The Homeowners Energy Handbook Your Guide to Getting Off the Grid - Paul Scheckel (2013).epub

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!

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (March 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612120164
ISBN-13: 978-1612120164

From Booklist
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.”
(Booklist)

“Provides readers with cost-effective, self-empowered, and energy-efficient home-energy solutions … a one-of-a-kind resource.”

(Foreword Reviews)

“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. Home¬owners can easily pick and choose from projects without fear of becoming overwhelmed. Highly recommended.”
(Library Journal)

“A must for those who want to live off grid or simply want to use less energy or live more sustainably."

(Mapawatt.com)

Biography
Paul Scheckel is a "hands-on, off-grid" homesteader, and an experienced energy efficiency and renewable energy professional. A partner in the consulting firm Shelter Analytics (www.shelteranalytics.com), 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.