BeUtilityFree™ Digital SourceBook 2nd Edition v
3.5 - Your Guide to Sustainable UtilityFree™ Living
Reviewed by Robert Pritchett
Introduction
This SourceBook focuses on how we can save ourselves money
in the long-run by installing alternative energy systems now.
John D’Angelo wrote;
“ I continue to marvel at the uniqueness of renewable
energy products. I find that they are the only products I know of that, once
paid for, give you your money back (tax free), are extremely reliable, always
pay for themselves, and work for you without pay, day after day - year after year.”
What I Learned
I really was looking for a book, but this turns out to be a
SourceBook, which in Alternative Energy vernacular means it is a pseudo book,
mostly of the catalog genre. What sets this one apart from others, is that John
and his team have devised a way of graphically showing how Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency relate to one another. Another focus is on getting off the
Grid (Power & Energy Utilities) and providing power for the home. Other
SourceBooks tend to approach the process as a business expense, instead of as a
sustainable home activity.
The first 20 or so pages can be downloaded for free as a PDF
file. Those pages pretty much discuss energy efficiency and cost savings that
can be obtained by planning a home to become “Utility Free”, using
methodologies related to building techniques, materials and onsite energy
production, use of efficient energy appliances and using renewable energy
systems (solar, wind).
The 184-page “Book” is divided up into three sections. The
first is on energy efficiencies gained through use of proper home planning,
building materials, water systems, appliances and lighting. The second section
is on hot water devices, solar electric components, wind generators, hydrogen
energy systems, hydroelectric systems, renewable energy fuels and commercial
installations. The third section is the Appendix, with worksheets, tax credits,
maps and tables and the Index.
The PDF version of the BeUtilityFree™ Digital SourceBook is
passworded and does work with the Mac OS X Preview program as well as Adobe
Acrobat. Just don’t loose the password assigned to you when you order the book,
okay?
Conclusion
Whether starting a new home or retrofitting an existing home
with Alternative Energy Solutions going off or on grid, this is an excellent
resource to use to work through the process. What also set this book apart from
other SourceBooks is that there are prices posted on the pages, so we can
figure out what the real costs are up front.
BeUtilityFree does have a membership program for just
under either $50 (Basic) or $100 (Gold, which offers a 10% discount on
complete solar systems – and includes the book) that provides a 5%
discount on listed prices. Depending on the size of the systems you purchase,
the investment in the book and the membership will pay back sooner than the
alternative energy systems will.
Be assured, you will get back more than you pay for by
going with an Alternative Energy system for your home or business.
As John D’Angelo wrote; they “always pay for themselves,
and work for you without pay, day after day - year after year”.
There are other “SourceBooks” available for less cost, i.e. AEE Solar BackWoods Solar, but they do not currently offer discount programs or
memberships or offer full-color system plans/blueprints as part of the complete
systems purchased, as BeUtilityFree does.
