Customer Reviews

Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook-12th Edition: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is the absolute best for covering renewable energy on a residential-sized scale. It covers all things solar/renewable energy: converting solar energy to electricity, wind generators, solar water heating, solar water pumping, energy conservation, off-the-electrical grid and grid intertie applications. There's an appendix with charts, maps and worksheets that help you design your own solar home and energy system. It is well written, with the information easy to follow. There is just enough theory included so you can follow the technical descriptions of the system components. It's got 564 pages and there's not much wasted space.
I have lived off-grid for six years and teach a renewable energy class at a nearby community college. I tell my students that if they are going to buy just one book on renewable energy, to buy this, the latest edition of the Solar Living Sourcebook.
Keep in mind, this is a catalog for Giam/Real Goods. Products and services are described and prices are listed. They would like you to do business with them. I have found that many of the products listed can be found cheaper elsewhere, but having the prices listed is a plus...you can put together a system and get a ball-park figure on how much the system will cost you. In my opinion, Real Goods is a reputable company, very service oriented, and very knowledgeable.
If you want more information on residential sized renewable energy systems, the magazine Home Power (www.homepower.com) is superb. They publish six issues a year, with a hands-on type format that makes you want to get out there and build something!
If you are interested in using solar energy to make electricity, but want the advantages of being tied to the grid, the book Got Sun? Go Solar by Rex Ewing and Doug Pratt is excellent. If living off-the-grid is your interest, The Renewable Energy Handbook by William Kemp is very good.

John Schaeffer's 12th edition of Real Goods Solar Living Source Book is an even richer presentation, following through with a sourcebook of solar living devices ranging from water heaters and air purification systems to composing toilets and heating systems. It's more than a sourcebook alone, however: articles discuss pros and cons of each system choice, typical uses, and adaptability. Packed with black and white photos, charts, and explanations, Solar Living Source Book covers all renewable energy technologies.

Boy, if you want to know not only the theory of alternative energy, but how to implement it in your home, this is the book. Each chapter tells you the pros and cons of each type (solar, wind, microhydroelectric, geothermal...) and then gives you real products available today to buy and install. One tip: You may be able to get the products cheaper somewhere else, though. Shop around. Well done.

This book does have much useful information, but it still a catalog.

This is a book to read slowly, taking time to absorb the details and concepts. I kept it on our coffee table for weeks with a notebook nearby so I could make notes as I read, because there are lots of good ideas about energy efficiency throughout. It answers every question you can think of about solar power for homes (and RVs) in plain, easy-to-understand language and suggests places to find further information on each topic, kind of like a combination magazine and mail order catalogue. Book includes a calculation sheet for estimating your solar power system needs.

Great as a reference on a huge range of re products. It's not a text book though, and I came across little things that are incorrect.

My husband who has an avid interest in sustainable energy really enjoyed this book. He liked it so much he bought one for a realator friend of ours who is also into sustainable energy.

Essential catalog of energy related items punctuated with non commercial advice and information.

I winter in Mexico were there is no power. This book is a must for all who wish to live the solar life. It is a wealth of information and a very good read.

It is amazing that some people can create confusion about a country. There is power in Mexico, you can visit the webpage of the power company in Mexico if you want at: www.cfe.gob.mx Mexico even exports electricity to other countries. I am sure there are small towns or areas where there is no electricity, and solar power would be of great use, but that is not a general issue. Thank you for your understanding.