
Alternative Energy For Dummies
Rik DeGunther(Author)
Wiley (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 29. April 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
388 pages
978-0-470-43062-0 (ISBN)
Description
Get the truth about alternative energy and make it part of your life
Want to utilize cleaner, greener types of energy? This plain-English guide clearly explains the popular forms of alternative energy that you can use in your home, your car, and more. Separating myth from fact, this resource explores the current fossil fuel conundrum, the benefits of alternatives, and the energy of the future, such as hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
* The ABCs of alternative energy - what it is, how it works, and what the real costs are
* Where we are now - learn where our current energy comes from and how much longer it will last
* Take the first step - see how energy efficiency and conservation can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels
* Grasp the alternatives - from nuclear power to geothermal energy to wood burning, understand the benefits that alternative energy can have on the nation
* Apply alternative fuels to transportation - from biofuels to exotic propulsion to electricity, see how they are best used and how hybrid, all-electric, and fuel cell-powered vehicles work
* Get a peek into the future - see what the outlook holds for each form of alternative energy discussed
Open the book and find:
* The pros and cons of alternative energy
* A review of the current world energy economy
* The problems with fossil fuels, from smog to global warming
* Advantages of alternative energy
* Practical results of alternatives you can use in daily life
* Guidelines for investing in alternative energy vehicles
* Ten ways you can bring about change right now
* Insight into the future of energy production - and how you can invest in it
Reviews / Votes
".this book really does offer a comprehensive picture of the possible future of energy.well priced." (UK-Energy-Saving.com, August 6th 2009)More details
Product info
PB
Edition
1., Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 191 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
719 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-470-43062-0 (9780470430620)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions


Person
Rik DeGunther attended the University of Illinois as an undergraduate and Stanford University as a graduate student, studying both applied physics and engineering economics (some of this education actually stuck). He holds several United States patents and has designed a wide range of technical equipment including solar energy platforms, military-grade radar jammers, weather-measurement equipment, high-powered radar vacuum tubes, computerized production hardware, golf practice devices, digital and analog electronic circuits, unmanned aerial vehicles, guitars and amplifi ers, microwave fi lters and mixers, automatic cabinet openers, strobe light communications systems, explosive devices (strictly on accident), cloud-height sensors, fog sensors, furniture, houses, barns, rocket ships, dart throwers, fl ame throwers, eavesdropping devices, escape routes, and you name it. He's one of those nerdy guys who likes to take things apart to see how they work and then put them back together and try to fi gure out what the leftover parts are for.
Rik is CEO of Effi cient Homes, an energy-effi ciency auditing fi rm in Northern California. He is actively engaged in designing and developing new solar equipment, including off-grid lighting systems and off-grid swimming pool heaters. He writes weekly op-ed columns for the Mountain Democrat, California's oldest and most venerable newspaper. He has also written a highly acclaimed golf book (on putting) and spends most of his free time attempting to improve his relatively impressive but objectively droll golf handicap, usually to no avail. Sometimes the urge strikes him to play a very loud guitar, of which he owns a collection with far more intrinsic quality than the playing they receive. His hearing has been faltering the last few years, so he rebuilt his amplifi er to go up to 11.
Content
Introduction 1
Part I: The Basic Facts of Energy Life 9
Chapter 1: What a Mess! 11
Chapter 2: What Energy Is and How It's Used (Politically and Practically) 25
Chapter 3: Putting Together Each Piece of the Energy Puzzle 37
Part II: Digging Deeper into the Current State of Affairs 57
Chapter 4: Developing a Snapshot of Fossil Fuel Use and Availability 59
Chapter 5: Burning Up with Conventional Energy Sources 73
Chapter 6: The First Alternative-Energy Sources: Efficiency and Conservation 95
Chapter 7: Understanding the Demand For Alternatives 113
Part III: Alternatives - Buildings 127
Chapter 8: Going Nuclear 129
Chapter 9: Harnessing the Sun with Solar Power 151
Chapter 10: Treading Water with Hydropower 177
Chapter 11: Blowing Away with Wind Power 191
Chapter 12: Digging into Geothermal 207
Chapter 13: Exploring Biomass 221
Chapter 14: Burning Wood 235
Chapter 15: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies 249
Part IV: Alternatives - Transportation 261
Chapter 16: Alternative Transport Technologies 263
Chapter 17: Alternative-Fuel Vehicles 271
Chapter 18: Plugging In: Electric Vehicles 283
Chapter 19: Hybrid-Electric Vehicles 297
Chapter 20: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles 307
Chapter 21: Exotic Propulsion Systems 315
Part V: The Part of Tens 325
Chapter 22: Ten or So Myths about Energy 327
Chapter 23: Ten-Plus Ways to Invest in an Alternative-Energy Future 335
Index 343
Part I: The Basic Facts of Energy Life 9
Chapter 1: What a Mess! 11
Chapter 2: What Energy Is and How It's Used (Politically and Practically) 25
Chapter 3: Putting Together Each Piece of the Energy Puzzle 37
Part II: Digging Deeper into the Current State of Affairs 57
Chapter 4: Developing a Snapshot of Fossil Fuel Use and Availability 59
Chapter 5: Burning Up with Conventional Energy Sources 73
Chapter 6: The First Alternative-Energy Sources: Efficiency and Conservation 95
Chapter 7: Understanding the Demand For Alternatives 113
Part III: Alternatives - Buildings 127
Chapter 8: Going Nuclear 129
Chapter 9: Harnessing the Sun with Solar Power 151
Chapter 10: Treading Water with Hydropower 177
Chapter 11: Blowing Away with Wind Power 191
Chapter 12: Digging into Geothermal 207
Chapter 13: Exploring Biomass 221
Chapter 14: Burning Wood 235
Chapter 15: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies 249
Part IV: Alternatives - Transportation 261
Chapter 16: Alternative Transport Technologies 263
Chapter 17: Alternative-Fuel Vehicles 271
Chapter 18: Plugging In: Electric Vehicles 283
Chapter 19: Hybrid-Electric Vehicles 297
Chapter 20: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles 307
Chapter 21: Exotic Propulsion Systems 315
Part V: The Part of Tens 325
Chapter 22: Ten or So Myths about Energy 327
Chapter 23: Ten-Plus Ways to Invest in an Alternative-Energy Future 335
Index 343