I just read Homeowner’s Guide to Energy Independence by Christine Woodside and there is some good stuff in there. It is written in an easy-to-read style without much technical jargon. It is a great starting book for anyone who wants to know more about conservation and alternative energy sources. There is also a long list of contacts for more information. And I am going to use that list as a starting point for more blog posts.
It covers solar, wind, water and geothermal energy sources for the home. It talks about what is possible and what isn’t. For example, you can get water power for the home if you have a stream to use, but small scale water power is not cost effective unless you cannot connect to the grid.
I think the best part of the book is the Appliance Manifesto at the end. Let’s use fewer appliances. Let’s have fewer things plugged in. Do we really need to have a hot water dispenser sitting on our counter and on our power grid? How about a toothpaste warmer? Or an electric can opener?
If you want the basics on energy conservation and alternatives this is a good starting book. There are no wiring diagrams in here, so do not think this book is all you need to install some solar panels on top of your roof. But if you want to know which questions to ask, this is the right first book.
