Using Renewable Energy

Using Renewable Energy is part of Crabtree’s “Putting the Planet First” series. Using infographics, case studies, and current examples from around the world, the books in this series help readers, young and older, understand the implications of everyday life choices that they and their families make.

The books all follow the standard format for nonfiction, including a table of contents, index, glossary, and lists of further resources on the topic. Measurements are included in both imperial and metric.

The text is clear and well-supported by the colourful photographs, illustrations, and graphs and charts. Each page is filled with well-laid out information. Although I am not usually a fan of text on coloured background, these books make very good use of colour without losing the clarity of the text. Readers will find the presentation of the information in these books very engaging.

Using Renewable Energy includes chapters on What is Renewable Energy?, Problems with Fossil Fuels, Wind Power, Offshore Wind, Solar Electricity, Solar Heating, Electricity from Water, Wave Power, Using the Tides, Heat from Underground, Biomass Energy Cells, and The Future.

Beginning with an examination of the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy, Using Renewable Energy uses examples from places as diverse as Los Angeles, the Raniganj coalfields in India, Denmark, and Ghana to discuss the problems and alternatives to fossil fuels.

Because of the speed of change in the field of renewable energy, some examples are already outdated. LIMPET, (Land Installed Marine Powered Energy Transformer), on the Scottish island of Islay, has been decommissioned in 2018.

Using Renewable Energy is an excellent resource for teachers and students. The complex concepts are clearly explained in text and visual format.

I recommend that you purchase Using Renewable Energy in paperback. You will get your money’s worth out of this informative book and have no regrets when it is time to update it.