Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower, and Other Alternative Energy Sources [Paperback]

David Craddock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2008

Studies have shown that the average North American family will spend more than a quarter of a million dollars on energy in a lifetime. What many other countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, China, Brazil, and even Iceland, have realized is that there is a better way to power our homes, businesses, and cars by using renewable energy sources. Recently, the United States has begun to understand the importance of reducing its reliance on coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydropower plants, which comprise the majority of the nation's electricity, due to increasing oil prices. Some sections of the country, including California, are turning to renewable energy sources. In fact, 12 percent of California s electricity is produced by renewable resources. The potential for the use of renewables is very large and understanding their use and their impact is key. Renewable Energy Made Easy will provide you with everything you need to know about these alternative energy sources. You will learn about solar power, wind power, water power, biofuels, geothermal energy, ethanol, wave farms, photovoltaic power plants, and hydrogen fuels. You will also become well-versed on the availability, aesthetics, environmental and social considerations, and longevity issues of these so-called soft energy technologies. In addition, you will learn about the current costs and the projected costs in the future, Energy StarTM regulations, the newest research and innovations, and the high development potential of renewable energy. This book will serve as a guide to creating more efficient buildings and an invaluable resource for how to change our preconceived notions about power. This book has taken the complexity and scientific terms out of this topic, making it jargon-free and easy to understand. Ultimately, you will learn how our country can improve energy efficiency, reduce oil dependence, improve energy security, and reduce the health and environmental impact of our current energy system.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Renewable Energy Made Easy is a great read for people of all knowledge levels when it comes to going green. David Craddock does an amazing job at laying out the history, facts, pros, and cons of a variety of renewable energy sources, and then gives the reader a step-by-step DIY guide to all sorts of projects you can use to make your house, office, and life help the environment. We at TerraTone Music are and will continue to promote this book at all our events!" Shanti Schweizer --Shanti Schweizer

For those of us who want to actively engage in the global effort to stem climate change, Renewable Energy Made Easy provides a good introduction to various forms of non-fossil fuel energy. It enables the reader to gain historical perspective of various forms as well as the current pros and cons of each type. The book also provides a variety of small renewable energy projects you can make at home as well as whole house projects. Recent research continues to confirm the time for action is now; Renewable Energy Made Easy offers an important starting point for those beginning to mobilize. Sarah K. Lachance Campaign Earth [e-mail] --arah K. Lachance Campaign Earth [e-mail]

2009 Green Book Festival Award Winner - Runner Up --Book Awards

Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) (August 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601382405
• ISBN-13: 978-1601382405
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Way too basic.., April 22, 2009

By 

agis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower, and Other Alternative Energy Sources (Paperback)

The book is written in extra-large font (to fill the pages?) and it's very, very basic. Author repeats useless information over and over again.. If you want an introductory book on the topic, your money is better spent elsewhere.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good book for basic information, May 25, 2009

By 

G. E. Kirby (washington dc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower, and Other Alternative Energy Sources (Paperback)

Energy and the environment are topics of such importance today that it is easy to feel like a fool when you don't know even the basics. Renewable Energy Made Easy lives up to its name, making the subject easy to handle by dividing the book up into manageable sections. For me, I found the text a little simplistic at first. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse makes me feel like I am in fifth grade again. However, after the beginning he gets into a lot of interesting information about the actual technology making these changes in energy possible.

I wanted to see more diagrams/pictures of all the technology that the author talked about. I did enjoy, though, the case studies towards the end of the book that helped to give a clearer picture of how these technologies will be used by companies today. While the author is, of course, pro alternative energy, I didn't feel like he glossed over the many difficulties of making alternative energy work effectively and integrating it into our economy.

This is definitely a good book for those looking to get a basic grasp of renewable energy and especially for people looking for an in to more complicated material.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It really IS that easy!, August 27, 2008

By 

C. K. "chrisk715" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renewable Energy Made Easy: Free Energy from Solar, Wind, Hydropower, and Other Alternative Energy Sources (Paperback)

Renewable Energy Made Easy - really is that easy! If you've ever felt lost in an energy conversation, or, if you watch the news but don't quite understand what's going on, then this is the book for you. It breaks down some of the hardest concepts regarding energy, consumption, and makes the case for solar, wind, and water (hydropower) and tells in it an easy-to-read, user friendly format. There's even a glossary at end. I liked how the book covers renewable energy from a global and local standpoint - even with ideas for the home! I finished this book in one sitting, it's that easy to read.