What book would you want if you were stranded on a desert island? Widely regarded as the 'bible' of off-grid living, The Solar Living Sourcebook might be your best choice. With over 600,000 copies in print worldwide, it is the most comprehensive resource available for anyone interested in lessening their environmental footprint and increasing their energy independence.The Solar Living Sourcebook-14th Edition is the ultimate guide to renewable energy, sustainab...

This book introduces the thought of Giambattista Vico (1668-1744) into the discussion about natural law. For many critics, natural law is not natural but a façade behind which lurks the supernatural – that is, revealed religion. While current notions of natural law are based on either Aristotelian/Thomistic principles or on Enlightenment rationalism, the book shows how Vico was the only natural law thinker to draw on the Roman legal tradition, rather than on Greek or Enlightenment philosop...

An in-depth look at the strategies employed in sustainable home design.

Sharp Tools Work Better!If you've never experienced the pleasure of using a really sharp tool, you're missing one of the real pleasures of woodworking. In The Perfect Edge, the mystery of the elusive sharp edge is solved by long-time sharpening expert and tool maker Ron Hock. You'll soon find how easy and safe hand tools are to use.This book covers all the different sharpening methods so you can either improve your sharpening techniques using your ...

A guide to fiber reinforced plastic materials, including fiberglass, Kevlar, and carbon fiber. It also includes sections on mold making, plugs, materials, structures, gel coats, advanced building techniques, tools and equipment.

Zero energy homes produce at least as much energy as they consume through a combination of energy efficiencies, passive design and renewable energy production. California has adopted zero net energy as the new residential standard for 2020; many other governments are considering similar policies. Developing zero energy homes is the first step towards making all buildings zero energy — a critical step in mitigating climate change, since buildings account for 40% of material and energy use w...

Make Your Green Home a Reality!Building the right-sized green home involves making eco-smart decisions. In Building Today's Green Home, you will learn:• How to choose the correct location of your building lot and what is the optimum placement of your house to take advantage of solar energy• How to design the right-sized home for your needs now and in the future• What are the best sustainable construction materials to...

A guide to designing and building the environmentally friendly, energy efficient home of your dreams.More and more homeowners today want houses that are healthy to live in and cause minimal damage to the environment. That's what green building is all about.Your Green Home is written for homeowners planning a new home—whether you are working with an architect or builder, or serving as your own general contractor. Intended to improve the overall enviro...

This workbook was written by authors who understand students, the environment, and the science behind the ways things work. "CSI Your Home" is intended to be read by young people who want to be more effective in reducing waste and preserving the environment. For every reader, a systematic review of habitat and lifestyles can lead to significant savings and an action plan for sustainable living. The research gathered by using this workbook is designed to be shared at school, or in "Energy A...

Sustainable building from the ground up - the pros and cons of the latest green and natural materials and technologiesFrom foundation to finish, a wealth of information is available on sustainable construction methods-entire volumes have been published on individual green and natural building techniques. But with so many different ideas to choose from, there is no single resource that allows an owner or builder to quickly and objectively compare the merits of each ...

A complete guide to modern pedaled-powered, treadled, and hand-cranked devices for the home.What if I could harness this energy? An unusual question for anyone putting in a long stint on a treadmill perhaps, and yet human power is a very old, practical and empowering alternative to fossil fuels. Replacing motors with muscles can be considered a political act -- an act of self-sufficiency that gains you independence.The Human-Powered Home is a one-o...

Build your own passive solar greenhouse for year-round food production in any climateThe Year-round Solar Greenhouse is the one-stop guide to designing and building greenhouses that harness and store energy from the sun to create naturally heated, lush growing environments even in the depths of winter, covering principles of solar greenhouse design and siting, glazing material properties and selection, controlling heat loss, ventilation, and construction ...