Renewable Energy Reading List

"Home Power" Magazine, 6 issues per year ($22.50/yr), PO Box 520, Ashland, OR 97520, 800-707-6585, subscription@homepower.com

The definitive source, with articles written by folks actually building and using RE systems. Many articles on-line at www.homepower.com.

"Wind Energy Basics: A Guide to Small and Micro Wind Systems (Real Goods Solar Living Book)" by Paul Gipe and Karen Perez (Chelsea Green Publishing, 122 pages, 1999)

Includes detailed information on planning, purchasing, siting, and installing a wind system. Explains intertied systems and the integration of wind with PV for off-grid systems.

"The New Independent Home: People and Houses that Harvest the Sun" by Michael Potts (Chelsea Green Publishing , 350 pages, 1999)

In addition to covering the technology of independent homes, there is extensive discussion of the sustainable living philosophy of independent home dwellers.

"The Passive Solar House (Real Goods Independent Living Books)" by James Kachadorian (Chelsea Green Publishing, 220 pages, 1997)

Written for the beginner in passive solar home building with a cookbook approach and worksheets to calculate the solar performance of your building design.

"The Evolution of an Independent Home: The Story of a Solar Electric Pioneer" by Paul Jeffrey Fowler (Fowler Enterprises, 254 pages, 1995)

Less technical and more of a 'working diary' that explains how to build a passive solar house powered by a solar electric system.

"The Solar Electric House: Energy for the Environmentally Responsive, Energy-Independent Home" by Steven J. Strong (Chelsea Green Publishing, 288 pages, 1994)

An excellent description of the various system options available from stand-a-lone to utility-interactive. Although some equipment has changed in the past few years, the principles remain the same.