Wind Energy Basics

Paul Gipe; Foreword by Richard Perez of Home Power Magazine

Reviews

"Within these pages you will find the information you need to put the right wind turbine to work at your homestead."
-- Karen and Richard Perez, Home Power magazine
where their office and home is powered with
only wind and solar energy

"Paul Gipe has many years experience of staying on top of developments in this rapidly changing field. As always, he presents a thoughtful and detailed report. His independent perspective will be invaluable to newcomers to the subject, who may have been bombarded with sales propaganda by the small wind turbine industry. What wind turbines can do, how much it will cost, what are the other issues to consider. . . it's all there, in detail. This book prepares the reader to calculate how much energy he/she may harvest, from a planned wind installation. Then it spells out how to tackle the job of erecting the machine in a practical, down-to-earth way. Gipe demystifies the unfamiliar world of small scale wind energy and makes it accessible to those who wish to enjoy it."
-- Hugh Piggott, Scoraig Wind Electric
Piggott lives and breathes wind energy on a stormy
headland in northwest Scotland

"Paul Gipe's latest book, Wind Energy Basics . . . is richly peppered with photographs, schematics, and diagrams, all meant to stimulate the imagination of the reader. While not strictly a "how to" manual, there is enough motivating information included to keep a do-it-yourself wind aficionado busy for years. . . Of particular value are the photos . . . [which] lend a sense of scale to the reader, helping the novice get some idea of exactly what she or he is getting themselves into. . . The chapters on siting, safety, and making a purchase give the reader a number of good tips worth remembering. My copy of Wind Energy Basics was immediately highlighted and "red-inked" as I went through these sections. There are several tables with realistic costs for the turbines, towers, and balance of system components. . . By including a good photo sequence of his own tilt-up tower installation, Gipe is sure to instill confidence in the installation of a wind system by the most squeamish of non-climbers. Finally, the appendices, unlike those of many other renewable energy books, are actually full of useful information. . . saving the reader hours of hunting for addresses, phone and fax numbers, plus web sites and e-mail addresses. . . Wind Energy Basics is definitely worth adding to your summer reading list whether you are planning on installing a small wind system in the near future or just interested in knowing more about micro turbines."
-- Mick Sagrillo
founder of Lake Michigan Wind & Sun and a guru on small wind turbine design in Wisconsin's Door Peninsula.