The Homeowner’s Energy Handbook: Your Guide to Getting Off the Grid
Are you looking for creative ways to lower your energy costs, use
renewable energy, generate more of your own power, or become less
reliant on the grid? Energy expert Paul Scheckel offers practical advice
for taking matters into your own hands.
Understand the fundamentals of
solar, wind, water, and biofuel energy production as you make your home
ready for renewables. Each chapter of Homeowner's Energy Handbook
provides a comprehensive discussion of renewable energy sources along
with "green guides" for building your own energy-saving -- and
energy-producing -- equipment.
Step-by-step instructions show you how to
build a bicycle-powered generator, a biodiesel processor, a
thermosiphon solar hot-water collector, a biogas generator, a smokeless
wood-gas camp stove, and more.
Whether you want to button up your house
to be more energy-efficient, find deep energy savings, or take your home
entirely off the grid, this guide has the knowledge and skills you need
to reduce your use, then produce!
Softcover, 288 pages.
As energy prices rise and the pressure grows to wean
ourselves from climate-damaging fossil fuels, interest in energy
efficiency and off-the-grid living is growing. Drawing on his extensive
expertise as a home-energy consultant, Scheckel has crafted a
masterfully clear and accessible guide to incorporating power-saving
strategies in the home for anyone with the time and ambition to follow
them. The first half of the book focuses on improving home-energy
efficiency, including recipes for conducting your own energy audit,
retrofitting windows and basements to prevent leakage, and wiring the
home for monitoring gas and electric usage. The second, more-challenging
half covers the installation of alternative energy devices such as
solar hot-water heaters, windmills, and hydroelectric turbines. The most
eye-opening chapter here is one on biogas, a novel fuel source derived
from decaying food and animal waste. With plenty of lucidly written
instructions, well-drawn illustrations, and user-friendly sidebars,
Scheckel’s manual is an indispensable reference for library how-to
sections and homeowners hoping to cut the cord from their corporate
power suppliers.
--Carl Hays
Review
“A masterfully clear and accessible guide to
incorporating power-saving strategies in the home … With plenty of
lucidly written instructions, well-drawn illustrations, and
user-friendly sidebars, Scheckel’s manual is an indispensable reference
for library how-to sections and homeowners hoping to cut the cord from
their corporate power suppliers.”
(
Foreword Reviews)
“Provides readers with cost-effective, self-empowered, and energy-efficient home-energy solutions … a one-of-a-kind resource.”
“We
all want to lower our energy bills, but alternative energy can be a bit
daunting. This great manual is a fantastic introduction to what’s
possible and practical. … Chock-full of practical advice and realistic
assessments of alternative energy, this book is superior to others on
the topic due to its accessibility, organization, and balance.
Homeowners can easily pick and choose from projects without fear of
becoming overwhelmed. Highly recommended.”
“A must for those who want to live off grid or simply want to use less energy or live more sustainably."
Paul Scheckel is a “hands-on, off-grid” homesteader, and an experienced energy efficiency and renewable energy professional. Paul’s writing and presentations come from experience gained over 20+ years as an energy auditor, consultant, renewable energy system installer, and electric car converter. He has appeared twice on the acclaimed TV show “Ask This Old House”, is a frequent presenter at efficiency and renewable energy conferences, has been a guest on various radio shows, and contributes a monthly energy and environment column for two Vermont newspapers. He walks the talk, thriving with his family in their Vermont home energized by wind, sun, wood, and vegetable oil. Paul is available to present or offer workshops at your sustainable energy event! Visit his website at www.nrgrev.com.