---- Page 22 RAIN August/September 1979 SOLAR ~ Solar Lighting with Reflective Shutters, $2.50 from: Sunspaees 2520 Sacramento St. San Francisco, CA 9411 5 A report on design, construction and operation in insulated reflective skylight shutters for solar lighting and heating with minimal negative energy impacts. A good example of what can be accomplished through a small-grants program -this pr()ject funded by the DOE/ CalOAT small grants program. - TB At Home in the Sun, Norah Davis and Linda Lindsey, 1979, 236 pp., $9.95 (paperback) plus 65(/ postage, available from: . Garden Way Publishing Co. Charlotte, VT 05445 This book is based upon the experiences of solar home owners, such as: "I heard a gentle slushing sound and went down and saw the cellar flooding." One family's solar consultant is described as "a brainy MIT dropout who designed a cement boat that sank in the Connecticut Riwr. . .. after a year and a half of our time and money, however, he called up and quit." Remarks from another solar homeowner: "A big wind came up and pretty soon a pin fell out, then a strut, and in a classic chain reaction, the ground was soon littered with plastic and aluminum ." These remarks by solar homeowners, builders and designers aren't meant t\.) scare you away. But by learning from their expenence and studying the 30 different designs (from high tech to garbage dump funk) you may avoid a few of their mistakes r,. 1__ oJ!~!.. · ·I/.. -.,., •• .4'+-"r "1"-.'- ' oIfIo ..... ~' .......r' ,....ili; and benefit from the g<wd decisions they made. It was interesting to hear solar home living described as: " .. . the satisfaction of feeling noble and virtuous, the way you feel when you hang out the laundry . . . it's comforting to sit in the study-right up under the collector- and hear the roof begin to talk about what it's feeling. As the panels expand and contract, they go pwong, ping, pwong. When you're alone, you're not really alonc." Another owner proudly n:marked that it took only 135 seconds to close the thermal shutters whenever a cloud came by. Somebody else said they adopted a solar rhythm by only bathing on the sunny days. Many of the persons interviewed for this solar home tour regretted their initial heavy investment in active systems which required considerable maintenance and failed to pcrform as well as predicted. The passivc homes, however, seemed to perform more satisfactorily. Go ahead and buy this book. It is enjoyable to read, yet it includes lots of technical advice. - JP National Citizens' Solar Energy Conference The Center for Renewable Resources is sponsoring a people's solar energy convention August 16-19 at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The list of workshops is impressive. The following is just a taste of what is availableissue workshops: neighborhood solar strategies, community devclopmc:nt corporations, community solar cooperatives, solar and agriculture, solar businesses, model state solar policies; skills workshops: churches as resources, the media (press relc:ases, PSAs), involving unions, fundraising and lobbying techniques; hands-on workslJOps: solar greenhouses, breadbox and flat plate collectors, gasohol. Amory Lovins (Soft Energy Paths), Denis Hayes (Worldwatch Institute) and David Morris (Institute for Local Self-Reliance) arc a few of the speakers who will be present. The registration fcc is $25 before August 1 and $35 after. Gas money will be rebated for carloads of four or more persons who arc registc:red for the conference. For registration information write: Gail Prostrollo Center for Renewable Resources 1001 Connecticut Ave. N.W., 5th FI. Washington, DC 20036 -PC Sun Angles for Design, Robert Bennet, 1979,76 pp., $5.00 from: Robert Bennet 6 Snowden Road Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 A specialized book, useful for solar site analysis prior to the installation of solar c:nuipment. Sun angle charts are included for most northern latitudes; enabling you to dc:termine the shading effect of trees and buildings upon your home's solar potential. Other architectural information is includc:d o n shadow casting, shadow mapping, overhangs'rd skylights. - JP ____ hinge ____ - ~wood frame ~ ~~rabric .~ =c:.oe ~ pu'ley~ rope Village Homes' Solar House Designs, Bainbridge, Corbett and Hofacre, 1979, $6.95 from: Rodale Press Emmaus, PA 18049 I\. valuable book- both for its documentation of the pleasing environment that results from Davis, California's pathbreaking energy conservation code and for its visual and economic comparison of 43 different energy-conserving and solar house designs built and operating in the same environment. The average energy use of the homes is half that of conve)1tional ones, at minimal extra Cost. -TB Dear RAIN readers-. We deeply regret that it's necessary to charge 20 percent for postage and handling on orders of RAIN publications. We simply cannot afford to absorb these high costs any more. Thank you for your understanding. -DG and PSD 4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz