, and daylighting.
Olson, Ken and Joe Schwartz. “Home Sweet Solar Home: A Passive Solar Design Primer,” Home Power 90, 2002. Superb introduction to passive solar design principles.
Passive Solar Industries Council. Passive Solar Design Strategies: Guidelines for Home Builders. PSIC, undated. Extremely useful book with worksheets for calculating a house’s energy demand, the amount of backup heat required, the temperature swing one can expect given the amount of thermal mass you’ve installed, and the estimated cooling load. You can order a copy from the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC, formerly the PSIC) with detailed information for your state, so you can design a home to meet the requirements of your site.
Reynolds, Michael. Comfort in Any Climate. Solar Survival Press, 1990. A brief but informative treatise on passive heating and cooling.
Riversong, Robert. “Designing a Passive Solar Slab,” Home Power 136, 60–66, 2010. Very worthwhile reading for anyone serious about building a passive solar home.
Sklar, Scott, and Kenneth Sheinkopf. Consumer Guide to Solar Energy: More Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills and Save the Environment. Bonus Books, 1995. Delightful introduction to many different solar applications, including passive solar heating.
Solar Survival Architecture. “Thermal Mass vs. Insulation.” Earthship Chronicles. Solar Survival Architecture, 1998. Basic treatise on passive solar heating and cooling.
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council. Designing Low-Energy Buildings: Passive Solar Strategies and Energy-10 Software. SBIC, 1996. A superb resource! This book of design guidelines and the Energy-10 software that comes with it enables builders to analyze the energy and cost savings in building designs. Helps permit region-specific design.
Taylor, John S. Shelter Sketchbook: Timeless Building Solutions. Chelsea Green, 1983. Pictorial history of building that will open your eyes to intriguing design solutions to achieve comfort, efficiency, convenience, and beauty.
Videos
Buildings for a Sustainable America. A concise overview of passive solar buildings and their benefits. Available from the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC), 1331 H Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005. Tel: (202) 628-7400. Website: sbicouncil.org.
Organizations
Sustainable Buildings Industries Council. SBIC, 331 H. Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005. Tel: (202) 628- 7400. This organization has a terrific website with information on workshops, books, and publications on energy-efficient, passive solar design, and links to many other international, national, and state solar energy organizations. Publishes a newsletter, Buildings Inside and Out. Website: psic.org.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association: see listing in Chapter 3 Solar Energy International: see listing in Chapter 3.
Solar Living Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
The Evergreen Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
Heat Pumps
Publications
Malin, Nadav, and Alex Wilson. “Ground-Source Heat Pumps: Are They Green?” Environmental Building News 9(1), 2000. Detailed overview on ground-source heat pumps.
National Renewable Energy Lab. “Geothermal Heat Pumps,” published online at eere.energy.gov/geothermal/ heat pumps. Great overview of ground-source heat pumps.
Persons, Jeff. “The Big Dig,” Mother Earth News 185, 102. A brief introduction to ground-source heat pumps.
Organizations
Geo-Heat Center, Oregon Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus Dr., Klamath, OR. 97601. Tel: (541) 885-1750. Technical information on heat pumps. Website: geoheat.oit.edu.
Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004-2696. Tel: (888) 333-4472. General and technical information on heat pumps. Website: ghpc.org.
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. 490 Cordell South, Stillwater, OK. 74078-8018. Tel: (405) 744-5175. Provides a list of equipment manufacturers, installers by state, and numerous other resources for contractors, homeowners, students, and the general public. Website: igshpa.okstate.edu.
US Department of Energy, Office of Geothermal Technologies. EE-12, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0121. Tel: (202) 586-5340. Carries out research on GSHPs and works closely with industry to implement new ideas.
Chapter 5: Solar Hot Air and Hot Water Systems: Affordable Heat from the Sun
Publications
Gillett, Drew and Nick Pine. “Soldier’s Grove Soldiers On,” Solar Today 17(6), 2003. An inspiring look at a solar town in Wisconsin that uses passive and active solar technologies to provide heat to homes and stores.
Hyatt, Rod. “Hydronic Heating on Renewable Energy,” Home Power 79, 2000. Provides a lot of practical advice on building your own radiant floor heating system and powering it with photovoltaic panels.
Kriescher, Paul. “Energy Performance on a Budget,” Solar Today 14(5), 2000. A fascinating case study in residential active and passive solar heating in New Hampshire. A must read.
Lane, Tom, 2004, Solar Hot Water Systems: Lessons Learned 1977 to Today. Energy Conservation Services. The definitive solar technical manual.
Marsden, Guy. “Solar Heat for My Main Workshop,” Home Power 89, 2002. A case study worth reading by those interested in using solar hot water to provide space heat.
Pine, Nick. “Solar Heat in Snow Country,”
Solar Today 17 (1), 2003. An inspiring story about active solar heating in a US Customs border station in Vermont.
Ramlow, Bob and Benjamin Nusz. Solar Water Heating — Revised & Expanded Edition: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating. New Society Publishers, 2010. Designed for a readership ranging from the curious homeowner to the serious student or professional.
Simpson, Walter. “Adventure in Solar Living,” Solar Today 17(5), 2003. An inspiring tale of a passive solar/solar hot water heated home in Buffalo, New York.
Chapter 6: Wood Heat
Publications
Barden, Albert A. AlbiCore Construction Manual. Maine Wood Heat Company, 1996. Detailed construction manual for one type of masonry heater.
Barden, Albert A. The Finnish Fireplace: Construction Manual. Maine Wood Heat Company, Inc., 1984. The only complete English language primer on making masonry heaters. Available through the Maine Wood Heat Company. Website: mainewoodheat.com.
Barden, Albert A. and Keikki Hyytiainen. Finnish Fireplaces: Heart of the Home. Building Book Ltd., 1988. A valuable resource for anyone wanting to learn more about Finnish masonry stoves. Available through the Maine Wood Heat Company listed above.
British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Land, and Parks. “Reducing Wood Stove Smoke: A Burning Issue,” Sept. 1994. Website: env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdqa/ar/particulates/rwssabi.html Gulland, John. “The Art of the Wood Cookstove,” Mother Earth News 207, 2005. A detailed look at wood cookstoves.
Gulland, John. “Woodstove Buyer’s Guide,” Mother Earth News 189, 2002. Superb overview of wood stoves with a useful table to help you select a model that meets your needs.
Gulland, John. “Responsible Wood Heating: A Kind-to-the-Environment Guide,” Home Power 99, 2004. For those who want to burn wood responsibly, that is, with minimal impact, this article is a must.
Johnson, Dave. The Good Woodcutter’s Guide: Chain Saws, Portable Sawmills, and Woodlots. Chelsea Green, 1998. A practical guide to felling trees and cutting firewood safely.
Lyle, David. The Book of Masonry Stoves: Rediscovering an Old Way of Warming. Chelsea Green, 1984. This book contains a wealth of information on the history, function, design, and construction of masonry stoves.
Mink, Kate. “Living with a Masonry Stove,” Home Power 103, 2004. A personal account of what it is like to live with a masonry heater; well worth reading.
Pahl, Greg. “Wood-Fired Central Heat,” Mother Earth News 196, 2003. For additional information on wood furnaces.
Organizations
Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association. (Formerly the Hearth Products Association.) 1601 North Kent Street, Suite 1001, Arlington, VA. 22209. International trade association that promotes the interests of the hearth products industry. Offers lots of valuable information. Website: hpba.org.
Masonry Heater Association of North America. 1252 Stock Farm Road, Randolph, VT. 05060. Tel: (802) 728-5896. Publishes a valuable newsletter and has a website with links to dealers and masons who design and build masonry stoves. Website: mha-net.org.
Wood Heat Organization. 410 Bank Street, Suite 117, Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2P 1Y8. Promotes safe, responsible use of wood for heating. Website: woodheat.org.
Chapter 7: Passive Cooling: Staying Cool Naturally
Publications
Chiras, Dan. “Sunshine from a Tube,” Mother Earth News 202, 2004. A brief introduction to solar tube skylights, a device that helps reduce heat gain in the summer.
Mossberg, Cliff. “Passive Cooling. Part 1– Basic Principles,” Home Power 82, 2001. A fairly technical, but very valuable resource on passive cooling.
Mossberg, Cliff. “Passive Cooling. Part 2 – Applied Construction,” Home Power 82, 2001. Part 2 of the piece described above.
Galloway, Terry. Solar House: A Guide for the Solar Designer. Architectural Press, 2004. Fairly technical guide on a wide range of solar designs, including passive cooling.
Givoni, Baruch. Passive and Low Energy Cooling of Buildings. John Wiley and Sons, 1994. A fairly technical book, but one of the few resources on the subject.
Niklas, Mike. “High Performance Schools — It’s a No-Brainer,” Solar Today 16 (3), 2002. A fascinating look at the greening of a high school in Oregon, including energy efficiency, passive cooling, and daylighting.
Pagés, Fernando. Building an Affordable House, Taunton Press, 2005.
NOTE: See resources for passive solar heating, as many concepts and techniques that make passive solar heating work, also function to passively cool a home.
Chapter 8: Solar Electricity — Powering Your Home with Solar Energy
Publications
Berton, John. “Off-Grid in Chicago,” Home Power 80, 2001. For those who are skeptical about solar electricity in a city, this is a must read.
Butti, Ken and John Perlin. Golden Thread: 2500 Years of Solar Architecture and Technology. Cheshire Books, 1980. Delightful history of solar energy.
Davidson, Joel. The New Solar Electric Home: The Photovoltaics How-To Handbook. Aatec Publications. Comprehensive and highly readable guide to photovoltaics, a brand new edition.
Dankoff, Windy. “Solar Water Pumping Makes Sense,”Home Power 97, 2003. Great primer by the nation’s leading expert on the subject.
Del Vecchio, David. “Optimizing a PV Array,” Home Power 130, 52–56, 2009. A must read for homeowners and future installers.
Ewing, Rex A. Power With Nature: Solar and Wind Energy Demystified. PixyJack Press, 2003. Skip to the second half if you want to get to the meat of the matter.
Galocy, Baran. “Build Your Own Adjustable PV Mount,” Home Power 97, 2003. Instructions on how to build an adjustable PV rack.
Goodnight, Jim. “Sizing a Generator for Your RE System,” Home Power 138, 88–91, 2010. A fairly technical piece for those who want to learn more about backup generators for off-grid systems.
Gourley, Colleen. “Production Builders Go Solar,” Solar Today 16(1), 2002. Inspiring story about the incorporation of solar electricity into homes in California by large-scale production builders.
Guevara-Stone, Laurie and Ian Woofenden. “Choosing Your RE Installer,” Home Power 127, 48–52, 2008. Read this article before you start calling potential installers.
Hackleman, Michael and Claire Anderson. “Harvest the Wind,” Mother Earth News, June/July, 2002. A wonderful introduction to wind power.
Hren, Rebekah. “A Peek Inside PV,” Home Power 132, 58–64, 2009. For those interested in learning more about the structure and function of PV cells.
Kazmerski, Lawrence L. “Photovoltaic Myths — The Seven Deadly Sins,” Solar Today 16 (4), 2002.
Kelin, Ken and Paul Hanley. “Winter Cattle Watering with Automated Solar Pumps,” Home Power 98, 2004. Learn more about ways to pump water with solar electricity.
Kohn, Lin. “Solar in San Francisco,” Solar Today 1(4), 2003. A great look at what one progressive city is doing to increase its reliance on renewable energy.
Komp, Richard J. Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar Cells. 3rd ed. Aatec Publications, 1999. Fairly popular book on PVs.
LaForge, Christopher. “Choosing the Best Batteries: 2009 Battery Specifications Guide,” Home Power 127, 80–88, 2009. Superb piece for those interested in a battery-based system.
Larson, Kelly. “Off-Grid Inverter Buyer’s Guide,” Home Power 132, 96–103, 2009. Compares all the major models of off-grid inverters. Great shopping guide.
Lensch, Erik. “Pumping Water with Sunshine,” Home Power 125, 74–78, 2008. Worthwhile reading for those who live on farms with livestock.
Linkous, Clovis A. “Solar Energy Hydrogen — Partners in a Clean Energy Economy.” Solar Today 13(4), 1999. A detailed and somewhat technical article on hydrogen production using solar electricity.
Marsden, Guy. “Microinverters Make a Simple DIY Installation,” Home Power 136, 50–56, 2010. This article explains some of the basics of microinverters and how they simplify a PV installation.
Mayfield, Ryan. “Rack and Stack: PV Array Mounting Options,” Home Power 124, 58–64, 2008. Looks at all the options for mountain a PV array on a rack.
Mayfield, Ryan. “Grid-Tied Inverter Buyer’s Guide,” Home Power 138, 58–66, 2010. Great comparison of grid-tied inverter features.
NREL. The Colorado Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. National Renewable Energy Lab, 1998. Provides basic information about purchasing, financing, and installing photovoltaic systems in Colorado that is applicable to many other states and countries as well. Contact NREL’s Document Distribution Service at: (303) 275-4363 for a free copy.
NREL. The Borrower’s Guide to Financing Solar Energy Systems. National Renewable Energy Lab, 1998. Provides information about nationwide financing programs for photovoltaics and passive solar heating. Contact NREL’s Document Distribution Service at (303) 275-4363 for a free copy.
Pahl, Greg. “Choosing a Backup Generator,” Mother Earth News 202, 2004. Fairly detailed overview of what to look for when buying a backup electrical generator for an RE system.
Peavy, Michael A. Fuel from Water: Energy Independence with Hydrogen, 8th ed. Merit, Inc., 1998. Technical analysis for engineers and chemists.
Perez, Richard. “To Track … or Not to Track,” Home Power 101, 2004. Great little piece on tracking devices for PVs and whether they make sense for your site.
Perez, Richard. “Flooded Lead-Acid Battery Maintenance,” Home Power 98, 2004. Read and memorize this, and put the advice into practice if you plan on installing a stand-alone system.
Perlin, J. From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity. Aatec Publications, 1999. A wonderfully readable history of solar electricity.
Perlin, John, Lawrence Kazmerski, and Susan Moon. “Good as Gold: The Silicon Solar Cell Turns 50,” Solar Today 28(1), 2004. A brief history of PV research and development.
Pinkham, Linda. “From the Ground Up: My RE System Design Choice,” Home Power 106, 2005. A personal account that walks readers through the issues one woman faced when considering a solar electric system.
Radoff, Joshua H. “Solar in the City,” Solar Today 18(5), 2004. An interesting look at solar electric installations in New York City.
Rousso, Mo. “Get Solarized Now: Financing your PV System,” Home Power 129, 58–62, 2009. Important reading for those who can’t afford to pay for a PV system outright.
Rastelli, Linda. “Energy Independence With All the Comforts,” Solar Today 16(1), 2002. An inspiring story about a passive solar/solar electric home in Washington, D.C.
Roberts, Simon. Solar Electricity: A Practical Guide to Designing and Installing Small Photovoltaic Systems. Prentice-Hall, 1991. Good reference, but a bit dated.
Russell, Scott. “Solar-Electric Systems Simplified,” Home Power 104, 2005. Good, solid, and well-illustrated introduction to the components of a solar electric system.
Russell, Scott. “Starting Smart: Calculating Your Energy Appetite,” Home Power 102, 2004. Great little introduction to household load analysis to determine household electrical demand.
Sanchez, Justine. “PV Energy Payback,” Home Power 127, 32–36, 2008. Looks at the energy it takes to make PV systems and how rapidly a PV system generates that same amount of energy.
Sanchez, Justine. “Tracked: PV Array Systems and Performance,” Home Power 131, 50–56, 2009. Great piece on the economics of trackers.
Sanchez, Justine. “Solar Site Assessment,” Home Power 130, 46–50, 2009. For those interested in getting into the solar business.
Sanchez, Justine. “Sizing Batteryless Grid-Tied PV Arrays,” Home Power 138, 62–67, 2010. Read this piece to learn how to size a grid-connected system.
Sanchez, Justine and Brad Burritt. “Charge Controller Buyer’s Guide,” Home Power 129, 72–77, 2009. Another terrific shopping tool for those interested in battery-based PV systems.
Schaeffer, John and the Real Goods staff. Solar Living Source Book, 10th ed., Real Goods, 1999. Contains an enormous amount of background information on wind, solar, and microhydroelectric.
Schwartz, Joe. “What’s Going On — The Grid?”Home Power 106, 2005. An excellent look at inverters for grid-connected systems.
Schwartz, Joe. “Go Configure: Configuring Your PV Array,” Home Power 87, 2002. Guide to wiring PV arrays. Very useful.
Seuss, Terri and Cheryl Long. “Eliminate Your Electric Bill: Go Solar, Be Secure,” Mother Earth News 190, 2002. Excellent discussion of solar roofing materials.
Sindelar, Allan and Phil Campbell-Graves. “How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Home,” Home Power 103, 2004. Very useful article.
Sindelar, Allan. “Engine Generator Basics,” Home Power 131, 96–102, 2009. A must read for anyone interested in going off grid and thinking about installing a gen-set with their PV or wind system.
Solar Energy International. Photovoltaic Design Manual, Version 2. Solar Energy International. A manual on designing, installing, and maintaining a PV system. Used in SEI’s PV design and installation workshops.
Stockman, Douglas. “The Hard Part About Wind Turbines,” Home Power 86, 2002. Personal tale about the difficulties of siting a wind machine in a rural area.
Strong, Steven and William G. Scheller. The Solar Electric House: Energy for the Environmentally Responsive, Energy-Independent Home. Sustainability Press, 1993. Comprehensive and technical guide to solar electricity.
Symanski, Paul. “Money from the Sun: An Investor’s Guide to Solar-Electric Profits,” Home Power 100, 2004. Very interesting comparison of the economic payback of grid-connected solar electric systems in Arizona to an investment in the stock market.
Taylor, Jeremy. “Pump up the Power,” Home Power 127, 72–77, 2008. How to maximize electrical production from a PV system.
Wiles, John. “Microinverters and AC PV Modules,” Home Power 136, 112–113, 2010. Great little piece on a new and exciting inverter.
Woofenden, Ian.“Battery Filling Systems of the Americas: Single-Point Watering System,”Home Power 100, 2004. This article is a must for those who would like to reduce battery maintenance.
Woofenden, Ian.“Off or On Grid? Getting Real,” Home Power 128, 40–45, 2008. A piece everyone who’s thinking about installing an off-grid system should read.
Yerkes, Bill. “40 Years of Solar Power,” Solar Today 18(1), 2004. A historical survey of PVs from an insider.
Yewdall, Zeke. “PV Orientation,” Home Power 93, 2003. A must read for those with less-than-perfect solar sites.
Videos
An Introduction to Residential Solar Electricity with Johnny Weiss. Good basic introduction to solar electricity. Produced by Scott S. Andrews, P.O. Box 3027, Sausalito, CA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-5191. Also available through Gaiam Real Goods.
An Introduction to Solar Water Pumping with Windy Dankoff. A very useful introduction to the subject. Produced by Scott S. Andrews, P.O. Box 3027, Sausalito, CA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-5191. Also available through Gaiam Real Goods.
An Introduction to Storage Batteries for Renewable Energy Systems with Richard Perez. This is one of the best videos in the series. It’s full of great information. Produced by Scott S. Andrews, P.O. Box 3027, Sausalito, CA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-5191. Also available through Gaiam Real Goods.
The Solar-Powered Home with Rob Roy. An 84-minute video that examines basic principles, components, set-up, and system planning for an off-grid home featuring tips from America’s leading experts in the field of home power. Can be purchased from the Earthwood Building School at 366 Murtagh Hill Road, West Chazy, NY, 12992. Tel: (518) 493-7744. Website: cordwoodmasonry.com.
Organizations
American Solar Energy Society: see listing in Chapter 3.
Centre for Alternative Technology. Address: Machynlleth, Powys SY20 9Az., UK. Tel: 01654 703409. This educational group in the United Kingdom offers workshops on alternative energy, including wind, solar, and microhydroelectric. Website: cat.org.uk.
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies: see listing in Chapter 3.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association: see listing in Chapter 3 Solar Energy International: see listing in Chapter 3.
Solar Living Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
The Evergreen Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
Chapter 9: Wind Power — Meeting Your Needs for Electricity
Publications
Bartmann, Dan and Dan Fink. “Homebrew Wind Power: A Hands-On Guide to Harnessing the Wind,” Buckville Publications: Masonville, CO, 2009. For those interested in building a high-quality wind turbine.
Butler, Roy and Ian Woofenden. “Wind-Electric System Maintenance,” Home Power 135, 98–103, 2010. Be sure to read this before you purchase a wind system — so you know what you are getting into.
Ewing, Rex A. Power With Nature: Solar and Wind Energy Demystified. PixyJack Press, 2003. Skip to the second half if you want to get to the meat of the matter.
Green, Jim. “Small Wind Installations in Colorado,” Solar Today 14 (1), 2000. Several case studies of wind installations.
Gipe, Paul. “Small Wind Systems Boom,” Solar Today 1 (2), 2002. Good overview of small wind energy systems by one of America’s leading experts on the subject.
Gipe, Paul. Wind Power for Home and Business: Renewable Energy for the 1990s and Beyond. Chelsea Green, 1993. Somewhat technical introduction to small and medium-sized wind generators.
Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy Basics: A Guide to Small and Micro Wind Systems. Chelsea Green, 1999. A brief introduction to wind energy for newcomers.
Hackleman, M. and C. Anderson. “Harvest the Wind.” Mother Earth News 192, 2002. An easy-to-read and fact-filled article on wind power.
Kuebeck, Sr., Peter and Peter Kuebeck, Jr. “Old Jacobs — Current Again,” Home Power 89, 2002. Personal story about one of the best wind machines on the market.
LaForge, Christopher. “Choosing the Best Batteries: 2009 Battery Specifications Guide,” Home Power 127, 80–88, 2009. Superb piece for those interested in a battery-based system.
Osborn, D. “Winds of Change.” Solar Today 17(6), 2003. Looks at a number of important issues, including bird kills by wind towers compared to other sources.
Pahl, Greg. “Choosing a Backup Generator,” Mother Earth News 202, 2004. A fairly detailed overview of what to look for when buying a backup electrical generator for an RE system.
Pearen, Craig. “Brushless Alternators,” Home Power 97, 2003. Brief but interesting look at brushless (low-maintenance) alternators for wind machines.
Piggott, Hugh. “Estimating Wind Energy,” Home Power 102, 2004. A brief piece that will help you determine how much electrical energy you can produce on your site.
Perez, Richard. “Flooded Lead-Acid Battery Maintenance,”Home Power 98, 2004. Read and memorize this, and put the advice into practice if you plan on installing a stand-alone system.
Preus, Robert. “Thoughts on VAWTs: Vertical Axis Wind Generator Perspectives,” Home Power 104, 2005.
Raichle, Brian and Brent Summerville. “How Tall is Too Tall,” Home Power 126, 84–89, 2008. Important reading on an extremely important topic: tower height for wind turbines.
Rastelli, Linda. “Energy Independence — With All the Comforts,” Solar Today 16(1), 2002. The story of a mass-marketed passive solar/solar electric home.
Russell, Scott. “Starting Smart: Calculating Your Energy Appetite,” Home Power 102, 2004. Great introduction to household load analysis (to determine household electrical demand).
Sagrillo, Mick. “Being Your Own Utility,” Solar Today 17(5), 2003. For those who are considering going off grid.
Sagrillo, Mick. “On Intimate Terms with a Wind Generator,” Solar Today 17(1), 2003. An inspiring tale about one do-it-yourselfer and his wind machine.
Sagrillo, Mick and Ian Woofenden. “How to Buy a Wind Generator,” Home Power 131, 2009. The most valuable resource you will find on selecting a wind generator. Contains a chart showing details on many small wind turbines.
Short, Walter and Nate Blair. “The Long-Term Potential of Wind Power in the US” Solar Today 17(6), 2003. Important study of wind power’s potential.
Sindelar, Allan and Phil Campbell-Graves. “How to Finance Your Renewable Energy Home,” Home Power 103, 2004. Very useful article.
Swezey, Blair and Lori Bird. “Businesses Lead the ‘Green Power’ Challenge,” Solar Today 15(1), 2001. An interesting look at what some major corporations like Toyota are doing to increase their reliance on renewable energy.
Swezey, Blair and Lori Bird. “Buying Green Power — You Really Can Make a Difference,” Solar Today 17(1), 2003. An in-depth look at ways homeowners can tap into renewable energy (such as green tags) without installing a system on their home.
Woofenden, Ian. “Wind Generator Tower Basics,” Home Power 105, 2005. Excellent overview of an important subject.
Woofenden, Ian. “A Beginner’s Guide to Tower Climbing Safety,” Home Power 128, 66–70, 2009. Read this if you are thinking about installing a climbable tower.
Woofenden, Ian. “A Second Wind,” Home Power 130, 84–88, 2009. A story that should help anyone interested in a wind system.
Woofenden, Ian. “Battery Filling Systems of the Americas: Single-Point Watering System,”Home Power 100, 2004. This article is a must for those who would like to reduce battery maintenance.
Woofenden, Ian. “Wind Power Curves: What’s Wrong, What’s Better,” Home Power 127, 92–95, 2008. Very valuable article for those seriously thinking about installing a wind turbine.
Woofenden, Ian. Wind Power for Dummies. Wiley: New York, 2009. Fairly comprehensive guide to wind energy.
Videos
An Introduction to Residential Wind Power with Mick Sagrillo. Produced by Scott S. Andrews, P.O. Box 3027, Sausalito, CA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-5191. A very informative video, especially for those wishing to install a medium-sized system.
Organizations
American Wind Energy Association. 122C Street, NW, Suite 380, Washington, D.C. 20001. Tel: (202) 383-2500. This organization also sponsors an annual conference on wind energy. The website contains a list of publications, an online newsletter, frequently asked questions, news releases, and links to companies and organizations. Website: awea.org.
British Wind Energy Association. 26 Spring Street, London W2 1JA. Tel: 0171 402 7102. Actively promotes wind energy in Great Britain. Check out the website for fact sheets, answers to frequently asked questions, links, and a directory of companies. Website: bwea.com.
Centre for Alternative Technology. Machynlleth, Powys SY20 9Az., UK. Tel: 01654 703409. This educational group in the United Kingdom offers workshops on alternative energy, including wind, solar, and microhydro-electric. Website: cat.org.uk.
Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies. See listing in Chapter 3.
European Wind Energy Association. Rue du Trone 26, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium. Tel: +32 2 546 1940. Promotes wind energy in Europe. The organization publishes the European Wind Energy Association Magazine. The website contains information on wind energy in Europe and offers a list of publications and links to other sites. Website: ewea.org.
National Wind Technology Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401-3393. Tel: (303) 275-3000. The website provides a search mode so you can check out the site, and provides a great deal of information on wind energy, including a wind resource database. Website: nrel.gov/wind.
Real Goods Solar Living Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
Midwest Renewable Energy Association: see listing in Chapter 3 Solar Energy International: see listing in Chapter 3.
Solar Living Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
The Evergreen Institute: see listing in Chapter 3.
Chapter 10: Microhydropower:Generating Electricity from Running Water
Publications
Aronson, Jeffe. “Choosing Microhydro … Clean Electricity in the Outback,” Home Power 101, 2004. Valuable reading for anyone interested in low-head microhydro.
Gardner, Ken and Ian Woofenden. “Hydro-electric Turbine Buyer’s Guide,” Home Power 136, 100–108, 2010. Excellent resource that will save you a lot of time if you are shopping for a microhydro turbine.
Greacen, Chris. “Low-Head Microhydro Thai Style,” Home Power 124, 76–80, 2008. Looks at one of the often overlooked options for microhydro.
Isley, Bill. “Happy on One Kilowatt,” Mother Earth News 180, 92, 2000. A story of one couple’s quest for energy independence through microhydro.
Maxwell, Steve. “Homestead Hydropower,” Mother Earth News 208, 2005. A good overview of the subject.
New, Dan. “Intro to Hydropower. Part 1: Systems Overview,” Home Power 103, 2004. The first piece in a superb series.
New, Dan. “Intro to Hydropower. Part 2: Measuring Head and Flow,” Home Power 104, 2004. The second piece in the series; this one covers important information on assessing a site.
New, Dan. “Intro to Hydropower. Part 3: Power, Efficiency, Transmission & Equipment Selection,” Home Power 105, 2005. The final piece in the series.
Ostermeier, Jerry. “Microhydro Intake Design,” Home Power 124, 68–73. Detailed look at the various types of intake structures for microhydro systems.
Ostermeier, Jerry. “Pipeline: Hydro-Electric Penstock Design,” Home Power 125, 56–73, 2008. Detailed look at the various types of intake structures for microhydro systems.
Ostermeier, Jerry and Joe Schwartz. “The Electric Side of Hydro Power: Power Transmission and Regulation Considerations,” Home Power 126, 68–73, 2008. A must read for anyone interested in installing microhydro.
Pahl, Greg. “Choosing a Backup Generator,” Mother Earth News 202, 2004. A fairly detailed overview of what to look for when buying a backup electrical generator for an RE system.
Perez, Richard. “Flooded Lead-Acid Battery Maintenance,”Home Power 98, 2004. Read and memorize this, and put the advice into practice if you plan on installing a stand-alone system.
Russell, Scott. “Starting Smart: Calculating Your Energy Appetite,” Home Power 102, 2004. Great introduction to household load analysis (to determine household electrical demand).
Woofenden, Ian. “Battery Filling Systems of the Americas: Single-Point Watering System,”Home Power 100, 2004. This article is a must for those who would like to reduce battery maintenance.
Woofenden, Ian. “Hydro Design Considerations,” Home Power 132, 78–132, 2009. Valuable reading for anyone interested in learning more about microhydro.
Videos
An Introduction to Residential Microhydro Power with Don Harris. Produced by Scott S. Andrews. P.O. Box 3027, Sausalito, CA 94965. Tel: (415) 332-5191. Outstanding video packed with lots of useful information.