The Evolution of an Independent Home: The Story of a Solar Electric Pioneer

by Paul Jeffrey Fowler

The site was up a winding dirt road, in the remote hills of western Massachusetts, 1.3 miles removed from the power line. After a long search, Jeffrey Fowler found the piece of land he had been looking for - one that he could call home.
This is the story of how one man used local resources, ingenuity, imagination, and patience to create a homestead powered by the sun. Fowler, who later used his knowledge and experience to become an authority on remote solar electric homes, recounts the unique successes and struggles in developing this new technology for his lifestyle.

254 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Nadir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really isn't a "how-to" book, but at the same time it is. Rather than being in the Tab A into Slot B type, it's the story of this man's (and later his wife's) efforts to live off-the-grid in New England. Through the course of the narrative you actually learn a great deal about solar heating (not the same as solar electricity), construction in general, and ultimately solar power. Much of the story takes place during the birth of the solar electric industry, giving interesting insight into its origins and improvements.