Product Description

"This is the Bible of independent living and renewable energy. Now in its tenth edition, the Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook has been in print and regularly updated since 1982. In these pages you'll find up-to-date articles on all aspects of appropriate technology, written by experts with decades of personal experience, and a knack for sharing."--BOOK JACKET. "Whether you're a layperson or professional, novice or longtime afficionado, the Sourcebook puts the latest research and newest products at your fingertips, giving you all the information you need to make sustainable living a reality."--BOOK JACKET.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1779364 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 689 pages

Amazon.com Review
It is arguably a form of cultural insanity that industrial civilizations constantly bathed by free and clean energy from the sky (the sun and the wind) continue to depend upon dirty and limited chemical fuels that poison the people, their foods, and the land upon which they depend.

Happily, this comprehensive sourcebook provides those of you with foresight a way out of this madness; it includes products ranging from simple energy-saving devices such as compact fluorescent lights to home-scale energy-harvesting systems that utilize the sun, wind, and water to make electricity for people living "off-the-grid." Chapters focus on Independent Living, Land, Shelter, Harvesting Energy, Managing Energy Systems, Heating and Cooling, Water, Energy Conservation, the Nontoxic Home, Home and Market Gardening, Mobility and Electric Vehicles, and Livelihood and Learning. Committed to selling only products that promote environmental responsibility at an honest value, The Real Goods Trading Company is one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Many of the products listed in another of our favorites, the Millennium Whole Earth Catalog, can be purchased by mail from Real Goods.

Review
The Sourcebook remains the best introduction to energy-efficient technology for common folks. -- Whole Earth Review

Customer Reviews

A necessary book for all interested in effficient living
From novices to pros, this book explains Renewable energy and efficient building practices. Great reference to start design and cost estimation from each section. One of the best features of this book is the addition of the National Electric Code for RE systems. It's possible to pick a building material to build a house, design a solar electric system, decide on appliances, determine the use of a greywater system, and more from 562 pages. No more looking up pages on the net!

A fair introduction to Alternative energy sources
Be aware that this product is 25% information and 75% sales catalog. It provides a brief overview of a particular technology and then presents the reader with many pages of products addressing that technology. Whilst this is a useful introduction to (say) wind generators for home use, $... is a lot of money to charge for a catalog. This book/catalog tries to address everything from passive solar to hydro-electric power generation, but doesn't really do a great job on any of it. Not a bad introduction, but certainly not a "must have' kind of book.

An excellent book in general, but watch out for the agenda..
I found some chapters to be excellent, others less so. The less technical chapters especially seemed to be a lot of "feel good" inspiration without a lot of practical value unless you live in a place with good rain, moderate climate, running streams, and no neighbors. Lotsa luck. The technical chapters on solar and energy savings were much better, and make up about 75% of the book. Well worth the money, but some of the editorial comment reminds of the sixties