April 1982 RAIN Page 19 aotoh^ \oj€\f \u^ Wif‘ccu4 oaL««<7 <it bok| laid alccoeJiaf) UiWltA-tlb/i "t? -tHUcjIs- Low*! 4pgi/t (julnare allsoifti Ic^ code,'.) pvb -&r lflitt| p»4»f<c>hfiii) «ssk ^trfaca-' ^«WrMiicr (artsfi CtSS. y^athbW'^ diiKcrtT^ r-riao ireshiki-W iM_-5lloW€Vi ^IftbS'<Wvl at TAtli: leuel/ Uw ualtbulb^ From: Hawaii Home Energy Book Hawaii Home Energy Book, by Jim Pearson, 1978,183 pp., $8.95, from: University Press of Hawaii 2840 Kolowalu St. Honolulu, HI 96822 Excellent, especially compared to most alternative technology books, for three reasons. First, it is written about a specific climate and area with which the author is thoroughly familiar, and covers energy use patterns, energy rate structures, and climate in Hawaii. Second, the author assumes that the reader is intelligent. Instead of merely listing rules of thumb, he explains concepts and derives the rules. For example, in the sections on comfort and cooling he starts with physiology, moves on to historical structures, principles of heat flow, and sun angles. Once a solid foundation is laid, he makes recommendations on shading and solar control. Third, Pearson himself favors low-tech solutions but covers the gamut so that readers can make their own choices. In short, it is not all things to all people, but what it does it does well. —Gail Katz Rivers of Energy: The Hydropower Potential, by Daniel Duedney, 1981, 76 pp., $2.00 from: Worldwatch Institute 1776 Massachusetts Avenue Washington, DC 20036 In a world suffering from inflation and fossil fuels depletion, hydropower offers stable prices and permanence. If properly managed, hydroelectric complexes will be producing power long after the oil wells run dry and the coal fields are exhausted. Economic development based on energy from running water offers something unique among major resources in use today: sustainability. Hydropower could be one of the few remaining bargains in electricity production today. Even taking environmental impacts into account, only a fraction of the world's hydro potential has been tapped. In developing countries, hydropower can offer independence from an export economy. In North America and Europe, retrofitting turbines to existing dams and increased low head applications could meet a substantial chunk of future energy needs. But the technology is only as good as the society that uses it. Development of hydro resources without sensitivity to local needs and ecosystems has created enormous environmental and social problems throughout the world. The question of who controls the resources is an important one, and the creation of new sources of cheap power for energy and capital intensive industries, such as aluminum, do little to improve people's lives. What is needed, Duedney argues, is a balanced approach, stressing local involvement and the intensive development of both small and large sites, a model based on the development of hydropower in China. Duedney is both vague and somewhat naive about how the sensitive and stable development of hydro on a major scale will come about. But his worldwide perspective is an important one, and this wide ranging discussion offers a rare view of the promise and perils of a reemerging energy source. — Kevin Bell Central Heating With Wood and Coal, by Larry Gay, 1981,114 pp., $8.95 from: The Stephen Greene Press Fessenden Road Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 This extremely well written, readable book explains the mechanics of using wood-fired and coal-fired boilers and furnaces for heat- . ing houses. Gay describes the basics of how furnaces work, control and fuel options, building codes, performance, and the hazard associated with creosote buildup in chimneys. He illustrates furnace design and lists points to look for when purchasing a furnace Finally, he outlines what constitutes a safe installation for solid fuel fired furnaces. He repeats the same format for boilers so that the reader can decide between hot water distribution and forced hot air distribution. The book is well organized and gives the reader enough information to choose, install, and maintain wood or coal-fired heating systems. —Gail Katz Energy Efficient Housing: A Prairie Approach, by the Energy Research Develop^ ment Group, University of Saskatchewan, 1981, 35 pp., single copies free from: Office of Energy Conservation Saskatchewan Mineral Resources 1914 Hamilton Street Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA R3C0V8 If you're looking into building a low energy home, this book is one of the best bargains around. You won't find much here in the way of design calculations, but you will find construction details—lots of them, with clear drawings covering a variety of techniques and special situations, plus practical suggestions for dealing with some of the more common problems and frustrations that invariably pop up. Be aware that the insulation values and design rules of thumb used here are for one of the severest regional climates in North America. —Kevin Bell
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