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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 STAR® 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. more info
Popularity: 4% [?]
If you are not sure what hybrid cars are, you have come to the rights place for hybrid car resources
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It really IS that easy!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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.
Poorly written
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I only started this, then put it down. It is possible that the author knows the subject, but this is so poorly written that it did not inspire confidence for me. It reads like a self published book created without an editor. I prefer the many other good references on the subject.
good book for basic information
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
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.
Decent Overview
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Decent overview of the primary sources of renewable energy. I felt it lacked a little bit of flow, the author seemed to launch into some technical discussion without providing sufficient background. Perhaps those with engineering/technical experience will be able to follow a little bit better.
Essential Reading for the New Age of Renewable Energy
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The world is turning green. Not literally green, but the way of thinking green, and it is slowly and surely taking over the world. With myself being the curious type and not wanting to be left behind, I thought it would be a good idea to read up about it. Renewable Energy looked like a good option, and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed.
For it’s said to be an easy read, I found some of it quite hard to follow, not that the writing was hard to follow, but that the terms that were used weren’t fully explained. What could have helped this book a lot would have been the inclusion of some photos or some diagrams of what was being described and maybe some step-by-step guides on how to build or install some of the equipment mentioned in the book.
After reading this book I feel a lot more clued up about renewable energy and the options the world has once it runs out of fossil fuels. I think this book would be an excellent resource for anyone wanting to make renewable energy part of their career or a college student doing a project on renewable energy.
Yes, We can Achieve Energetic Independence
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Renewable Energy Made Easy is an ideal reference text for anyone who is determined to increase their knowledge regarding the creation of a greener society, both locally and globally, beyond that of merely, “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” Following an introductory description of the currently strained ecological conditions regarding the severe mass-dependence on existing fossil fuels and the various global complications and consequences resulting from this widespread dependence, author David Craddock presents a well-written, succinct overview of available alternative energy sources that could be utilized to offset the assorted damage and depletion of fossil fuels. Within this extremely informative and interesting text, assorted alternative energy sources are defined and the advantages and disadvantages of each are equally debated, and further discussion is given to the examination of the dangerous tolls taken collectively on the planet and its inhabitants by the continued severe overuse of fossil fuels.
The issues associated with the alternative and renewable energies include those related to financial expense, resource development and availability, as well as public acceptance, while the obvious economic, political, and environmental issues continue to adversely affect the supply and demand trends and usage of fossil fuels. With the research of alternative and renewable energies, comparable solutions are offered, including acceptable combinations of resources, to offset any possible problems with their planned execution and usage. Finally, actual case studies of the previously discussed forms of alternative energy are given in a presentation of examples to provide for the practical application of the knowledge gained from this text. These DIY green energy projects, ranging from simple experiments to major green construction projects, allow the reader to become proactive in demonstrating their serious enthusiasm and commitment to the subject of renewable energy, after having been inspired by the knowledge gained from this book.
Without hesitation, I rate Renewable Energy Made Easy 5 stars. Throughout its pages, the extremely relevent content of this book is logically presented and explanatory while remaining interesting, educational, and entertaining. It proves an invaluable resource on the various forms of alternative energies on multiple levels, with a well written text that remains easily understood, without being pretentious, nor patronizing to its reader. Its text is additionally complemented by the inclusion of expansive resources to enable further research and action. This inspirational book will appeal to a broad audience, from students to average concerned citizens to professionals already working within the field of alternative energy research and development. Renewable Energy Made Easy truly gives hope for the achievement of a green, sustainable future, as it creates a sense of urgency to work collectively towards this realistic endeavor.
Way too basic..
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
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.
A Great Resource
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
While scanning the table of contents of this book words like biomass and photovoltaic jump out. On first glance, these unknown words may turn some casual readers off. Fortunately, the author is knowledgeable enough and writes with such accessibility that these words quickly go from becoming unfamiliar to familiar. The author lives up to the title and does make renewable energy “easy”.
The author not only informs readers about the different types of renewable energy (solar, hydro, wind, biomass and geothermal), which he delves into in separate chapters and illuminates each completely, he also spends time on what people can do to help bring these types of renewable energy into their everyday lives. With this book you can learn how to build your own solar battery charger or how to create your own hydrogen among other interesting lessons.
This book is a great resource for anyone interested in renewable energy, from the lay person interested in making a difference in the environment, to the student needing a detailed understanding of renewable energy.