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

<p><b>Rik DeGunther</b><i> Author,</i> Solar Power Your Home For Dummies <i>and</i> Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies

<p><b>Learn to:</b></p> <ul> <li>Evaluate the various forms of alternative energy</li> <li>Understand the science behind future energy options</li> <li>Sort through the political hype</li> <li>Grasp your options for alternative-fuel cars</li> </ul> <p><b>Get the truth about alternative energy and make it part of your life</b></p> <p>Want to utilize cleaner, greener types of energy? This plain-English guide clearly explains the popular forms of alternative energy that you can use in your home, your car, and more. Separating myth from fact, this resource explores the current fossil fuel conundrum, the benefits of alternatives, and the energy of the future, such as hydrogen and fuel cell technology.</p> <ul> <li>The ABCs of alternative energy —</li> <li>what it is, how it works, and what the real costs are</li> <li>Where we are now —</li> <li>learn where our current energy comes from and how much longer it will last</li> <li>Take the first step —</li> <li>see how energy efficiency and conservation can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels</li> <li>Grasp the alternatives —</li> <li>from nuclear power to geothermal energy to wood burning, understand the benefits that alternative energy can have on the nation</li> <li>Apply alternative fuels to transportation —</li> <li>from biofuels to exotic propulsion to electricity, see how they are best used and how hybrid, all-electric, and fuel cell–powered vehicles work</li> <li>Get a peek into the future —</li> <li>see what the outlook holds for each form of alternative energy discussed</li> </ul> <p><b>Open the book and find:</b></p> <ul> <li>The pros and cons of alternative energy</li> <li>A review of the current world energy economy</li> <li>The problems with fossil fuels, from smog to global warming</li> <li>Advantages of alternative energy</li> <li>Practical results of alternatives you can use in daily life</li> <li>Guidelines for investing in alternative energy vehicles</li> <li>Ten ways you can bring about change right now</li> <li>Insight into the future of energy production — and how you can invest in it</li> </ul>

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