The New Independent Home: People and Houses That Harvest the Sun

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book on independent, sustainable living!
Review: "The New Independent Home" is a cornucopia of good information and thought provoking discussion. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I found myself (currently in the throws of re-evaluating where and how my family and I live) unable to put this book down. The author covers not just the technology of independent homes; there is extensive discussion of the whole sustainable living philosophy of independent home dwellers. The numerous interviews with folks actually living in these homes, many of them off-the-grid even when that is not a necessity, add a very real dimension to the author's presentation. This is not just some "chuck it all - back to the land" book either; the info (and interviews) cover the spectrum of not only remote living but also the quite urban; the thoughts, ideas, and technology here are applicable to all situations. And community building is an important part of sustainability; none of the independent homeowners presented here are hermits. There is a real sense of their place in their communities, both the local one, and the wider community of like-minded folks wherever they may live. For someone thinking about their place in our crazy world and how to move toward a sustainable, ecological, sane way of living, this is the best book I've found. Buy this book! Read it!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book on independent, sustainable living!
Review: "The New Independent Home" is a cornucopia of good information and thought provoking discussion. A thoroughly enjoyable read, I found myself (currently in the throws of re-evaluating where and how my family and I live) unable to put this book down. The author covers not just the technology of independent homes; there is extensive discussion of the whole sustainable living philosophy of independent home dwellers. The numerous interviews with folks actually living in these homes, many of them off-the-grid even when that is not a necessity, add a very real dimension to the author's presentation. This is not just some "chuck it all - back to the land" book either; the info (and interviews) cover the spectrum of not only remote living but also the quite urban; the thoughts, ideas, and technology here are applicable to all situations. And community building is an important part of sustainability; none of the independent homeowners presented here are hermits. There is a real sense of their place in their communities, both the local one, and the wider community of like-minded folks wherever they may live. For someone thinking about their place in our crazy world and how to move toward a sustainable, ecological, sane way of living, this is the best book I've found. Buy this book! Read it!

Rating:
Summary: The Fluorescent Lamp of Experience
Review: After living in the mountains for thirty years, Richard Perez, editor in chief of Home Power magazine, concluded that the key to security is independence. Of the many reasons to turn to more efficient, renewable energy sources, independence and self-reliance might be the most attractive to many Americans.

I don't expect everyone to follow Perez back into the wilderness, but it is unnecessary to imitate every aspect of the lives of these new pioneers in order to learn from them. You don't have to be a hippie to see what works. These folks have been testing the technology that may eventually make America independent again. Fortunately they are willing to let the rest of us benefit from their experience.

Potts calls his book an approach to homely science, reminding us that ecology derives from Greek and Latin words for home and household. It is also clear that he is trying to revive an entire world view. His "whole-home" approach encompasses technology, biology, religion, politics, and economics, and it doesn't always work. The attempt to say a little bit about everything, and to find it all connected, leads to disorganization, repetition, and confusion.

On the other hand, the book's variety makes it ideal for browsing and for introducing the topics one has to consider before living partially or completely off the grid. There are chapters on solar panels, wind turbines, hydro turbines, as well as sidebars on the costs of refrigeration, developments in window technology and insulation, and how to take care of deep-cycle batteries. Interspersed with these topics are interviews with homesteaders, who reveal what has changed since the first edition of Potts' book. The revision also includes a section of color photos of energy efficient homes, a glossary, and an annotated bibliography.

Most of the work the new pioneers have been doing over the years has been either on their own or within a community of fellow homesteaders, engineers, and independent dealers, without the assistance of government. What they have learned deserves honest consideration.

Rating:
Summary: Alternative energy or Nuclear?
Review: Being an architect I am really concerned with sustainable living and green design. Once upon a time I was thinking that alternative energy sources would be the future of the energy sector, but as I read and read about these kind of energy sources lots of question marks appeared in my mind. As I deepened my studies about the subject I came to a conclusion that hoping to achieve our energy from sun, wind etc. is a very romantic idea (I am not against romanticism) and it is not very realistic. Now I know that THE CLEANEST AND CHEAPEST SOURCE OF ENERGY IS NUCLEAR ENERGY. This book tells stories of ordinary people who tried to achieve enough energy from sun, wind etc. for their daily use, with too much effort which I really appreciate. But just baking a cake in an oven or any other simple daily event musn't require that kind of effort and money. I thank to this book for awakening me about nuclear energy by showing the other side of the coin. Anyway if you are living off-the-grid and really really want to use PV's or wind mills to turn your TV on this book may help by telling how others succeeded(?) to do that.

Rating:
Summary: My book helps folks take control of their energy destiny
Review: It took me 20 years to get ready to write my book -- tinkering, visiting, figuring arcane technology out -- and then another 6 years to get the book right. Independent homesteaders offer us all lessons on using our energy better. On-the-gridders waste half the energy they buy, while we who carefully harvest every electron, teaspoon of water, and therm of heat, strive to waste as little as possible. This work reconnects us with the planet in unexpected ways. There are important lessons in my book about phantom loads, free energy sources, and small habit changes that have helped many "on-the-gridders" reduce their energy bills by 30% - 60% -- enough to pay for their energy improvements with enough left over to buy a new copy of my book (and give it to a friend) every month!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting for the earthy types, useless for green suburbs
Review: The book was easy to read without much detail regarding brands, specifics and the 'devil of the details'.

writing, after installing our new energy star washer we noticed that we could wash clothes even during cloudy days. Not exactly a comment that would relate to the 90% of the masses.

I thought this book would cover all sorts of homes, but instead the well versed marketing tricked me into believing that.

No where did it cover a relatively normal house, builder etc, that incorporated the inxpensive changes necessary for a home to be more energy efficient, nor cover what appliances, were good or bad to avoid. It was a buy a plot of land in nowhereville, 'sell' part of it to other earthies, and build a straw or dirt filled tire house.

Um, where's the information about manufactured homes that come super-insulated with low power appliances, and PV from the factory for the other 90%.

If you want to see the types of people that are the ones that the congress, senate, DOE, and EPA see as pro-independent, it's no wonder there's little public knowledge of solar, wind and water power.

As for the pro-nuke guy, if my first exposure was this book, I'd be as short-sighted as him, the solar and wind CAN make a difference, but it's gotta be for the masses.