Recent Books

1) Kemp, William H. (2006). The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers.

Kemp’s handbook helps break down the elements of building green for those who are looking to build or renovate green but haven’t done it before and aren’t sure how to go about it. It provides helpful information, for example, that basement insulation may give you a higher payback than attic insulation. These hints are things that a builder wouldn’t find out until years of energy and heating bills later. The book contains chapters on energy conservation, heating and cooling, photovoltaic, wind and microhydro energy generation, battery selection, voltage regulation and inverters as well as backup power.


2) DeGunther, Rik. (2007). Solar Power Your Home For Dummies. United States: For Dummies.

This book is a hands-on guide that includes tips on making your home more energy efficient with solar power. Chapters include how to choose and install your best solar system, handle small to large solar projects, heat and cool your house with solar enegery, install exterior solar lighting, handle swimming pool, water heater, or vitalization solar projects, create greenhouses or solar rooms, build, buy, or sell a solar home, finance your solar investments, take advantage of tax rebates and incentives associated with solar power and avoid the worst solar mistakes. This book would be useful for the solar power beginner.