Comments

1. David Stebbins says:

   August 20, 2010 at 7:13 pm

   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 634 pages and there’s not much wasted space. The chapter on “Natural Burial” is a little over-the-top, but I guess the editor is just trying to be comprehensive.
   
   I have lived off-grid for over seven 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 (a little on the high side) 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 more to your taste, check out The Renewable Energy Handbook by William Kemp.
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. K. Fox says:

   August 20, 2010 at 7:57 pm

   I wish I had checked out the library copy before buying. If you’re looking for a broad-based overview of eneregy options — Solar, thermal, greywater, micro-hydro, landscape lights, bird fountains, etc — this can be your one-shop-stop. Real Goods has blended energy overviews with their catalog, so if micro-hydro-electric (!?!?) interests you, then by all means look no further, Real Goods will be happy to retail out their product to you. However, I found most of the energy information available out on the ‘net –free and more specific and informative, and alternate sources for energy products and options more abundant and lots cheaper.

   If you have a serious interest in something specific, example PV systems, I found no single source, but recommend Kemp, “Got Sun? Go Solar” for helpful overview and great links and resources, and “The Renewable Energy Handbook”, a better option to Real Goods. All from Amazon, and more applicable for actually getting greener and saving a buck in the process. These leave searching for the best and most applicable products and options to you, and there’s much out there to choose from, and some very informative nuggets to be had along the way.

   (FWIW: our city recently held a sustainable living fair, attended by Real Goods. But when I followed up on their “Call us when you’re ready, happy to help you go green!”, I received an abrupt “We don’t service your area.”. I guess green refers to the energy movement AND to those ready to cash in on it.)
   Rating: 3 / 5
3. S. Boudreault says:

   August 20, 2010 at 8:20 pm

   I am an engineer and was looking for a book that has an easy to understand yet fact based and accurate book on solar energy implementation.

   i was not disappointed. This is one of the best basic reference book on different uses of solar energy that you can find on the marker.
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. Sierra Campbell says:

   August 20, 2010 at 10:20 pm

   Gave this to a friend getting married; within a week they purchased a solar attic fan. There are many options for solar living, great and small. I recommend this book to check out your options.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. E. Sizemore says:

   August 21, 2010 at 12:51 am

   I’ve read a lot of sustainable living books. Many are better than this on specific topics (green architecture or strawbales or urban gardeing or homesteading, etc) but NONE are as comprehensive as this on so many topics at once. I don’t think it should replace the more specific books in your library, but to anyone who just wants to wrap their head around all of the different technologies and opportunities out there this is the best primer there is on the market.
   Rating: 5 / 5