The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th ed) [Paperback]

John Schaeffer (Editor), Doug Pratt (Editor), Real Good Staff (Editor)

Book Description

Series: 9th ed | Publication Date: July 1996

Solar Living Sourcebook, now in its ninth edition, is extensively updated and revised. This is the definitive reference for the person who wants the most up-to-the-minute information on products relating to the applications of appropriate technology. It contains:
-- Extensive how -- to information on sizing and designing renewable energy systems that allow you to harvest energy from the sun, wind, and water
-- Extensive product reviews of the hardware necessary to live an "off-the-grid", energy-independent lifestyle
-- Inspirational articles by contributing authors who explain the rewards and pit falls of diverse subjects related to sustainable living, such as homesteading, managing energy, healthy homes, and food production

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It is arguably a form of cultural insanity that industrial civilizations constantly bathed by free and clean energy from the sky (the sun and the wind) continue to depend upon dirty and limited chemical fuels that poison the people, their foods, and the land upon which they depend.

Happily, this comprehensive sourcebook provides those of you with foresight a way out of this madness; it includes products ranging from simple energy-saving devices such as compact fluorescent lights to home-scale energy-harvesting systems that utilize the sun, wind, and water to make electricity for people living "off-the-grid." Chapters focus on Independent Living, Land, Shelter, Harvesting Energy, Managing Energy Systems, Heating and Cooling, Water, Energy Conservation, the Nontoxic Home, Home and Market Gardening, Mobility and Electric Vehicles, and Livelihood and Learning. Committed to selling only products that promote environmental responsibility at an honest value, The Real Goods Trading Company is one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Many of the products listed in another of our favorites, the Millennium Whole Earth Catalog, can be purchased by mail from Real Goods.

Review

The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient technology for common folks. -- Whole Earth Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 689 pages
• Publisher: Real Goods; 9th edition (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930031822
• ISBN-13: 978-0930031824
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,215,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book in general, but watch out for the agenda.., September 7, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th ed) (Paperback)

I found some chapters to be excellent, others less so. The less technical chapters especially seemed to be a lot of "feel good" inspiration without a lot of practical value unless you live in a place with good rain, moderate climate, running streams, and no neighbors. Lotsa luck. The technical chapters on solar and energy savings were much better, and make up about 75% of the book. Well worth the money, but some of the editorial comment reminds of the sixties

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book for sustainable living, April 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Peacedale, Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th ed) (Paperback)

This book provides not only basic information on sustainable living topics such as solar pannels, wind generators, electric vehicles, and gardening; but it also refers you to other excellent books on the subjects. If you still have questions, you can call Real Goods or e-mail them, and they will help you out any way they can. They are excellent people, and the Solar Living Sourcebook shows their dedication. I am VERY impressed with this book and reccomend it to anyone and everyone!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Starter and Referrence, September 21, 1998

By 

Mark Stevens ([e-mail]) (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Techologies and Sustainable Living (9th ed) (Paperback)

I found this book to be a very informative and well researched compendium of information for those who wish to learn more about independant living. This book is an excellent mixture of common sense advice (based on real world experience), technical information and a practical guide to a myriad of products. It may not be everything I wanted to know about a new subject but it comes as close to delivering that as any book I have ever read. Good job!