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Mother Earth News Wiser Living
Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies & Sustainable Living
Do you want to harvest sunlight, wind or falling water to power your home? Or sell that renewable energy back to your utility company? Are you looking to build your dream eco-home? Or to convert to biodiesel and minimize your fossil fuel use?
This fully updated classic of sustainable living technology tells how and gives you access to the world's most extensive selection of hardware to make it all happen. The "Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook-12th Edition" is the ultimate resource on renewable energy, sustainable living, alternative construction, green building, homesteading, off-the-grid living and alternative transportation, written by experts with decades of personal experience and a passion for sharing their knowledge. In print and regularly updated since 1982, the "Sourcebook" has sold over 600,000 copies in 44 countries. This 12th edition includes brand-new sections on solar utility intertie, alternative sources of fuel (including biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cells) and hybrid vehicles, and completely rewritten sections on land and shelter, emergency preparedness and energy conservation, as well as in-depth sections on:
Sunshine to electricity
From panel to plug
Water systems
Water heating
Water and air purification
Composting toilets and graywater systems
Off-the-grid living and homesteading tools
Mobility
Plus over 150 pages of maps, wiring diagrams, formulae, charts, electrical code, solar sizing worksheets and much more.
Whether you're a layperson or a professional, novice or longtime aficionado, the "Sourcebook" puts the latest research and newest products at your fingertips-all the information you need to make sustainable living a reality.
John Schaeffer is the president and founder of Real Goods-the oldest and largest catalog company devoted to the sale and service of renewable energy products. The recipient of numerous awards, Real Goods hosts an annual SolFest at its Solar Living Center headquarters in Hopland, California.
This fully updated classic of sustainable living technology tells how and gives you access to the world's most extensive selection of hardware to make it all happen. The "Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook-12th Edition" is the ultimate resource on renewable energy, sustainable living, alternative construction, green building, homesteading, off-the-grid living and alternative transportation, written by experts with decades of personal experience and a passion for sharing their knowledge. In print and regularly updated since 1982, the "Sourcebook" has sold over 600,000 copies in 44 countries. This 12th edition includes brand-new sections on solar utility intertie, alternative sources of fuel (including biodiesel and hydrogen fuel cells) and hybrid vehicles, and completely rewritten sections on land and shelter, emergency preparedness and energy conservation, as well as in-depth sections on:
Sunshine to electricity
From panel to plug
Water systems
Water heating
Water and air purification
Composting toilets and graywater systems
Off-the-grid living and homesteading tools
Mobility
Plus over 150 pages of maps, wiring diagrams, formulae, charts, electrical code, solar sizing worksheets and much more.
Whether you're a layperson or a professional, novice or longtime aficionado, the "Sourcebook" puts the latest research and newest products at your fingertips-all the information you need to make sustainable living a reality.
John Schaeffer is the president and founder of Real Goods-the oldest and largest catalog company devoted to the sale and service of renewable energy products. The recipient of numerous awards, Real Goods hosts an annual SolFest at its Solar Living Center headquarters in Hopland, California.
544 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
12 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
John Schaeffer
22 books1 followerJohn Schaeffer has been exploring renewable energy and sustainable living since graduating from UC Berkeley in 1971.
While living on a 300-acre commune in Mendocino County, California, after college, John found himself hosting crowds around his solar-powered TV whenever Saturday Night Live came on. In 1995 John helped create the Solar Living Center in Hopland, California, a stunning 12-acre environmental educational center surrounded by lush permaculture gardens. He founded and remains Board Chair of the educational nonprofit Solar Living Institute, dedicated to promoting renewable energy and sustainable living through inspiring educational programs. The Institute produces and hosts the annual SolFest solar energy festival that attracts more than 10,000 people, and offers hands-on workshops and interships throughout the year.
John lives a few miles from the Solar Living Center with his wife Nancy Hensley in a passive-solar Rastra-block home they named Sunhawk, built mostly from recycled materials amid a permaculture oasis powered by solar and hydro-electric.
While living on a 300-acre commune in Mendocino County, California, after college, John found himself hosting crowds around his solar-powered TV whenever Saturday Night Live came on. In 1995 John helped create the Solar Living Center in Hopland, California, a stunning 12-acre environmental educational center surrounded by lush permaculture gardens. He founded and remains Board Chair of the educational nonprofit Solar Living Institute, dedicated to promoting renewable energy and sustainable living through inspiring educational programs. The Institute produces and hosts the annual SolFest solar energy festival that attracts more than 10,000 people, and offers hands-on workshops and interships throughout the year.
John lives a few miles from the Solar Living Center with his wife Nancy Hensley in a passive-solar Rastra-block home they named Sunhawk, built mostly from recycled materials amid a permaculture oasis powered by solar and hydro-electric.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 25, 2014
Though a bit dated in 2014, this was a primary resource for us when we went totally off-grid. The sections on calculating energy requirements prior to installing systems to meet those requirements was particularly good. Also gave us real data on currently available technology (much of which guided our initial purchases in 2002).
The wind section wasn't realistic and led us toward wind when the actual energy production we eventually realized from wind was <1% of our total production (solar, even in Maine winter, is far superior).
The wind section wasn't realistic and led us toward wind when the actual energy production we eventually realized from wind was <1% of our total production (solar, even in Maine winter, is far superior).
August 15, 2008
If you have ever thought about doing anything with solar power this is definitely the book for you. Filled with articles about solar as well as a listing of products this is a great way to get into solar and see what all the fuss is about.
April 6, 2015
This has been our jumping off point for products in our new way of life. We've learned everything from the best ways to filter our well water to how to live without a septic system. The next step is to design a passive solar home and we'll surely use this book to begin that process.
Want to read
May 12, 2008I'm so excited to get my hands on this book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews