Table Of ContentAdvancePraisefor
The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy
DanChirasstrikesagain!Withthislatestadditiontohisalreadyimpressivelist
oftitles,Danmakesitaseasyaspossibleforyoutoeffectyourowntransition
awayfromfossilfueldependence.I'veneverseenamorecomprehensive,better
written,orbetterorganizedprimeronthissubject.Whenyouneedpracticaladvice
fromawarm,smartandinformedhumanbeing,DanChirasistheonetoturnto.
—BruceKing,PEDirector,EcologicalBuildingNetwork,andauthorof
BuildingsofEarthandStrawandMakingBetterConcrete
TheHomeowner’sGuidetoRenewableEnergymakesabundantlyclearthe
predicamentthathumankindhascreatedregardinghowweprocureanduse
energy.Waysthatwemightextricateourselvesfromthispredicamentareplaced
squarelyontheshouldersofrenewableformsofenergy,ratherthanfossilfuels.
Thisbookshowshowwe,asindividuals,havethepowerandtechnology
availablenowtoembracerenewableenergyforabrightfuture.
—KellyHart,www.greenhomebuilding.com
Whosayshomeenergyimprovementshavetobecomplicated,orboring?
DanChiras'TheHomeowner'sGuidetoRenewableEnergywaltzesthereader
gracefullythroughvariousefficiencyupgradesthatputhouseholdheatand
coolnessintheirproperplaces,thenexpertlyjazz-dancesthroughstate-of-the-art
technologieslikesolarelectricity,heatpumps,andbiodieselfuel.This
easy-to-understand,timelybookshouldbedistributedbylocalgovernments
andutilitiestohomeownersthroughoutthecountry.Imaginehowmuch
lessdependentwe'dbeonuncertain,expensivesuppliesofoilandnaturalgas!
—DaveWann,coauthorofAffluenza:TheAll-ConsumingEpidemicand
Superbia!31WaystoCreateSustainableNeighborhoods
DanChirasisoneofthemostauthoritativewritersinthefieldofrenewable
energy.Hismultipleotherbookscreateacomprehensivelibraryforhomeowners
lookingtolivealifestyleinharmonywiththeirvalues.Notonlyishisstyle
accessibleandeasytoreadbutisthoroughinwhattodo,howtodoitandwhy.
Danwalkshistalklivinginasolar,greenhomeanddevotinguntoldhoursto
sustainablelivingcauses.Heistrulyoneorournationalheros!!!
— DavidJohnston,What'sWorking:VisionarySolutionsforGreenBuilding,and
authorofGreenRemodeling:ChangingtheWorldOneRoomataTime
DanChirashasdoneasmuchasanyoneinAmericatopromoteandpopularize
theuseofrenewableenergy.HeworkshismagicagaininTheHomeowner'sGuideto
RenewableEnergy.AsPeakOillooms,thelucidityandclearthinkingofDanChiras
becomesourfirstlineofdefense.
—StephenMorris,publisherandeditor,
GreenLiving:APracticalJournalforFriendsoftheEnvironment
Ifyou'rethinkingaboutinvestinginarenewableenergysystemforyourhome,Dan
Chiras'TheHomeowner'sGuidetoRenewableEnergyhelpsclarifythedecisionmaking
process.Afterbeginningwiththeallimportantdiscussionaboutenergyefficiencyand
conservation,Danguidesyouthrougheverythingyouneedtochoosewhichrenewable
optionstointegrateintoyourlifestyle.Agreatadditiontomybookshelf!
—MickSagrillo,SagrilloPower&Light
Books for Wiser Living from Mother Earth News
Today,more than ever before,our society is seeking ways to live more conscientiously.To
helpbringyoutheverybestinspirationandinformationaboutgreener,moresustainable
lifestyles,NewSocietyPublishershasjoinedforceswithMotherEarthNews.Formorethan30
years,MotherEarthNewshasbeenNorthAmerica’s“OriginalGuidetoLivingWisely,”creating
booksandmagazinesforpeoplewithapassionforself-relianceandadesiretoliveinharmony
withnature.Acrossthecountrysideandinourcities,NewSocietyPublishersandMotherEarth
Newsareleadingthewaytoawiser,moresustainableworld.
Dan Chiras
N S P
EW OCIETY UBLISHERS
CataloginginPublicationData:
AcatalogrecordforthispublicationisavailablefromtheNationalLibraryofCanada.
Copyright©2006byDanChiras.
Allrightsreserved.
CoverdesignbyDianeMcIntosh.Photos: Houseimage:RussellIllig,PhotodiscRF;windturbine:JohnIvanko
InteriorillustrationsbyJillHaras,unlessotherwisecredited.
InteriorphotosbyDanChiras,unlessotherwisecredited.
PrintedinCanada.
SecondprintingAugust2006.
PaperbackISBN13:978-0-86571-536-3
PaperbackISBN10:0-86571-536-X
InquiriesregardingrequeststoreprintallorpartofTheHomeowner’sGuidetoRenewableEnergyshouldbe
addressedtoNewSocietyPublishersattheaddressbelow.
To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order
onlineatwww.newsociety.com
Anyotherinquiriescanbedirectedbymailto:
NewSocietyPublishers
P.O.Box189,GabriolaIsland,BCV0R1X0,Canada
1-800-567-6772
NewSocietyPublishers’missionistopublishbooksthatcontributeinfundamentalwaystobuildingan
ecologicallysustainableandjustsociety,andtodosowiththeleastpossibleimpactontheenvironment,in
amannerthatmodelsthisvision.Wearecommittedtodoingthisnotjustthrougheducation,butthrough
action.Weareactingonourcommitmenttotheworld’sremainingancientforestsbyphasingoutourpaper
supplyfromancientforestsworldwide.Thisbookisonesteptowardendingglobaldeforestationandcli-
matechange.Itisprintedonacid-freepaperthatis100%oldgrowthforest-free(100%post-consumer
recycled),processedchlorinefree,andprintedwithvegetable-based,low-VOCinks.Forfurtherinforma-
tion,ortobrowseourfulllistofbooksandpurchasesecurely,visitourwebsiteat:www.newsociety.com
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS www.newsociety.com
This book is dedicated to the founders and hard-working staff and volunteers at Mother
EarthNewsandHomePowermagazine,SolarEnergyInternational,theMidwestRenewable
Energy Association, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society, The American Solar Energy
Society,theIowaRenewableEnergyAssociation,theAmericanWindEnergyAssociation,the
SolarLivingInstitute,theNationalRenewableEnergyLaboratory,theGreatLakesRenewable
EnergyAssociation,allof theremainingchaptersof theAmericanSolarEnergyAssociation,
and last but far from least,the Institute for Sustainable Energy Education.Many thanks for
theirdedication,hardwork,andperseverance.
Contents
Acknowledgments..............................................................................................................................XIII
Introduction............................................................................................................................................1
RenewableEnergyandMe...........................................................................................................3
WhySwitchtoRenewables?........................................................................................................5
AnotherReasonforSwitching....................................................................................................6
AvertingGlobalWarming..........................................................................................................10
IsThereHope?.............................................................................................................................10
KeepingYourEyeonthePrize .................................................................................................13
OrganizationoftheBook...........................................................................................................14
Chapter1:RenewableEnergy–Clean,AffordableandReliable.............................................17
MakingWiseChoices.................................................................................................................18
UnderstandingEnergy................................................................................................................21
WhatisRenewableEnergy?.......................................................................................................27
TheProsandCons......................................................................................................................28
ProspectsfortheFuture..............................................................................................................32
Chapter2:ConservationRules–TheCornerstoneofYourEnergyFuture.........................35
WhatisEnergyConservation?..................................................................................................38
BenefitsofEnergyConservation...............................................................................................42
HomeEnergyUse.......................................................................................................................43
RetrofittingYourHomeforEnergyEfficiency.......................................................................45
TheSilverLining.........................................................................................................................68
IX
Description:The coming energy crisis caused by a peak in global oil and natural gas production will profoundly affect the lives of all North Americans. As the price of these vital fuels rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improveme
