5 comments about How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding & Maintaining Your Home (How Your House Works) (How Your House Works).

1. EVERY homeowner should have a copy of this invaluable resource. Particularly helpful are the "Before calling for help" sections. The book is simple and straightforward enough for anyone to understand and the diagrams are visually uncomplicated and clear. Before picking up the phone to call a professional be sure to check this wonderful resource and you just might save yourself a service call and a lot of money!



2. I have numerous reference books but this is the first one to actually describe to me how the device functions. The "Before calling the...(technician)" feature was a brilliant idea and a potential money saver for most homeowners.
   
   My son-in-law teaches middle school science and will be using this book for its wonderful schematics. My other reference books are stashed away on a bookshelf - this one stays on my desk where it is good and handy!



3. highly recommended. contains clear text and very detailed illustrations of the major systems of a house. i came upon this book while looking for explanations of the causes of excessive dust in a home (e.g., whether it's the contents--furnishings, linens, clothing, etc.--in a room or whether it's old walls, floors, and porous ceilings). this book doesn't answer my question, but it does offer a useful, step-by-step guide to systems like plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling, structure, and large appliances. for new homeowners or, better, folks who don't see themselves as diy'ers, this book will give you the information to do some things yourself. at the very least, you will be able to figure out where/why a system underperforms, and what to do about it. along with amy johnston's book on building and renovating a home, wing's book covers most issues. excellent resource or reference.



4. I'm a book geek, a connoisseur of ideas. And i'm not one of those book geeks who is also very practical or handy about the house or with home repair. This book includes a visual dictionary (label + illustration)along with its plain explanations. I'm glad I bought it.



5. I originally checked this book out of the library; I was quite impressed with the clearly labeled drawings, the How It Works section and the Before You Call For Help sections. I then checked out the ratings by reviewers on [...]. Then I purchased several as gifts; all of them were well received. I think that this book is a great resource and confidence builder for any individual who wants to know more about the plumbing, wiring, heating/cooling, ventilation, appliances, windows/doors &/or foundation of one's dwelling. It is very visual and it is presented in clear, easy-to-understand, brief language for the layman. Yet Mr. Wing also writes for professionals in these fields. A highly recommended resource!

5 comments about Solar Water Heating: A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series).

1. Great reference on solar water heating. Lots of options and details. The item is as described. Shipping was reasonable and prompt.



2. Content wise this is an excellent book. The level is just right for individuals that need to make the right choices to provide renewable Domistic Hot Water and Space Heating for their homes without having to sift through many non insightful therory and math. It has good collection of rules of thumb for a quick design. I have one criticism for this book. In my copy pages 113-144 are printed twice. The book is really only 240 pages and not 288 as stated in Amazon by the publisher. Not that the 40 extra pages would have completed the book. The book is fairly well written and complete as it is. I am just for saving paper/trees.



3. This book is practical and written in a very easy to understand manner. The author has extensive experience in the area of solar heating of water and conveys that knowledge to the reader very effectively. This book goes beyond hot water for household use and into radiant heating with the use of a heat storage system using a large sand bed which is the GEM of the book! I am planning on building a cabin in the Colorado Mtns and wanted this retreat to be self-sustaining and not a warm cabin that was sucking power or energy while not in use. This book has inspired me to design into the cabin solar hot water for household and radiant use. Now if I could just find a decent book about radiant heating for less than $100...........



4. Very good and useful book if you want to understand/evaluate offers/tenders of companies that will construct your solar water heating system. Contains all the rules of thumbs and all the subjects really you need to know (system components, scaling of the system, types of solar water heating systems, system maintenance, system installation, cost calculations, etc.). My only real disappointment is the pervasive use of non-metric units (btu/therms, feet, gallons) throughout the book. This makes it hard to read for non-American readers. There is a unit conversion table, but it would have been better to include the second unit system between brackets or just to use the international metric system. Also a decision diagram/tree for helping to decide what type of solar heating system you would best go for depending on your climate/freezing conditions or not, etc. would have been a useful addition. This information, though, is in the text, but you just have to read it all.



5. This is a very well written book. Bob Ramlow has done a lot of work on the subject of solar heating and makes the subject fun to read. I highly recommend that if you are interested in solar heating you also read "Build Your Own Solar Heating System" by Kenneth Clive. Build Your Own Solar Heating System

5 comments about Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home.

1. "Easy Green Living" is an absolutely wonderful book that shows you how to live green. I have learned so much from this book and have recommended it to family and friends. Everyone should use this as a guide. It's packed with very important information. Renee is very knowledgeable and tells it like it is.



2. Greening your life seems to be a process. It's not something that you can do in one day. It's taken me a few years to slowly get rid of the things that weren't good for me, especially cleansers, beauty products, and food. Not only will using green products help you and your body, but they can help the earth as well!
   This woman really did her homework. She not only stated where she received the abundance of information she wrote about, but she gave tons of resources as well!!
   Even if you don't want to give up your everyday products, like: fabric softener, oven cleaner, and makeup, you don't have to!! There are many more natural and healthy substitutes you can use, by buying better products, or making them yourself!!
   Greening your life is not as hard as you would think!
   Recommended!



3. I have a few green living books, and this one is by far the best (and makes some other popular green guides look like trendy, puff pieces).
   
   It's informative, well set out and very practical. Everything you need to know to go green is in this book!
   
   An excellent investment.



4. This is the most comprehensive, easy to use, guide for eco-friendly living that I have seen in years. I strongly recommend that you consider purchasing this book and using it as a handy reference for everything from personal care products to paint to household items. I have purchased several of these from Amazon after reading it cover to cover from the local library and I will be giving them as Christmas gifts this year. The book will quite simply change your life for the better.



5. EASY GREEN LIVING arrived before expected and brand new as promised. I loved it, it was a real blessing for me and my family as we try to green our lives. Thanks

5 comments about The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower (Mother Earth News Wiser Living).

1. This is an excellent book, because it has much information in general, different green ideas for your home. And that is important for you and the Planet today and future.



2. I found this book to be very informative. It provides a wealth of knowledge about being self-sufficient. I am particularly interested in solar and wind power and this book provided some very good information about each of these subjects. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about living green.



3. I read this book cover-to-cover over the course of a couple of weeks. I'm new to the field of renewable energy, so you'll have to take my criticisms for what they are, a critique of the writing:
   
   1) The author frequently repeats himself, and sometimes goes so far to state that he is repeating himself, and that the reader should refer back to a previous section.
   
   2) Many of the references are "so and so claims such and such" or references to the Home Power magazine. It's great that the author cites his sources, but it often left me wondering if the author placed any stock in the claim being reported.
   
   3) The author frequently refers to his own house, which was designed from the ground up to use renewable energy. While this is neat, it doesn't seem applicable to readers who already own houses (with a 99% chance that they're not nearly as efficient, and that it's not possible to convert them).
   
   4) I would have enjoyed more information on solar power, since it seems to be the most applicable in urban and suburban areas. Instead, it received basically equal treatment alongside micro-hydroelectric and wind power.
   
   Still, it's a good book - 3.5 stars - and contains a number of references to other sources of information on the topic.



4. I found this book to be more satisfying that the author's more popular book, "The Solar House". Of course, they aren't functional substitutes for each other. This book goes deeper into renewable energy systems available to address the energy needs of residential buildings and related topics. I appreciate his discussion on conservation, the breakdown of the energy consumption of a 'typical' residence, etc. This book goes deeper into energy than "The Solar House" goes into passive design, providing almost enough information to evaluate and size some systems. The amount of information presented varies by system, as solar photovoltaic and wind power get a more detailed treatment than biomass. For someone wanting enough information to select, size and/or design systems -- or more realistically to evaluate the proposals generated by a systems provider -- supplemental information will probably be required.



5. Not only did I find this book useful, I enjoyed reading this book. I am not a techy science person, nor do I usually seek out nonfiction, but I found that this book was written for people like me - people who are interested in making some changes in our homes to help our planet and lower our bills. The book was set up with clear chapters outlining the pros and cons of various types of renewable energy sources (wind, water, solar, and more) and how we can retrofit our homes to use them. It contained several comparison charts for the different options described, including cost comparisons, and the author provided detailed information about the information in those charts. The book also explored small changes we could easily make, and there was a section about the future of renewable energy. Written to be thoroughly understandable and readable, this book helped me become much more aware of things I could do to make some "green" changes, which was exactly the information I was seeking. All in all I recommend this book highly!

5 comments about One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good.

1. On page 24, Regina Leeds says just about everything that needs to be said on the subject: "Everything you do needs to be scheduled". This happens to be the same message David Allen delivers much more effectively in his "Getting Things Done".
   
   Of course, saying it is a lot easier than doing it, which is why people like Leeds and Allen can count on their books selling year after year.
   
   Leeds takes the approach of teaching you how to organize your life over the course of a year, with new projects every month. For me, the approach simply doesn't work. Too much territory is covered. For example, I'm not going to be moving into a new home, so that chapter - and the month's project - is wasted on me.
   
   Also, Leeds is a bit too "New Age" for my personal taste. Tidbits like an "affirmation" for the month strike me as treacly. August, for instance, tells you: "I am guided with ease to my new home. I embrace the life waiting for me. I also bless and thank my current home. I release it to the new occupants. I am thankful for all the participants in this transition."
   
   Regina Leeds has quite a following, apparently, but I don't think I'll be joining it.
   
   Jerry



2. As a home and garden author myself, I love Regina's new book and I've read them all! (It didn't make the New York Times Bestseller List for nothing!) Her friendly tone, combined with her "real world humor" and room by room how-to tips will help the overwhelmed and organizationally challenged person break their challenges down into realistic organizing projects. A great organizing tool!



3. This is the first book by Regina Leeds for me.
   So far, so good!
   At first I was worried that I bought it in May and not in January - "oh no!! I'm already behind!!"
   But after reading the forward (and you must) my fears were put to rest. You don't have to DO the month IN the month.
   What has worked for me so far is this: I did January first because it deals with alot of why, etc. Now I've moved on to managing paper.
   I enjoy hearing the personal side from the author. I, too, have a golden retriever. Enough said!
   I even emailed her with a question, never expecting a personal or quick response. I got both the former and the latter!!
   I say: Enjoy the ride, it is definitely worth the price of admission!



4. This book has great ideas. It gives good examples of how to organize certain spaces. You don't have to start organizing on January 1st. You can jump in any day of the year. It's a nice motivating tool.



5. This author really knows her stuff. As a long-time sufferer of adult ADD, I am always interested in tools to keep my household organized, not to mention my life. The monthly projects are great, not too overwhelming. The only problem is...I read the book 3 months ago and it is still on my nightstand because I like the way it looks there!

5 comments about Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home.

1. This book has everything and every home should have one. Its a great reference guide and also teaching tool for young brides. Would make an excellent shower gift.



2. Being that I now own my own home, after apartment living for so long, when it comes to home care I'm a little clueless in many areas. I've got the basics down like doing laundry, washing dishes etc. but there's always this nagging feeling that there are tricks I'm missing that would make taking care of my home so much easier. This book answered many questions, especially in the laundry chapter, and brought forward many things I never thought of like how to better organize my crazy sock drawer. Some of the ideas in this book bother me a bit in that I can't believe I'm really reading sections titled "How to clean a sink" or "How to fold a sweater". BUT after I read those sections I find that I've found some new ways to do things and I think "Why didn't I think of that?". Great book for anyone who wants to care for their home in a more organized and simpler way. Also this is, in my opinion, a great book for new home owners and young newlyweds.



3. Martha's simplistic and realistic approach to caring for your home, shines through in this wonderful book. It is stuffed with useful and informative solutions to homekeeping. This book would make the perfect house warming or newly wed gift or tell-all reference guide for the bachelor too!
   
   I purchased this book for recently married friends who are renovating a historic home in upstate New York. Along with this book, I also purchased Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser, which follows the author/artist's historic home creative re-birth. Where Martha's book guides the reader to keeping up the household, Heuser's shares the how-to secrets to reinventing the interior of your home with unique faux finishes and mural detailing. My friends loved the combination of these books, as they offer simple solutions, that can be easily introduced to any household. If you are looking for a gift to be remembered and referred back to again and again as Martha's HOMEKEEPING...is the only home reference volume you will probably ever need and Heuser's YOUR HOME...will offer you continual creative inspiration- then I highly reccommended these titles! In my opinion, the diverse domestic combination and value here, can't be beat!



4. I would rate description, value and customer service as excellent. I wish this book had been available to me many years ago. I bought two, one for a bride and groom who were registered with Amazon for it and one for myself. The transaction went as I hoped it would and as a wedding gift it was a success. I've purchased from Amazon in the past and will again.



5. A very helpful book to have for the house. I use the cleaning mixtures in my home. They work great. The book has taught me organization. Everyone should have this book.

5 comments about Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance.

1. This book is filled with a great breadth of knowledge. It helps you know what you don't know about self-sufficient living and even gives you enough infomation in some areas that you could go forward without too much additional research. If you're considering buying a little land and using it to live from, I'd recommend this book.



2. So cool. Where else can you get a book that will tell you how to build a pond and raise livestock, wire an outbuilding, and cut wood? This book has a little bit of everything in it and I'm glad to have it as a resource when I move out to the country in a couple of weeks. It's not exhaustive, and there are probably things in it that I'll want to know more about, but the diagrams are very clear, the discussions neither patronizing nor over my head, and most of all it has a cheerful, you can do it feel that makes me excited about my future challenges.
   This would also be a good (if big) book to share with someone who used to live in the country and run a farm, just for their interest and amusement. My dad, never a farmer, would have loved this book for the bits of interesting things in it to read and think about.
   Don't know if I'll be self-reliant after using this book, but I think I'llb e keeping it out on the coffee table for quite a few months.



3. Who would have thought you could cram so much information into one book. This has been a wonderful tool for my husband and I who are in the process of establishing our little retirement ranch. Excellent resource for anyone moving from the burbs to the country.



4. The book was definitely basic and it covered lots of information that would be useful on a farm. However, it was not helpful in how to develop the farm system, it was very piece meal and stand alone information, it also deferred its solutions too much to the chemical industry.



5. This book covers a huge range of country skills, including a companion planting guide. I wouldn't be without mine!

5 comments about The Encyclopedia of Country Living.

1. This book is amazing!!! Don't let the title fool you. Recipes are mostly side notes compared to the incalculable information contained within. (I almost didn't buy it thinking it would be full of unwanted recipes). I have searched through numerous books on the topic of having a self-sufficient farm and moving to the country. This is absolutely the best one there is, hands down. I prefer the newer updated version (blue rimmed, 2003) as it contains websites. With this book in hand, I would only recommend you buy two others if you are serious about moving to the country and becoming independent. Its rival, in my opinion, is John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Life. It's a gem and fills in any gaps you might have after reading Emery's book. [If you have animals you will obviously need to know specifics about your breed(s) and typical bumps along the way.] But, I would say that the only other topic that needs polishing and more detail is beekeeping. Find a good volume on that topic, read these three books throughly, and I believe that you need little less than a great desire to make it happen, a positive outlook, and some neighbors willing to offer advise - I doubt they will be difficult to find in a place where people are grateful for their opportunity to work the land and lend a hand when needed.



2. The Encyclopedia of Country Living is indispensible for the homestead or real country living! Or for those in the city who are dreaming of the country life...It is as homey as a crackling fire on a wintery night or the smell of homemade bread wafting, and as useful as that special tool on the farm which can be used in endless ways. Carla Emery has put together an amazing amount of information which is really enjoyable to read~ it's hard to put down!



3. This ninth edition includes the most valuable information on all aspect of the homestead. Carla wrote this over decades at different stages in her life. She tells us how to butcher an animal, how to grow a huge variety of crops, how to keep chickens for eggs and meat, bees for honey, and many other tidbits. She includes many recipes, too. I follow a traditional diet, so wouldn't necessarily use many of her recipes, but the information about farming is extremely valuable to me.



4. There's a reason why so many farmers and homesteaders consider Carla Emory's book to be THE definitive source of information. Sure she wrote it many years ago, but it has evolved with each printing into a total package of information. It covers everything from raising and butchering livestock, to baking, gardening, canning, using herbs, building chicken coops and churning butter. I've turned to it many times when I needed information, or to read about something I was considering trying. She has a very no-nonsense approach, much like our farming grandparents did, and I appreciate that most of all.



5. definitely has a bunch of homesteading info. probably could use some editing, but overall a very good resource to learn from. should not read from start to finish, pick a chapter about something you want to learn and read that.

3 comments about Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden)).

1. As an electronic engineer, I originally looked at home solar energy as a chance to buy some cool gear to play with, while saving money in the bargain. As I delved into the book, my outlook changed. I was surprised to find how complex a home's energy use situation can be, and that some money can be saved before connecting a single wire. Even as I later relished the chapters covering solar electricity generation, I still noted the frequent reminders and references to non-electrical aspects of a "solar" home, as well as practical financial and regulatory realities to consider in choosing a system. In short, I came away from my first reading with a much more balanced perspective on solar energy, and I'll continue to re-read as a reference. Of course, I'm still hankerin' after that gear, yet, at least, now I have a better picture of what's really useful. Plus, I'm off to a good start in being knowledgable enough to deal effectively with those installation contractors. Well done!



2. My husband and I have become increasingly consciencious about saving our natural resources. It has been our goal to add solar panels to our house but most of the books out there were not written for the average person. This book answered all our questions in a language we could easily understand. We learned how to make solar power an investment throughout our entire house! How cool is that?
   
   The awesome thing about this book is it goes way beyond explaining the money we can save but includes vital tips on what not to do. I love when a book keeps me from making mistakes. I could go on and on about this book because I'm thrilled I finally have a great reference tool. I am eagerly anticipating creating a home that will actually not take so many of our precious resources from the earth.



3. This is a good introduction to how the energy from the sun can be put to practical everyday use. If you don't like to read a lot of technical stuff, this book is for you. Quick, easy reading the non-technical average person. with references for more information. This book has practical projects for the person who already has some knowledge of solar energy as well. If you're looking for a really detailed technical book of how to design and install your own solar collector (electrical or water), better get a different book. My 5-star rating is for those who are beginners or those that have a little knowledge of solar energy.

5 comments about Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life.

1. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I found it to be very cute, but a bit of a puff piece.
   
   There's alot of tid bits of information, but nothing substantial. Some information is conflicting - on one page Sophie says she avoids microwaves and doesn't want it altering the molecules in her food. Yet, on another page, she writes that the microwave is the most eco-friendly way to cook, as it uses the least amount of energy.
   
   And yoga sun salutations and exercise instructions don't belong in a green guide. They just don't!
   
   I also purchased Easy Green Living by Renee Loux and found it to be much more substantial and informative - like a mini encyclopedia on what you need to do to live green.



2. The other day, I went to Target, going to my usual Target Aisles: bedding, cosmetics, skin care, and books. I bought a makeup bag to corral my lipgloss, blotting papers and brush in my work totebag and Gorgeously Green.
   
   I almost didn't buy it because I saw it in one of those health food store advertorial magazines and I generally think those are full of nonsense.
   
   Let me tell you: half the book is highlighted with Things I Must Remember. I'm sure it will take me a while to incorporate them all - or even half of them - in to my daily life but I will. There were also a lot of websites where you can buy things and we all know how much I love an internet shopping "trip."
   
   The thing about Uliano is that she isn't preachy and she isn't "all or nothing." For example, while I agree that using plastic or glass dishes is better than Styrofoam, I am not taking my Tupperware to D & W and asking them to put my sandwich in that. Maybe someday I will but not now. I'm also not going to stop flying to cool places for vacations and I'm not quite ready to give up my plan to go on a cruise with my sister. Uliano understands that we aren't all going to Go Granola. Of course, now I also have a new vacation destination, entirely thanks to Uliano: an Eco-Spa!
   
   There were other things that thrilled me that I had no idea existed. For example, Woman's Wonder Bar, which are chocolate candy bars that are supposed to help with PMS and menopause. I am so going to that website and buying some. Eco-friendly poop bags since I must clean up the presents Peggy Sue leaves for the world. There are free ringtones you can download that sound like nature: the mating call of a whale, an owl hooting, various birds. All kinds of things. There is a nonprofit who will take your partially used antibiotics, antifungals, etc and distribute them to developing countries. That's pretty cool.
   
   There are 8 chapters, each covering a different area of life. The chapters are:
   1. Becoming Aware (just what it says.)
   2. Green Goddess (all about beauty.)
   3. Your Green Temple (all about a healthy body. Yoga and weight training routines are included)
   4. Soulful Shopping (self-explanatory, I think!)
   5. Your Palace (about your home and garden.)
   6. Every Last Bite (not surprisingly, all about food.)
   7. Out and About Having Fun (transportation, entertainment and travel.)
   8. Go Supergreen (activism and maintenance.)
   
   I bet you'll find some ways that you can live a more eco-friendly life without driving yourself nuts or becoming one of the Granola Brigade. (Though there *is* a recipe for granola that looks yummy!) You'll likely find some things you never considered and each small change adds up to a big difference.



3. Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
   
   Excellent book - I bought several copies so I can give away as gifts. It is very informative and has great resources and tips on various aspects of going green - beauty, exercise, nutrition, gardening, etc. Each topic also comes with a list of resources.



4. Maybe going green doesn't mean avoiding unnecessary animal testing especially for beauty and cleaning products, but it is important to me to at least do the best we can for other species. I couldn't find any mention of this cruel and largely unnecessary (with today's technology) practice. In fact, she seems to advocate testing, although she doesn't say what kind. I agree that safety is important, but many ingredients are time-tested or have been tested in the past and no longer need to be tested. We can support companies that make an effort to use only those ingredients instead of supporting unnecessary suffering. Wet n' Wild, Bonne Bell, Physicians Formula, and Prestige cosmetics are examples of inexpensive cosmetics that do not use animal testing. This info from caringconsumer.com.
   
   I do like her discussion of the real "cost" of buying or not buying organic groceries. But I feel some of her recommendations are unrealistic for most of us; she promotes a cosmetic line lavera that makes a sunless tanning product that costs $27.50 for 5 oz.



5. this book is so informative, but also so enjoyable to read. Its such an inspiration to make positive changes in your lifestyle and for our planet.