Sunshine, Blue Skies ... At Home with Wind and Solar Energy

Sunshine, Blue Skies …

At Home with Wind and Solar Energy

By Bob Brothers

Copyright Robert C Brothers 2011

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Energy Fundamentals

The essential facts about the energy sources of today: Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, Hydroelectric and Nuclear Power

Chapter 2 - The ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of Wind Energy

What you need to know about wind power, on scales both big and small

Chapter 3 - The ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of Solar Energy

Shining the light on solar energy

Chapter 4 - Solar and Wind Energy for Home Owners

What homeowners and business owners need to know before they buy into alternative energy

Chapter 5 - Alternative Energy for Architects, Builders and Suppliers

Capturing your share of the alternative energy pie

Notes on Scope and Methodologies

About the Author

Introduction

As I write this - in Spring 2011 - the price of gasoline just across the street has jumped to $3.59, Japan’s nuclear industry is literally melting down, the Saudi’s have invaded Bahrain (at the invitation of its Sunni king), Libya is tearing itself apart, the Canadians are digging up miles of prairie and soaking up giga-gallons of fresh pure water to mine for tar sands, and West Virginia mountains are being ‘disappeared’ to get at the coal underneath.

Despite soaring (and, occasionally, plummeting) energy prices and the uncertain security of traditional fossil fuels energy sources, neither governments nor markets seem capable of engaging in serious discussions of our long term energy future. Likewise, the reality and significance of the environmental impacts of producing and using fossil fuels is a subject of violent emotion, deep controversy, and (too often) fuzziness of fact.

I can’t predict (and don’t believe anyone who says they can) precisely what’s going to happen over the next few years in geo-politics, the energy economy, or the environment, but ….

Energy supplies are going to be less, not more, reliable as population and economies grow and as the more cheaply accessible fossil fuel sources are ‘mined out.’

Don’t look for a new era of cheap energy. However, if history’s any guide, energy prices are sure to yo-yo up and down under the competing influences of supply, demand, global business cycles, and energy market speculators.

The public discussion of energy policies and technology seems often to devolve into unrealistically stark either - or propositions: traditional fossil fuels are an evil anachronism or the only workable option; renewable energy can save us tomorrow or it’s an idle daydream; global climate change is a hoax or it’s an immediate disaster.

More and more, these realities and controversies are driving people, companies and institutions to look for alternatives - for ways to reduce their electricity, heating and cooling bills, and the economic black hole of the gas pump. These alternatives come in many forms - solar and wind, tidal and geothermal energy, renewable fuels and bio-diesel.

Sorting reality from the hype of alternative energy (and equally, understanding the pro and con of a fossil fuel status quo) calls for a grasp of physics and engineering, business economics and architecture - along with a dash of psychology, pioneering spirit and geo-political crystal-balling. For example:

Solar panels for your home