Doable Renewables

Gr 6—9—The projects in this book require a well-equipped workshop, a generous pocketbook, and access to an Internet connection for acquiring necessary parts. (From $50 for a four pack of nitinol springs to $550 for a human-powered generator, most components and tools are pricey.) The majority of the projects deal with the creation of energy with renewable resources such as sunlight, wave power, or capturing heat, although one has to do with the differences in efficiency among light bulbs. That experiment is very simple, but most require careful attention to detail when assembling and adult supervision with the power tools necessary for preparation. One project isn't so much an experiment as ideas on how to play around with a Stirling engine (model MM-7 costs $429) and an explanation of why they are not commonly used. Gray-toned photos are included. This is a useful book for larger collections or for classrooms where the more expensive tools can be reused from year to year.—Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA