This straight-talking book cuts through the green energy hype and explains how grid-connected homeowners can be smart about their energy future. Solar and wind-generated electricity, solar water heating, passive solar techniques and geothermal heating/cooling will enable homeowners to become self-sufficient while protecting themselves from rising utility rates and grid blackouts. With financial incentives now available, the time is perfect to utilize nature¿s free energy.

Rex A. Ewing has lived off-grid with solar and wind energy since 1999. His energy books also include Power With Nature, HYDROGENùHot Stuff Cool Science, and Crafting Log Homes Solar Style. Before moving to the mountains to concentrate on his writing, Rex raised Thoroughbred horses and ran an equine nutrition firm where he formulated and marketed a variety of products worldwide. In 1997 he penned a popular book on horse nutrition, Beyond the Hay Days. His articles on renewable energy and equine nutrition have appeared in numerous publications since the early 1990s.Since the mid-1980s, Doug Pratt has been in the forefront on the renewable energy industry as consultant, technician, teacher and writer. He has worked with a wide range of industry manufacturers, beta-testing new equipment and bringing it to market. For 15 years Doug was the technical editor for the industry-leading Real Goods Solar Living, while designing and consulting on thousands of residential and commercial renewable energy systems. Pratt has lived in passive solar homes, on and off-grid since 1980.