Paul Scheckel

The Homeowner's Energy Handbook (eBook, ePUB)

Your Guide to Getting Off the Grid

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Are you looking for creative ways to lower your energy costs, generate more of your own power, or become less reliant on the grid? Paul Scheckel offers practical advice for taking matters into your own hands. Explaining the fundamentals of solar, wind, water, and biofuel energy production, Scheckel shows you how to build and maintain a wide variety of energy-saving and energy-producing equipment, ranging from thermosiphon solar hot water collectors to bicycle-powered generators. Use less energy, save money, and help preserve the environment.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Storey Publishing, LLC
• Erscheinungstermin: 29. April 2013
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781603428477
• Artikelnr.: 38097562

Autorenporträt

PaulScheckel is an energy auditor and consultant who has visited more than 3,000 homes, educating people about energy efficiency, cost-effective improvements, and indoor air quality. His articles have appeared in such publications as Mother Earth News, Home Power, and Vermont Life, and he contributes a monthly energy and environment column to two state-wide newspapers. A frequent radio guest, Scheckel has also appeared as a guest expert on the acclaimed television show "Ask this Old House". He lives off-grid in northern Vermont with his family in a solar- and wind-powered house.

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction   Part One: Home Energy Efficiency 1 Getting Ready for Renewables The Big and Little Energy Picture
Basic Considerations
Systems and Planning
Renewable Habits
The Value of Electricity
Energy Action in Cuba
Build a Bicycle-Powered Battery Charger   2 Do Your Own Energy Audit Getting Started
Electricity
Hot Water
Heating and Air Conditioning
Thermal Envelope
Windows
Prioritizing Your Improvements   3 Insulating Your Home How Heat Moves
Measuring Insulation Value
Insulation Inspection
How Much Insulation Do You Need?
Choosing and Installing Insulation
Stopping Air and Moisture
Roof Venting
When "High Performance" Doesn't Perform   4 Deep Energy Retrofits Looking at the Big Picture
A Team with a Plan
The Basement
Above-Grade Walls
Windows
The Roof
Air Leakage
Ventilation
Heating and Air Conditioning
Hot Water   5 Home Energy Monitoring Electric Energy Monitoring
Gas Monitoring
Environmental Monitoring
My Hot Water Heating Story   Part Two: Renewable Energy 6 Solar Hot Water Types of Systems
Solar Hot Water Collectors
Hot Water Storage
Additional System Components
Sizing the System
Maintenance
Homemade Hot Water
Build a Solar Hot Water Batch Heater   7 Solar Electric Generation Solar Power Potential
Planning for a PV System
PV System Wiring
Orientation
Racks and Tracking
Economics
Safety
Living with Solar (and Wind) Power   8 Wind Electric Generation Using Wind Energy at Home
Estimating Energy in the Wind
Estimating Wind Speed
Efficiency and Power
Wind Machines and Controls
Towers
Foundations and Anchoring
Maintenance
Safety
Wiring and Grounding
Wind Wisdom from an Expert   9 Hydro Electric Generation Home Hydro
Calculating Hydro Energy
Measuring Flow and Estimating Power
Intake Site Selection
Penstock Pipe Selection
Turbines
Power Generators
System Efficiency   10 Renewable Electricity Management Grid-Tie vs. Off-Grid
Definition of Terms
Electrical Wiring
Balance of System Components
Batteries
Mapping Motivations ... and Watts   11 Biodiesel Venturing into Biodiesel
What Is Biodiesel? Benefits and Drawbacks
Essential Ingredients
Equipment Needs
Safety
Basic Steps for Making Biodiesel
Mixing Biodiesel with Other Fuels
Washing Biodiesel
Veggie Oil Conversion
Create a Biodiesel Kit   12 Wood Gas Wood Doesn't Burn
How Wood Gas Generators Work
Four Stages of Gasification
Gasifier Operation
Cleaning and Filtering Wood Gas
Using Wood Gas
Storing Gas
Types of Gasifiers
Working Safely around Wood Gas
Two Men and a Truck
Build a Simple Wood Gas Cook Stove   13 Biogas The Basics
Recipe for Making Gas
Solids, Liquids, and Volatile Solids
Temperature
Retention Time and Loading Rate
Types of Methane Generators
Using Biogas
Purifying Biogas
Biogas Is More than a Gas
Make a Biogas Generator   Resources Metric Conversion Charts Index