Includes errata. Includes bibliographical references (pages 348-354) and index.

Provides an overview of the sustainable energy crisis that is threatening the world's natural resources, explaining how energy consumption is estimated and how those numbers have been skewed by various factors and discussing alternate forms of energy that can and should be used. pt. 1. Numbers, not adjectives. Motivations -- The balance sheet -- Cars -- Wind -- Planes -- Solar -- Heating and cooling -- Hydroelectricity -- Light -- Offshore wind -- Gadgets -- Wave -- Food and farming -- Tide -- Stuff -- Geothermal -- Public services -- Can we live on renewables? pt. 2. Making a difference. Every BIG helps -- Better transport -- Smarter heating -- Efficient electricity use -- Sustainable fossil fuels? -- Nuclear? -- Living on other countries' renewables? -- Fluctuations and storage -- Five energy plans for Britain -- Putting costs in perspective -- What to do now -- Energy plans for Europe, America, and the World -- The last thing we should talk about -- Saying yes. pt. 3. Technical chapters. Cars II -- Wind II -- Planes II -- Solar II -- Heating II -- Waves II -- Tide II -- Stuff II.