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The environmental performance of buildings in relation to their design is a pressing issue. This book explains the principles behind the LT Method (2.1), a manual design tool. The LT Method is a unique way of estimating the combined energy usage of lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation systems, to enable the designer to make comparisons between options at an early, strategic stage. The emphasis is on the impact of decisions made when developing the design for a new building, but many of the principles can be applied to refurbishment or remodeling. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A-must-to-read
Architects and environmental engineers should read this book. It gives new research-based information, that is quantitative rather than descriptive. Because architectural research inenergy and environment has long sufferedfrom the lack of definitive information, this book is a break through. Thework of those two distinguished professors, who teach in Cambridge andaffiliated with BRE and CAR, is really unique. The included LT method forBritish climate is useful only for British applications. Enjoy yourselfreading this book. ... Read more

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The volume is based on a policy simulation model linking sixty countries and regions at a detailed industrial level, covering 99.5% of the world's economic activities. Country models are linked by trade matrices that explicitly describe annual trade flow among world regions. Energy demand and supply is explained in response to changing prices reflecting emission trading and other market-oriented policy instruments. The impact on global environment is gauged through CO₂ emission.
Simulation results to 2010 with an explicit description of economy-energy-environment feedback under different scenarios serve as an open platform for policy debate. Comparisons with results from other research works are provided, together with methodological comparisons. An annotated bibliography is also included. ... Read more

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This book reviews the state-of-the-art in fuel cells (low and high temperature) across all the types applied in the field today and assesses current trends in development. The main technology problems are discussed and current gaps to market success identified. The innovations covered in the book deliver new answers to pertinent problems and/or offer new opportunities, be it in operating conditions, application area, extension of lifetime, new fuels, exciting new diagnosis and analysis methods. The volume gives an insight not only to the key developments within the next few years, but also shows perspectives in the mid-term. Readers receive an overview of cutting edge, challenging research and development that can be used in future developments, both of personal careers, as well as in company technology planning.

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This book provides incentives for further development of sustainable fuel cycles through a novel and interdisciplinary approach to an Earth science-related topic. The main focus is on geochemical concepts in immobilizing, isolating or neutralizing waste derived from energy production and consumption. The book also addresses the issue of using some types of energy-derived waste as alternative raw materials. Moreover, it highlights research on how certain wastes can be used for energy production, an increasingly important aspect of modern integrated waste management strategies. The main objectives are to: (a) identify the most serious environmental problems related to various types of power generation and associated waste accumulation; (b) present strategies, based on natural analogue materials, for the immobilization of toxic and radioactive waste components through mineralogical barriers; (c) discuss modern procedures for reuse of waste or certain waste components; and (d) review the importance of geochemical modelling in describing and predicting the interaction between waste and the environment.

Also available:

Issues in Environmental Geology: A British Perspective - ISBN 1862390142
Function of Soils for Human Societies and the Environment - Special Publication no 266 - ISBN 1862392072

The Geological Society of London

Founded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the oldest geological society in the world, and one of the largest publishers in the Earth sciences.

The Society publishes a wide range of high-quality peer-reviewed titles for academics and professionals working in the geosciences, and enjoys an enviable international reputation for the quality of its work.

The many areas in which we publish in include:

-Petroleum geology
-Tectonics, structural geology and geodynamics
-Stratigraphy, sedimentology and paleontology
-Volcanology, magmatic studies and geochemistry
-Remote sensing
-History of geology
-Regional geology guides ... Read more

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Providing essential theory and useful practical techniques for implementing hydroelectric projects, this book outlines the resources, power generation technologies, applications, and strengths and weaknesses for hydroelectric technologies. Emphasizing the links between energy and the environment, it serves as a useful background resource and facilitates decision-making regarding which renewable energy technology works best for different types of applications and regions. Including examples, real world case studies, and lessons learned, each chapter contains exercise questions, references, and ample photographs and technical drawings from actual micro hydropower plants.

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This listing was made custom for the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department of California State University, Long Beach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

engineering energy
this is a good book for any environmental science major; it's informative on all aspects with clear and easy explanations for basic engineering. it's even cooler taking the engineering class with the author of this book. and even if you aren't an environmental science major, this text is still informative. definite recommend. ... Read more

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Addressing the sustainable energy crisis in an objective manner, this enlightening book analyzes the relevant numbers and organizes a plan for change on both a personal level and an international scale—for Europe, the United States, and the world. In case study format, this informative reference answers questions surrounding nuclear energy, the potential of sustainable fossil fuels, and the possibilities of sharing renewable power with foreign countries. While underlining the difficulty of minimizing consumption, the tone remains positive as it debunks misinformation and clearly explains the calculations of expenditure per person to encourage people to make individual changes that will benefit the world at large.

Customer Reviews (35)

Missed my stop twice because of it.
...because I was so engrossed.

First, I want to congratulate MacKay for being all about the numbers.He has his opinions, sure.But, in the end, what really matters with CO2 is boring old arithmetic:How much does it cost?How long will it last?How much energy can be delivered?How much energy can be saved?How much space will it take?More than anything else, he provides us with an intellectual toolkit on how to measure different approaches.Taking the basic raw numbers, such as incoming sunlight and available surface area, multiply them by an efficiency factor.Simple, elegant, powerful.

His approach also tells us where OUR own greatest energy use, as individuals, is likely coming from.Which tells us where WE can improve and where we should not bother.

Now, I don't agree with everything he says, but the observations below by no mean justify any less than 5 stars:

-Nuclear power may not be renewable, but say a 100 year supply of uranium would nicely tidy us over till we found other energy sources.So it shouldn't be dismissed that quickly.

-His numerical analysis is relentlessly English in outlook.England's geography imposes a fairly specific set of constraints that would apply differently to other countries.Which he admits - noting for example that the US could make solar energy work in its southwest deserts, as England could not.That's not so much a flaw with the book as, well, a feature.We need another edition for Canada and the US.

-I am not always fully convinced by his calculations.For example, he relates fuel consumption in cars to the cube of the speed, IIRC and backs it up with some empirical data.And also links it to the number of stop/starts in city driving.But, one of the most common recommendations we hear to save gas is to accelerate slowly which really does not appear in his calculations.Are we getting the full picture?I think a broader admission of the need for "engineering fudge factors", not just simple predictive equations, would have been welcome.

-Costs are not covered much.Seeing as there is only so much money around, the best solution may be the one which is affordable, not just the best that is theoretically possible.

Honestly, I am only mentioning these points to highlight how little there is to criticize about this book.Praising it with faint criticism if you wish.If only more of the climate change advocates were as rigorous in their analysis we would have much better much better sets of policy options to choose from.It is one thing to convince people that climate change is happening, another to convince them to take action, potentially at personal cost.If you then mess that up by prescribing insufficiently thought out, dogmatic, solutions that is really a shame.This book is a huge step towards teaching us how to analyze possible solutions critically.

Finally, one of his most important points is that we can't _always_ say NO to everything.Most renewables DO take up space and they DO change the environment.My area has had years of impact studies to birds and scenery of offshore wind turbines.Ditto run-of-river hydro objections.What it hasn't had is much new generation capacity.

exallent service!!!!!!
the book i ordered arrived in wonderful condition very quickly after i ordered it! thank you very much! wonderful doing business with you.

Cuts through all the misleading hype
Richard Feynman once asked me if energy is a conserved quantity how come we have so many different names for the same thing?All the different units, giga this, mega that, makes it hard for even an educated citizen to get his or her hands around the actual amounts of production and consumption.MacKay does a great job of solving that problem by using one understandable measure - kilowatts hours per person per day.In doing, so he highlights how significant the task of providing adequate energy is likely to become in future years and how little we have done about it to date.

Maybe the best non-fiction book I have ever read
It's such a good book. Almost every other book about renewable energy provides you with speculations. This book is about facts and numbers, but it's not boring or tiring. Reading it was not only informative, but also a great pleasure because it's extremely well written.

Approachable and Systematic Primer on Sustainable Energy
This book was amazingly well written, and frankly, it scared the hell out of me. In clear concise language the author describes many alternative energy sources without the flimsy "if everyone unplugged their cell phone chargers we could power X houses" foolishness. He used physics and graphs. To show the land costs of some of the energy projects he used *gasp* maps.

Our civilization needs to make hard decisions about our energy future. This book is an essential resource for citizens. It truly gives you the facts about energy sources without the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that many activists and lobbyists rely on. I know that I'm going to send a copy to all my representatives and tell them to get moving on helping the US become energy independent (a cause I didn't care that much about until reading this book).

And, finally, this is a free book. If you own a Kindle DX, go download the PDF in high definition from the author's website. The print is a little small, but it was worth saving the $30.
... Read more

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This new work on energy and environmental modeling describes a broad variety of modeling methodologies, embodied in models of varying scopes and philosophies. Examples range from top-down integrated assessment models to bottom-up partial equilibrium models, to hybrid models.

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This dazzling introductory textbook encompasses the full range of today's important renewable energy technologies.

Solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy receive balanced treatment with one exciting and informative chapter devoted to each. As well as a complete overview of these state-of-the-art technologies, the chapters provide:

• clear analysis on their development potentials;
• an evaluation of the economic aspects involved;
• concrete guidance for practical implementation; how to reduce your own energy waste.

If we do not act now to stop climate change, the consequences will be catastrophic. The current world situation is demonstrated here with the aid of full-colour figures and photographs, data diagrams and simple calculations and results. A multiplicity of impressive examples from countries across the globe show international ‘alternative’ energy in action.

With its easy-to-read approach, this is an essential textbook for students on renewable energy courses, also environment and sustainability courses. Planners, operators, financers and consultants will find this an excellent manual for planning and realizing climate protection. Furthermore, this book makes great background reading for energy workers, designers, politicians and journalists, and anyone who is interested in the topic of climate change.

Looking for further study? Visit the complimentary website; it hosts many useful related internet sites: www.wiley.com/go/quaschning_renewable ... Read more

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Are renewable and alternative energy solutions needed to combat many of the negative effects of fossil fuel (including global warming)? Can such solutions be "clean," and still economically viable? For readers wanting clear, objective answers to questions like these, this fascinating, highly informative volume is the ideal source.

Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources: A Reference Handbook provides an authoritative, unbiased overview of existing and potential renewable and alternative energy technologies, covering the benefits and drawbacks associated with each. It then looks at a number of specific questions and controversies on this issue, examining the social, political, and economic aspects of renewable and alternative energy use in the United States and other countries—detailing different approaches and activities of international organizations, national governments, and private sector initiatives.

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Customer Reviews (16)

Good info for technical types
This book has a lot of good info for technical types. Lots of formulas and theory.

Also has maps showing heating and cooling days around the country (get a magnifying glass if you want to read them), pictures of various water-heating setups showing many pipes with little description, and the like.

If you want to know a lot about the theory and basic technology of energy efficient homes, this book is has a lot of info.

If you are an average person who wants straightforward suggestions on how to save energy and money in your home, I suggest checking out The Complete Guide to Reducing Energy Costs (Consumer Reports: You Need to Know).

Home Energy Diet, How to Save Money by Making Your House Energy SmartExcellent book
Excellent book for anyone that wants to learn how they can conserve energy & help the environment. The author Paul Scheckel, does a good job explaining why/how something should be done in easy to understand language. Great tool to have around if your planning a remodel or new home; so your on somewhat of an even playing field with your contractor.

Not for older homes
The book is much too thorough in some ways and not thorough enough in others. It is too through because the author will go on for pages about Ohms and Btus and Watt hours to the point where my eyes glazed over and I found it a very good sleep aid. He doesn't know how to get to the point and put his suggestions in an easy to understand synopsis. Other topics are covered in an almost off hand way or not at all, for example, we own a house built in 1912, and for us this book was nearly completely irrelevant. There is no discussion of the issues facing a homeowner with an older home. So if your looking for an easy to understand, easy to apply book that will help you make your home more efficient and save money, look elsewhere. There is certainly lots of information in this book, if you like sitting down at night with your hot water heater's manual, this book is ideal - but I didn't find it easily understandable or useful and can't recommend it.

Very informative!
I was so happy with this book. I learned so much from it and the author is very good at explaining things to you in easy to understand terms.
The author also did an excellent job of making good energy saving suggestions and ideas for home improvements.

This is a book I would give to family and friends. Highly recommended. ++

Consider "Insulate and Weatherize" Instead
Consider starting with "Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start to Finish" by Bruce Harley instead which is a more practical "Go Do It" book with lots of photographs. ... Read more

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This book covers some of the most relevant issues in the newenvironmental economics. Its main emphasis is on the internationaldimension of environmental phenomena, which implies the necessity ofdesigning properly coordinated economic/environmental policies. Theissue of policy coordination is analysed both in the case whereenvironmental externalities arise because of cross-country and globalpollution flows, and in the case where trade and competitivenesseffects induced by environmental regulation affect countries' relativeeconomic performance. The context in which these issues are analysedrelies on recent developments of game theory, industrial economics,international trade where imperfect competition and governments'strategic interactions are accounted for. Recognizing that traditional environmental policy tools are notsufficient to regulate the present environment--economy interactionsleads to appraise the effects of more sophisticated policy mixes. Inparticular, policies to stimulate technological innovation, toregulate industrial markets, to offset negative trade effects areexamined. Attention is also devoted to the issue of economic growth.Under which conditions is endogenous growth consistent withenvironmental protection? Which policy mix can loosen the traditionaltradeoff between environment and growth? These are two of the manycritical questions which are addressed, and which find veryinteresting, albeit preliminary, answers. ... Read more

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Developed from the Global Foundation's International Conferenceon Environment and Nuclear Energy, held in October 1997, this volumeexamines the impact of nuclear energy on regional and globalenvironmental issues under a variety of scenarios. These includecompetition in deregulated energy environments, constraints leviedupon use of fossil energy, and possible expansion of nuclear powerinto energy sectors beyond the generation of electricity, processheat, and fuels production. It also assesses the overall role ofnuclear energy in meeting future energy needs arising from growingworld populations and economic development. ... Read more

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During the past year, energy prices have fluctuated wildly, from historic highs in the winter and spring to the lowest wholesale prices in decades a few short months later. As the largest user of fossil-fuel energy, the United States is the key player in the world's energy markets, and our nation's energy policy (or lack thereof) has become a subject of increasing concern.

Energy: Science, Policy, and the Pursuit of Sustainability is an essential primer on energy, society, and the environment. It offers an accessible introduction to the "energy problem" - its definition, analysis, and policy implications. Current patterns of energy use are without question unsustainable over the long term, and our dependence on fossil fuels raises crucial questions of security and self-sufficiency. This volume addresses those questions by examining the three broad dimensions of the issue: physical, human, and political-economic. Chapters consider:

• the laws of nature and the impacts of energy use on our physical and ecological life-support systems
• the psychological, social, and cultural factors that determine how we use energy
• the role of government actions in adjusting costs, influencing resource consumption, and protecting the environment
• how markets work, and the reasons and cures for market failures in responding to long-term environmental and energy problems

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To solve the climate crisis, the world must make a wholesale shift to renewable energy technologies. For the industrialized world, it is essential. But with surging growth in emerging markets, this transformation takes on even greater urgency. The challenges - and opportunities - are immense.

Selling Solar considers how such a shift might happen. Focusing on the case of solar photovoltaics, it shows how at the start of the 21st century this promising technology began to diffuse rapidly in select emerging markets, after years of struggling to take off. What were the initial barriers to diffusion? How were they overcome? Who did it? And how can this success be replicated?

Drawing on the literature on innovation diffusion and entrepreneurship the author shows how entrepreneurs affected profound technological change not just through the solar systems they sold, but through the example they set to both new market entrants and policy makers. These entrepreneurs were not waiting for an R&D breakthrough or a better solar panel to come along. They took the technology at their disposal, forged a new market, inspired new policies - and sold solar. In analysing how this happened, this book offers important lessons for the diffusion of a range of renewable energy technologies in emerging markets, and for the advancement of the sector as whole.

Selling Solar is essential reading for anyone who believes in a renewable energy future and wants it sooner rather than later. ... Read more

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Renowned economist William Nordhaus has developed many innovative approaches for analyzing complex environmental questions. He applies them here to the possible phaseout of nuclear power in Sweden, and the book is a major contribution to that debate. Its value extends beyond that issue, however, to the careful consideration of environmental and energy questions that industrialized nations and developing regions now face.

In Sweden, a 1980 advisory referendum called for phasing out nuclear power. Parliament declared that existing nuclear reactors should be phased out by 2010. Numerous developments since 1980 -- technological, environmental, economic, and political -- necessitate a fresh look at the referendum. Should the Swedes reconsider the phaseout in light of new information or circumstances?

Nordhaus discusses and models the impact of new factors such as possible deregulation of electricity generation, efforts to address global climate change, and the decline of Sweden's economic growth and the rethinking of its welfare state. What are the costs and benefits to eliminating nuclear power? What are the economic ramifications of various energy and environmental options? Is a phaseout the most prudent approach? The Swedish Nuclear Dilemma casts these important questions in a new light, and it sets the stage for more informed analysis of similarly difficult issues.

Customer Reviews (2)

A surprising failure, with redeeming features
This is a strange mix of useful comments and a disastrous econometric exercise. In his attempt to estimate the cost of facing out Swedish nuclear energy, professor Nordhaus makes a number of mistakes, both on facts and onmethodology:

1. He highly misjudges the supply situation. 20 TWh ofoil fired capacity is simply disregarded, without explanation,despitebeing clearly profitable in a situation with normal electricity prices. Theimport potential is also much larger than he claims. Total supply isunderstated by an astonishing 50 TWh (compare with our present demand ofaround 140 TWh and the "normal" long term demand, with neutraltaxes, of around 100 TWh!)

2. Marginal cost of production in existingnuclear plants is far higher than professor Nordhaus suggests. He overlooksthe sizeable capital outlays required to keep old reactors alive.Transmissions costs are also left out, despite being included in prices

3. The author has not eliminated, as one should, the huge impact ofdiscriminatory taxes and subsidies. Trying to defend this by calling thepurpose of these taxes "social", when they are,of course, political, is unconvincing.

4. In his central scenario, the Swedishcarbon dioxidetax is used, when measuring the cost of climate control.The correct method is to focus on the cost of buying emission rights, asthe author himself actually confirms (without himself noticing!)Acting ashe does against he own knowledge, one has to conclude that the mainscenario is chosen to please the sponsors (our major power companies).

Taken together, these mistakes (and many more)add up to a mindboggling error. With true supply figures and correct methods and proper ,his estimates (in the central scenario) are reduced but over 90 %! Moredetails are available in the Swedish Journal "Ekonomisk Debatt"(nr 8, 1999).

In view of the author's reputation, this outcome isdifficult to understand. He may in some respects (e.g the statistics) havebeen misled by his Swedish advisers, but for methods there is no suchexcuse.

I would, nevertheless, award the book one star, in sincereappreciation of his correct side comments on a number of"sensitive" policy issues. He dismisses, e g, the prevailing viewthat our remaining rivers have to be exploited if nuclear reactors areclosed.He also mentions the anomalies of our energy statistics,whichdisregards heat losses in nuclear reactors and thus makes it possible forpoliticians to claim, in true orwellian fashion, that energy waste isenergy saving.

Åke Sundström, retired government economist, author of abook on Swedish hydro energy.

A surprising failure,with redeeming features
This is a strange mix of useful comments and a disastrous modell exercise. In his attempt to estimate the cost of facing out Swedish nuclear energy, professor Nordhaus makes a number of mistakes, both on facts and on oil-fired capacity it simply disregarding, without explanation, despite being clearly profitable in a situation with normal electricity prices. The import potential is also much larger than he claims. The total supply is wrong by an astonishing 50 TWh (compare with our present demand of around 140 TWh and the "normal" long term demand, with neutral taxes, of around 100 TWh!)

2 He has not eliminated, as one should, the huge impact of discriminatory taxes and subsidies. Trying to defend this by calling the purpose of these taxes "social", when they are cleary political, is unconvincing.

3.In his central scenario, the Swedish carbon dioxide tax is used, when measuring the cost of climate controll. The correct method is to focus on the cost of buying emission rights, as the author himself is actually confirming (without himself noticing!)Acting as he does against he own knowledge, one has to conclude that the main scenario is chosen to please the sponsors (our major power companies).

Taken together, these mistakes add up to a mind-boggling error. With true supply figures and correct methods, his estmates (in the central scenario) are reduced but over 90 procent!More details are available in the Swedish Journal "Ekonomisk Debatt" (nr 8, 1999).

In view of the authors reputation, this outcome is difficult to understand. He may in some respects (e.g the statistics) have been misled by his Swedish advisers, but for methods there is no such excuse.

I would, nevertheless, award the book one star, in deep and sincery appreciation of his controversial comments on a number of energy policy issues. He dismisses, e g, the prevailing view that our remaining rivers have to be exploited if nuclear reactors are closed. He also mentions the anomalies of our energy statistics, adding apples and pears, electricity and heat, and thus making it possible for politicians to claim, in true orwellian fashion, that energy waste is energy saving.

Åke Sundström, retired government economist, author of a book on Swedish hydro energy.END ... Read more

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