Energy Books - Page 3

Petroleum Refining in Nontechnical Language Third Edition (Pennwell Nontechnical Series)

William L. Leffler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Oil Refining for "Dummies" 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As an experienced chemical engineer new to downstream oil work, i.e., refineries, this book has been highly useful. I expect to use it as a quick reference years after mastering the field. William Leffler has written a simple, easy to read training program for engineers and non-engineers alike. If you are new to refineries or would like to know more about the subject, say from the perspective of ethanol refining, this is book for you. I suggest starting here and going on to harder material later.

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Editorial Review:

Leffler gives you an overview of key refining topics by using relevant analogies, easy-to-understand graphs, formulas, and illustrations. Use this book for self-study, as a classroom textbook, or as a quick reference. Contents: Crude oil characteristics Distilling Flashing The chemistry of petroleum Catalytic cracking Refinery gas plants Alkylation Catalytic reforming Residue reduction Hydrocracking Gasoline blending Distillate fuels Asphalt and residual fuel Hydrogen, hydrotreating, and sulfur plants Isomerization Solvent recovery of aromatics Ethylene plants Simple and complex refineries Crude oil, condesate, and natural gas liquids Fuel values - heating values Answers and solutions.

The Physics of Solar Cells (Properties of Semiconductor Materials) (Properties of Semiconductor Materials)

Jenny Nelson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very good coverage 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book provides a well thought out introduction to the physics of photovoltaic cells and systems. The treatment provides mathematical details at a level that will be accessible to science and engineering graduates and upper class undergraduates. Some derivations are not as well explained as others. However, the working relationships are worth knowing and can serve as a lead into other references. The book is well worth its relatively modest cost.

Editorial Review:

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics of the photovoltaic cell. It is suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers new to the field. It covers: basic physics of semiconductors in photovoltaic devices; physical models of solar cell operation; characteristics and design of common types of solar cell; and approaches to increasing solar cell efficiency. The text explains the terms and concepts of solar cell device physics and shows the reader how to formulate and solve relevant physical problems. Exercises and worked solutions are included.

Contents: Photons In, Electrons Out: Basic Principles of PV; Electrons and Holes in Semiconductors; Generation and Recombination; Junctions; Analysis of the p n Junction; Monocrystalline Solar Cells; Thin Film Solar Cells; Managing Light; Over the Limit: Strategies for Higher Efficiency.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for your Home, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)

Dan Ramsey, David Hughes

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

To be fair...(REVISED - I HAVE READ IT...same...2 stars) 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 25 people found this review helpful.

Sept 08, 2008 Revision: After borrrowing this book from a friend to read it thoroughly, I still give it 2 stars BUT...
- the book is fairly thorough, concise, and comprehensive in its coverage of residential solar. It does cover nearly every introductory topic and question a home owner new to solar energy might ask.
- it goes into topics such as the history of solar, developments past present and future, batteries, Do-It-Yourself issues and concerns, inverter operation and general info, identifying and hiring a contractor, inspection issues, brief mention of the NEC (Natl Electric Code), federal and state solar incentives, and so much more.
And it does this in a very few short pages - don't let the 336 pages fool you. The meat of the book is actually in less than 200 pages of writing.

Given that it covers nearly ALL the topics in one book - in ONE PLACE - in a VERY QUICK read of 200+ pages - FOR LESS THAN $15.00, I actually give this 5 STARS for VALUE AND TIME well spent. (If you have ANY technical background, you'll cover the entire book in one night of reading.) But why 2 stars then? Well, if you are serious about installing solar, after reading this book you will come to realize that you still need to know so much more. Inevitably, you WILL have to talk to your municipal inspector, spend some time researching solar contractors, and quite a bit of time understanding the requirements of the incentives offered by your utility/city/state/federal govt - in all, that's at least another 10-24 hours of research, discussion, and reading. A book costing 2-3 times as much with much more detail might therefore be more beneficial. Or simply following the FREE links, as I originally espoused below, might still be the best approach since either way it is going to take time to understand it all - but only if you really are serious about installing residential solar. Otherwise, if you simply want to gain enough insights to evaluate solar, and determine its prospects for your home and situation, then this is a very good book for you.

BTW, this book is very similar to the other "Dummies" Book - "Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies Series)".

ORIGINAL REVIEW COMMENTS ON MAY 1, 2008: To be fair, I have not read this book. Why 5 stars? The book is a for-profit venture by the author, so recovery of time, effort, & energy is important for revenue reasons. So why write this review? After spending nearly 12-18 hours perusing AMAZON's book list on solar energy and photovoltaic systems, I was frustrated! None of the reviews on any single book seemed to be convincing enough to make me want to buy. For instance, none of the reviews mention how the books address the National Electric Code, specific wiring and disconnect installation information, electrical and other safety hazards, inspection issues, etc. For a DIY'er, these books seemed a waste of time, never mind the fact that some reviewers insisted they actually DIY'ed just from the book. It then occurred to me that dozens of resources that I had used over the past 10 years - with the exception of 2007 due to extenuating circumstances - many resources are available for free from our fantastic .GOV, .ORG, and .EDU sites like Sandia Nat'l Labs, NREL, NMSU, and CA.GOV. Folks, before you start buying books on PV left & right, be smart and leverage what your fine tax dollars paid for! I have to admit - I believe it's just stupid searching for good PV technical, installation, and detailed literature on a For-Profit Bookstore when so much is already available online for Free. Folks, use your head - our government and academic labs pioneered this from federal tax dollars. Hence, much of it is public domain! (REPLACE all "?" with "." in the following website links.) nabcep?org nmsu?edu/~tdi/index?html photovoltaics?sandia?gov and energy?ca?gov - just to name a few! Of course, if you're just not Internet savvy, not an engineer/analytical A-type personality, and highly resourceful, plus you'd rather prefer to kill trees buying a book instead of leveraging online resources that are 100 times more than what's on AMAZON, and most likely don't have the wherewithal to DIY, go ahead. It will be amazing to see how many are simply duped by the thousands of new "get rich quick" companies and businessmen entering the renewable energy markets.

Editorial Review:

The perfect source for solar power—fully illustrated.

Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of residential solar systems. This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what their options are, and what’s involved with installing various on and off-grid systems.

—Fully illustrated
—Covers every conceivable solar-power topic and concern, including updated information on the increasing number of state rebate and incentive programs

Leed Nc Sample Exam: New Construction

Brennan Schumacher, Meghan Peot

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Successfully prepare for the USGBC's® LEED-NC (New Construction) 2.2 exam. This sample exam provides a realistic simulation of the actual exam based on the topics covered, the number of questions, and the format of the questions.

Updated to cover version 2.2 of the LEED for New Construction exam.

Realistic practice for the LEED-New Construction and Major Renovations exam 80 questions covering the subjects on the exam Solutions guide to check your answers Mentally prepares you for the pressure of working under timed conditions Helps you identify topics that require extra review

Looking for a LEED exam review course? Register here.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC®) did not participate in the development and/or publication of the LEED NC Sample Exam: New Construction, and does not participate in the development or administration of the LEED exam review courses. The USGBC is not affiliated with PPI. LEED and USGBC are registered trademarks of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Renewable Energy Policy

Paul Komor

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Renewable energy is the key to the future of humankind. Wind power, solar (photovoltaic) energy, geothermal power, and other forms of renewables can help solve our most pressing environmental problems, including global climate change. But how do we move these promising technologies out of the laboratory and into widespread use? Renewable Energy Policy shows what public policy can—and cannot—do to help tap renewables' promise.

Renewable Energy Policy takes a pragmatic, nuts-and-bolts look at the myriad government efforts to promote renewables, and reports back on what works, what doesn't, and why. In clear, jargon-free language, Renewable Energy Policy shows how and why some policies have achieved impressive results, and others have failed. Skillfully interweaving technology, economics, and politics, Paul Komor reveals how the best of policy ideas often end up with unintended results.

If you want to know how much wind power really costs (Chapter 2), why Germany's renewables laws are "crude but effective" (Chapter 8), or the three reasons why the UK's green energy market is a flop (Chapter 4), then you need to read Renewable Energy Policy.

"Mr. Komor's writing style is both clear and engaging. This book works well as a primer for any energy analyst not already deeply involved in renewable energy policy matters or as a textbook for college courses on energy policy or renewable energy economics."
Blair G. Swezey, Principal Policy Advisor, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO.

The Bottomless Well: The Twilight of Fuel, the Virtue of Waste, and Why We Will Never Run Out of Energy

Peter Huber, Mark P. Mills

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Inconsistent at best 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I thought Hard Green was a good enviro contrarian take. This one is not nearly as good.

Claims are made that are not substantiated anywhere in the book 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Huber and Mills's argument in this book is basically summarized on p. 43:"...technologies of digital power...will redefine,yet again,how much energy we want and how much we can get.We will want more-much more.And we will get it easily.Unless,somehow,our optimism,drive,courage,and will give way to lethargy and fear ".
This translates as the assertion that there are immense new scientific breakthroughs, just around the bend ,with respect to the generation and use of energy,in technology that will completely revolutionize the world.Unfortunately,these claims appear to be similar to the " cold fussion " claims made about 15 years ago and the claims made by Gary Winnick(Global Crossing) about the limitless,future growth of fiber optic cable applications.
The claim that these solutions will be spontaneously generated in the near future are essentially based on nothing but additional claims and assertions.The best existing solution is the one offered at the turn of the century by Theodore Roosevelt-conservation and reduced energy consumption.

Editorial Review:

The sheer volume of talk about energy, energy prices, and energy policy on both sides of the political aisle suggests that we must know something about these subjects. But according to Peter W. Huber and Mark P. Mills, the things we think we know are mostly myths. A better understanding of energy will radically change our views and policies on a number of very controversial issues. In The Bottomless Well, Huber and Mills show why energy is not scarce, why the price of energy doesn't matter very much, and why "waste" of energy is both necessary and desirable. Across the board, energy isn't the problem; energy is the solution.

Biodiesel Basics and Beyond: A Comprehensive Guide to Production and Use for the Home and Farm

William H. Kemp

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent book - an ABSOLUTE MUST for your bookshelf 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

After researching most of the books available on the market on the subject of BIO-DIESEL I eventually settled for this book.
It is well-written and covers every aspect of the manufacture of bio-diesel that the smaller-scale individual would look for in a book. The author is well-versed in his subject and is a definate must-have book if you are looking to get into this field.
Definately worth 5/5 stars from me.

Editorial Review:

Biodiesel Basics and Beyond aims to separate fact from fiction and to educate potential home, farm, and cooperative manufacturers on the economic production of quality biodiesel from both waste and virgin oil feedstock. The book includes:

• detailed processes and equipment required to produce biodiesel fuel that meets North American standards
• how farmers can use excess oilseed as a feedstock for biodiesel production
• the use of the co-byproduct glycerin in the making of soap
• a guide to numerous reference materials and a list of supplier data

This is North America’s definitive guide to responsibly producing biodiesel from waste vegetable oil while minimizing your environmental footprint in the process.

Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer

Helen Caldicott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The world-renowned antinuclear activist's "expertly argued" (The Guardian) case against nuclear energy.

In a world torn apart by wars over oil, politicians have increasingly begun to look for alternative energy sources—and their leading choice is nuclear energy. Among the myths that have been spread over the years about nuclear-powered electricity are that it does not cause global warming or pollution, that it is inexpensive, and that it is safe.

Helen Caldicott's look at the actual costs and environmental consequences of nuclear energy belies the incessant barrage of nuclear industry propaganda. Caldicott "reveals truths," Martin Sheen has said, "that confirm we must take positive action now if we are to make a difference." In fact, nuclear power contributes to global warming; the true cost of nuclear power is prohibitive, with taxpayers picking up most of the tab; there's simply not enough uranium in the world to sustain nuclear power over the long term; and the potential for a catastrophic accident or a terrorist attack far outweighs any benefits. Concluding chapters detail alternative sustainable energy sources that are the key to a clean, green future.

Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil

Robert Zubrin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 54 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Seriously flawed 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.

The basic thesis that Mr. Zubrin presents is that the US government should immediately mandate that all cars sold in the USA be flex-fuel vehicles. These are vehicles equipped with fuel systems capable of handling gasoline, ethanol, or methanol, or any combination of the above. Modern computerized ignition and fuel injection systems make such a modification fairly cheap to implement. This change would open up the market for domestic ethanol and methanol production, which would rise to meet the demand and, because it is cheaper than gasoline, would finally liberate us from our dependence on Middle East oil.

The author is certainly enthusiastic but his book is deeply flawed. The author is an aerospace engineer with a doctorate in nuclear engineering, and he certainly understands the engineering angles clearly. But he has problems with just about everything else, such as politics, history, and economics. He wrote a chapter on the military history of oil -- a bad mistake. He's obviously not well versed in military history. He appears to have slapped together some quick research to support his thesis. Although there's nothing terribly mistaken in the chapter, it bristles with so many trivial errors that it undermines his credibility. He really didn't need this chapter anyway; it struck me as gratuitous material tossed in to demonstrate intellectual breadth -- when in fact it indicated the opposite to me.

I was particularly disturbed when I realized that he fails to back up his thesis with the crucial numbers that he needs. The book bristles with numbers and data, but there is one that is prominent by its absence: an estimate of the amount of farmland that would have to be dedicated to fuel production in order to provide enough fuel to permit us to stop importing oil. I have seen a few estimates, and they are staggering -- the most pessimistic estimates suggest that we'd have to dedicate much of our current farmland to fuel production to grow that much fuel. These estimates depend on a lot of assumptions: energy costs of fertilizer, transportation, processing, and so forth. Mr. Zubrin airily dismisses such concerns with the observation that the technology works. Yes, it works -- but how much will it cost to make that much fuel? How much will our food prices rise if we dedicate that much land to growing fuel? Mr. Zubrin makes no effort to answer these bottom-line questions.

There is also an ungraciousness to his writing. He has some strong things to say about those who have disagreed with him. I cannot recall any place where he acknowledged uncertainty or the possibility that other experts might reasonable disagree with him. To Mr. Zubrin, everything seems clear and simple -- and that scares me. The real world is a messier place than Mr. Zubrin seems to think.

But the most discrediting aspect of this book is its Islamoparanoia. Mr. Zubrin is convinced that Muslims are the spawn of the devil, subhuman monsters intent on rapine and bloodshed. His wild rants on this subject, which cover a goodly amount of space, are embarrassing, and they destroy any confidence a fair-minded reader would have in his judgement. What's sad is that his basic point -- that the USA must end its dependence on foreign oil -- is absolutely right. But he soils that point with his bigoted ravings.

My overall assessment: this is a seriously flawed book that has a bit of good information in it, but you have to put up with a lot of nonsense, ignore the minor bloopers, and follow up with your own research to get the full benefits of this book.

Editorial Review:

In this compelling argument for a new direction in US energy policy, the author lays out a bold plan for breaking the economic stranglehold that the OPEC oil cartel has on the country and the world. It is suggested that the US relationship with OPEC has resulted in the looting of the American economy, corruption of the political system and has helped fund terrorist units dedicated to the destruction of the US. The book offers an exciting vision for a dynamic new energy policy which will not only help safeguard US security in the future but will also provide solutions for global warming and Third World development.

The Plan: How to Rescue Society the Day the Oil Stops--or the Day Before

Edwin Black

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Energy Talking Points for McCain and Obama 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Edwin Black, already an award-winning journalist and investigator for his previous books such as "IBM and the Holocaust" and "War Against the Weak", deserves an award for national service for producing his latest work "The Plan: How to Save America the Day After the Oil Stops--or Perhaps the Day Before." This book should shake up all Americans, and their political establishment, to wake up and take notice of the United States' peril. America has become dependent on foreign countries to feed its oil addiction.

Do Senators McCain and Obama have a Plan of their own to address the ramifications of a shortfall in supplies of petroleum to the US? Have they considered the potential chaos that would ensue in the US if the purveyors of oil come up short?

Edwin Black has certainly done his homework in accessing government documents, anonymous sources, and government websites. Just one of the possibilities Black points out is that should there be a military strike in the Strait of Hormuz near Iran, the US would have to tap its Strategic Petroleum Reserve immediately. Within days, America would have to beg its allies to supply its oil habit. Given that President George W. Bush was unable to secure additional oil production from supposed-ally Saudi Arabia this year, it should be clear to most that the situation begs a solution.

Black is able to suggest a Plan to break the habit of oil consumption through a program that includes retrofitting vehicles and tapping into alternative sources of energy that will free Americans from dependence on countries such as Venezuela and Iran, which have made clear their geopolitical enmity towards the U.S. His latest book, The Plan, is alarming but should move Americans - and the current presidential election - towards discussing how technologies currently available and in development can be harnessed to free their country and start what could promise to be another Industrial Revolution.

Editorial Review:

A controversial and bitter-pill crisis plan to rescue America once the oilstops. The must-have go-to book once the oil stops or perhaps justbefore it does. Companion to the best selling, award-winning InternalCombustion (St. Martins 2006). See www.Planforoilcrisis.com pluswww.internalcombustionbook.com. By the author of IBM and the Holocaust and Internal Combustion.