June 198] RAIN Page 15 ity of this magazine, I'd like to air the one major gripe I have about the first issue. Two of the articles covering conservation and solar techniques appear to betray a need for greater expertise m an area that often has implications that extend beyond the realm of applied construction details. One artide about indoor air quality in energy-efficient homes Was somewhat misleading in its discussion on both the nature of and possible solutions to the problem. Another article describes a site-built active solar space heat system that looks far more com plicated and expensive than many other solar options that arc readily available for new construction. However, most of the techniques described here are suitable for residential hot water systems as well, and the finishing details are very good. The wide variety of topics that appear in thIS magazine reflects the diversity of builders, remodelers, and homes around the continent. If the editors are able to maintain a balance between the needs of both the parttime remodeler and the high-rolling home builder, Fine Homebu ilding should prove to be a valuable forum during a time of unprecedented transitions in the state of the art, as well as a reference for people seeking the time-tested techniqucs that are what fme homebuildmg is all aboul. - KB WIND Windpower: A Handbook of Wind Energy Conversion Systems,by V. Daniel Hunt, 1981,610 pp., $39.95 from: Van Nostrand Reinhold 135 West 50th St. New York, NY 10020 Written for the person planning to install a store-bought system, I found this book to be clear and readable (except for one section on aerodynamics which is packed with calculus). The sections on siting your wind system, basic concepts of lift and drag, environmental and legal aspects of wind are far superior to those in Park's book. Hunt also includes a chapter listing all commercially available . wind systems, their power output vs. wind speed curves, performance, maintenance, cost, materials, and other Important information. Sections on international devd opment and the future of wind power are included as icing on the cake. -GAil Katz The Wind Power Book, by Jack Park,1981, 253 pp., $11.95 from: Cheshire Books 514 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 In writing this book, Jack Park has expanded and improved on his two previous wmd-reFigure 2·1. Pt.r"i.m venic:al-ui!o windmill circa 640 A.D. From Windpower [ated books, Wind Power for Farms, Homes mId Sm l1 111ndustry and Simplified Wind Power for Experimenters. Park's books are all aimed at the person who wants to design his or her system, complete from the tower to the shape of the rotor blades. in simple terms understandable to a layperson.. he describes analytical methods for sizing a windmill, matching the v.-indmiH to the load, desigmng the tower, and fabricating the rotor blades. His information on system siting and economics, however, is more sketchy. In genera\, though, he speaks from experience-and he knows which way the wind blows. -Gail Katz Siting Handbook for Small Wind Energy Systems, by Harry Wegley, et al. ,$7.95 from: NTIS US Dept. of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 Moving even short distances off an optimum v.-ind site can mean a drop of 10-15% in electricity generated at that site, making accurate wind velocity analysis of even small pieces of property crucial. This book, produced by Battelle Northwest, is the best available for instructions on siting a wind energy conversIon system. If you're going the wind power route, here is an ideal guide for maximizing you r potential. - Gail Katz Components of an American Farm windmill. Gears and crankshaft convert rotary power into the up-down motIon 01 the sucker rod From The Willd Power Book
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