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| Authors: Fred Krupp, Miriam Horn
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.40
You Save: $10.55 (42%)
New (41) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $14.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 949
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2
ISBN: 0393066908
Dewey Decimal Number: 621.042
EAN: 9780393066906
ASIN: 0393066908
Publication Date: March 12, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Voice Crying in the Wilderness May 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I think the best thing about this book is that it doesn't just sound another alarm about the problems of global warming, the energy crisis, and environmental degradation. Rather, it chronicles all of the hopeful new technology out there that can help to save us all, if only our elected leaders have the wisdom and moral strength to act. Granted, the current administration is just a front for big oil, and will leave our country and the world in a much worse state than when they started. But hopefully, our next administration and Congress will use this kind of information to make enlightened decisions for all of us. A courageous book, which will probably be attacked by those most responsible for the mess we're in. Krupp always speaks truth to power. Bravo!
Green Energy Alternatives--The Latest May 5, 2008
This is an excellent review of current and up-and-coming lesser-known alternative energy options. It is an optimistic book and introduces the reader to some very creative people interested in slowing global warming and exploring/using/marketing alternative energy options. It goes from most developed alternatives to most speculative and definitely provides one with fuel for thought (pardon the pun) and a sense of hope.
A breath of fresh air to a depressing subject May 4, 2008
At last, a book on possible solutions to the greenhouse effect caused by our dependence on carbon-based fuels. In this book are numerous methods of creating energy without a carbon footprint, methods that are in progress and in use all over the globe. Instead of the usual depressing "we are such bad people and we use so much energy and deserve to die" attitude we see in Global Warming books, this book actually supplies a view of what progress is being made in the race to achieve carbon-free energy. Only the enormous political power of Big Oil and the Automotive Industry are keeping us headed down the path of climatical disaster, but if the citizens of the world band together to move in a different direction, there are alternatives out there. Now if only people actually cared...
Double Spaced Very Useful Tour of the Energy Horizon May 3, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I like this book and recommend it for students of any age from high school to the geriatric crowd that I represent. It has a super index but no mention of Lester Brown or Herman Daly, but that is offset by back cover recomendations from E. O. Wilson, Mark Lewis, and Michael Bloomberg.
Highlights from my fly leaf notes:
+ 1977 Clean Air was a command and control one size fits all that did not pass the market test
+ Lead author and others with the Environmental Defense Fund were instrumental in getting the 1990 Clear Air Act passed.
+ Making clean air a commodity makes the environment a profit center
+ Although there is no mention of Paul Hawkin's "true cost" meme, Hawkins does get listed in the index twice, see his Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World; the author mentions the urgency of accounting for the cost of pollution.
+ USA must cut its emissions by 80%
+ The author is fully aware that Acts of God are in fact Acts of Man. Another book, I cannot remember which, tells us that changes to the planet that used to take 10,000 years now take three. Not only do we need real time science, but we also need The Precautionary Principle: A Critical Appraisal
+ Clean energy is described by one sources as "the mother of all markets."
+ The author considers the energy markets to be completely "rigged" and notes that grain based ethanol, which I have called idiocy on more than one occasion, exists because of lobbying from Archer Daniels Midland among others.
+ In 2005 solar power grew by 45%.
+ Solar is distributed power, storage is a major obstacle.
+ The author clearly excited by Silicon Valley nano-tech, and also cautious about what we do not know when it is destabilized.
+ The solar energy industry is shooting for the Home Depot marketplace, stuff so simple I could install it. The author also tells us that banks are starting to get into power purchase agreements that will finance clean energy the way a home or car might be mortgaged. Home depot level will also mean graceful degradation and no "crash" or energy equivalent of Bill Gate's "blue screen of death".
+ Concentrating the sun is another promising approach. The author tells us that solar energy is six times more land efficient than wind energy.
+ Cuba is sitting on a sugar cane gold mine, biofuels with zero emissions are on the way from sugar modification.
+ Algae is covered, as well as bacteria.
+ Ocean power is also making headway, and is consistent, predictable, and has a high energy density.
+ Earth thermal includes hot water that comes with oil, previously considered a nusiance.
+ Coal is getting a make-over, and biomimicry is helping. It must get a make-over because it is an essential part of the mid-term power solution.
+ Sequestration is working and will work long enough to matter.
+ Regenerative reserves (e.g. the Amazon) are an essential part of the future. More more on this see the lovely and informative Climate Change and Biodiversity
+ Manure is turning into a major league energy source (when it's not contaminating our spinach, there is a whole land under surface water use deal here that we just do not understand.
+ Energy efficiency, hybrid cars, and smarter land use (compacting towns and cities to increase efficiency of public transportation) are part of the solution.
+ All parties will spend $10 trillion over the next thirty years to achieve clean energy.
See Other books I recommend:
Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization, Third Edition
Ecological Economics: Principles And Applications
The Future of Life
The Mighty Acts of God
The Republican War on Science
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
Green Chemistry and the Ten Commandments of Sustainability, 2nd ed
This is a fine book. See also the WIRED Magazine Cover Story from 2000, it came out the same month Dick Cheney was meeting secretly with Enron and Exxon executives.
What an Eye Opener -- Very Inspiring! May 2, 2008
This book should be required reading in schools!
This book clearly shows how we can turn Global Warming and our Energy Crisis into a booming economy...
We have an opportunity to prove to LIFE that Humans are not just a CANCER to this planet.
There is HOPE, but little time left so turn off Rush Limbaugh and read for yourself.
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