Annotated Bibliography

1. Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

          Renewable Energy is an incredible resource for information on alternative energy resources of all types. It is written as a textbook and each chapter is dedicated to a different type of energy source. Each chapter is further broken into sections of significant importance. These categories may include the history of the energy sources, the different ways in which it can be generated, and economic factors that affect it.

2. Burnham, Laurie. Renewable Energy Resources for Fuels and Electricity, Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 1993.

          This source is a lengthy and extensive book about alternative energy sources. It is a compilation of literature written by a number of knowledgeable authors. Each chapter is dedicated to a different energy form or system. It gives fantastic insight into both the source and its uses. The diagrams and tables this book contains highlight the material. The well-outlined chapters allow you to find specific information with little effort.

3. Graham, Ian. Energy Forever? Wind Power. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaugh, 1999. Also: Water Power, Solar Power, Nuclear Power, and Geothermal Power and Bioenergy.

          The Energy Forever? series is a great resource for children to learn about everything from solar power to geothermal power. With colorful illustrations and easy-to-follow diagrams, children of middle school ages can begin to understand the processes used to make the various alternative energies work.

          These books are divided into topical chapters, which enables the reader to easily navigate through the book. They define the energy type, the history of of its use, its current applications and prospects for the future. A wonderful asset to these books is the section in the back entitled "Further Information." This section gives a bibliography for other books pertaining to this subject, which is perfect for a child doing a research report.

4. Hazen, Mark E. Alternative Energy: An Introduction to Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources. Indianapolis: Prompt Publications, 1996.

          This book also allows for each energy source to have its own chapter. The unique quality of this book, however, is the background information it provides. The first chapter explains the various means we currently use to receive and distribute electricity. The second chapter goes on to define energy in all of its forms (i.e. kinetic, chemical, thermal, etc.). Then, within each chapter about a specific alternative energy source, detail is given about different systems and how they work. The other real attribute to this particular source is that it lists a number of web sites that can be used to access more information on the many subjects contained within this book.

5. Hill, Robert, Phil O'Keefe and Colin Snape. The Future of Energy Use. New York: St. Martino Press, 1995.

          The Future of Energy Use is a great overall layout for the topic of energy. It explains energy as it pertains to the laws of thermodynamics, the GNP, and its end use. Furthermore, it discusses conventional fuels and alternative and nuclear energies. Chapter eight is the main source of information for alternative energy resources themselves. The final chapter discusses the future of alternatives, not only in terms of feasibility, but also in legislation and environmental impact.

6. Kids Discover May 1995.

          This particular issue of the reputable magazine Kids Discover is completely dedicated to the topic of energy. It is full of information and interesting tidbits of trivia relating to energy. It covers mostly solar and wind alternative sources. It also contains useful photographs that really help bring these ideas closer to kids. Beyond that, there are easy experiments in the back that could be conducted in the home or in the classroom. To top it off, a list of books on the topic of energy is given, so students can read about these subjects on their own.

7. Smith, Howard Bud. Energy: Sources/Applications/Alternatives. South Holland: Wilcox Company, Inc., 1993.

          Energy takes a different approach to the concept of energy and its alternative sources. The majority of the chapters discuss different types of systems and from these, alternatives are discussed. For example, the chapter on kinetic energy contains material about wind energy. There’s also background information and comparison of what has been accomplished and what the future may bring.

8. Twist, Clint. Future Sources, New York, Gloucester Press, 1992.

          Future Sources is a short book written for children to give an overview of the concept of renewable energy. What gives this book strong appeal as a teaching tool are its bright and simplistic illustrations. Every two pages are dedicated to a specific energy source. All of these have diagrams with captions that explain how the instruments for the generation, storage, and usage work.

9. U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Education Resources, Washington DC, 1997.

          Another source that needs to be acknowledged is government publications. They are useful, reliable tools for teachers wanting to learn more about alternative energy and many other environmental issues. These publications range from updates on projects already underway in a region to facts and general information on the various aspects of energy. These can be found through books like Energy Education Resources or by contacting the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. Also, any government publication gives a contact source to acquire further information on a given subject.

10. www.energy.ca.gov. California Energy Commission. February 15, 2001.

          The sight created by the California Energy Commission, www.energy.ca.gov, is a fun resource for kids who want to learn about energy and how to help the environment. By going into the "Energy Quest" section and clicking on "Educational Resources," you are immediately taken into a page full of fun icon pictures, each with its own message or purpose. For example, "Renewable Road" gives a briefing on energy alternatives or you can ask specific questions about energy by going into "Ask Dr. Questor," you can even e-mail him! There’s even a button for science projects to get entertaining and educational ways to illustrate energy.

11. www.crest.org/gem.html March 8, 2001

          This site is wonderful for getting on-the-spot information. On the front page you simply fill in the blanks that ask you what energy source you are looking for and the area you want to research. There are other boxes to make your search more specific as well. That is really all there is to it. Within a few seconds you can have information on everything to the cost of wind power to how nuclear power works.

12. www.eren.doe.gov. United States Department of Energy. February 19, 2001.

          The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors a web site with lots of valuable information for both adults and children. It is located at www.eren.doe.gov. The front page is divided into four categories, U.S. Department of Energy, Technologies, Specialized Resources, and Featured Sites. These are then further sorted into sub-categories, such as Renewable Energy, which gives a list of alternative energy sources and further illustrates each source through basic information, web sites to find more information, descriptions of different types and link to other organizations dealing with them.