Alternative Energy For Dummies

The myths and facts about alternative fuels and how they impact our lives As the price of energy continues to soar, so too has the demand for alternative energy. But there's no clear "e;winner"e; in the race to replace fossil fuels. Alternative Energy For Dummies explores the current fossil fuel conundrum and society's growing need for more and more energy. Cutting through the competing claims, this book offers a multifaceted examination of alternative energy, including solar, wind, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, biofuel, and other sources. Each alternative scenario is compared to current fossil-fuel intensive practices in the scientific, environmental, social, political, and economic realms. Readers also gain insight into the future of energy production.

The myths and facts about alternative fuels-and how they impact our livesAs the price of energy continues to soar, so too has the demand for alternative energy. But there's no clear "winner" in the race to replace fossil fuels. Alternative Energy For Dummies explores the current fossil fuel conundrum and society's growing need for more and more energy. Cutting through the competing claims, this book offers a multifaceted examination of alternative energy, including solar, wind, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, biofuel, and other sources. Each alternative scenario is compared to current fossil-fuel intensive practices in the scientific, environmental, social, political, and economic realms. Readers also gain insight into the future of energy production.

Introduction 1Part I: The Basic Facts of Energy Life 9Chapter 1: What a Mess! 11Chapter 2: What Energy Is and How It's Used (Politically and Practically) 25Chapter 3: Putting Together Each Piece of the Energy Puzzle 37Part II: Digging Deeper into the Current State of Affairs 57Chapter 4: Developing a Snapshot of Fossil Fuel Use and Availability 59Chapter 5: Burning Up with Conventional Energy Sources 73Chapter 6: The First Alternative-Energy Sources: Efficiency and Conservation 95Chapter 7: Understanding the Demand For Alternatives 113Part III: Alternatives -- Buildings 127Chapter 8: Going Nuclear 129Chapter 9: Harnessing the Sun with Solar Power 151Chapter 10: Treading Water with Hydropower 177Chapter 11: Blowing Away with Wind Power 191Chapter 12: Digging into Geothermal 207Chapter 13: Exploring Biomass 221Chapter 14: Burning Wood 235Chapter 15: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies 249Part IV: Alternatives -- Transportation 261Chapter 16: Alternative Transport Technologies 263Chapter 17: Alternative-Fuel Vehicles 271Chapter 18: Plugging In: Electric Vehicles 283Chapter 19: Hybrid-Electric Vehicles 297Chapter 20: Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles 307Chapter 21: Exotic Propulsion Systems 315Part V: The Part of Tens 325Chapter 22: Ten or So Myths about Energy 327Chapter 23: Ten-Plus Ways to Invest in an Alternative-Energy Future 335Index 343