The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for Your Home


Book Description

Offers advice and suggestions for building a solar-powered home, including estimating energy needs, selecting the right equipment, and maintaining the system once it is installed.




Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings


Book Description

The updated 5th edition of Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings identifies the most energy-efficient home appliances by brand name and model number. Reader-friendly and packed with illustrations, this handbook helps any homeowner save energy and money. Chapters include: -- energy use and the environment -- insulating and sealing air leaks -- new window options -- space heating -- cooling and air conditioning -- water heating -- refrigeration -- lighting...and much more This book is as compact and efficient as its subject matter. Its 274 pages are crammed with money-saving information. A directory of manufacturers helps the reader access purchase information on recommended appliances.




Pico-solar Electric Systems


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the technology behind the pico-solar revolution and offers guidance on how to test and choose quality products. The book also discusses how pioneering companies and initiatives are overcoming challenges to reach scale in the marketplace, from innovative distribution strategies to reach customers in rural India and Tanzania, to product development in Cambodia, product assembly in Mozambique and the introduction of ‘pay as you go’ technology in Kenya. Pico-solar is a new category of solar electric system which has the potential to transform the lives of over 1.6 billion people who live without access to electricity. Pico-solar systems are smaller and more affordable than traditional solar systems and have the power to provide useful amounts of electricity to charge the increasing number of low power consuming appliances from mobile phones, e-readers and parking metres, to LED lights which have the power to light up millions of homes in the same way the mobile phone has connected and empowered communities across the planet. The book explains the important role pico-solar has in reducing reliance on fossil fuels while at the same time tackling world poverty and includes useful recommendations for entrepreneurs, charities and governments who want to participate in developing this exciting and rapidly expanding market.




The Good Solar Guide


Book Description

Are you considering solar to get your bills down, but uncertain whether solar is right for you? Are you wary of potential rogue installers in such a new industry? Would you know a good solar panel brand from a dud? What about batteries? At long last there is an independent guide to buying and installing solar in Australia with the express aim of getting your future energy bills as low as possible. The Good Solar Guide demystifies the solar buying process in Australia showing you how many panels you need, which panel brands to buy, which to avoid, and how to find a great installer.




SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS


Book Description

This comprehensive training manual discusses the various aspects of solar PV technologies and systems in a student-friendly manner. The text deals with the topics such as solar radiation, various types of batteries, their measurements and applications in SPV systems emphasiz-ing the importance of solar PV technology in renewable energy scenario. It also discusses the method of estimating energy requirement, SPV modules, their formations and connection to arrays, grid-connected SPV captive power systems, tips over troubleshooting of components used in solar PV system, and system designs with plenty of illustrations on all topics covered in the book. The text is supported by a large number of solved and unsolved examples, practical information using numerous diagrams and worksheet that help students understand the topics in a clear way. The text is intended for technicians, trainers and engineers who are working on solar PV systems for design, installation and maintenance of solar PV systems.




Solar Power Your Home For Dummies


Book Description

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated edition Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you’ll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible. Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the home New small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applications Rik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firm Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!




Solar Power Your Home For Dummies


Book Description

Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. You’ll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You’ll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you’ve decided on a project, you’ll see whether it’s best to hire a contractor or do it yourself. We leave no stone unturned—you’ll also discover how to: Choose and install your best solar system Handle small to large solar projects Heat and cool your house with solar energy Install exterior solar lighting Handle swimming pool, water heater, or ventilation solar projects Create greenhouses or solar rooms Build, buy, or sell a solar home Finance your solar investments Take advantage of tax rebates and incentives associated with solar power Avoid the worst solar mistakes Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest do-it-yourself solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!




Consumer Guide to Solar Energy


Book Description

This is a must for those who are tired of power brownouts and blackouts, skyrocketing energy bills and the feeling that there is nothing we can do to help resolve these problems ourselves. Don't wait for utility bill sticker shock to worsen, or sit through another power outage or energy disruption. This new edition of the guide can help readers to seize their own destiny, become more self-reliant and use the available technology to make their homes more comfortable and their power bills more affordable. Two experts on solar energy have updated their classic guide for homeowners and businesses. Learn about numerous new products, proven reliable and effective, which are now available on the shelves of hardware stores, home supply centres and other outlets. The new edition includes updated information on solar energy tax credits and a host of new state programs supporting clean energy. The incentives total over $3 billion for clean energy installations, and the authors provide a quick guide to accessing these and other consumer benefits.




The Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide


Book Description

Imagine how often you read books about solar panels and solar power systems and their design and felt disappointed, confused without knowing how to get started and put together the pieces of the puzzle of your much anticipated and long-awaited off-grid or grid-tied solar power system. No more confusion! The book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' is the missing guide for proven simple fast design of solar electricity systems for your home, off-grid house, business, boat, vehicle or other outdoor activities. What is more, this guide is written by experts especially for beginners and professionals alike. Proper sizing of a solar system is very important. The final goal of the design of a photovoltaic system is to come up with a cost-effective, efficient and reliable solar panel system for your home, RV vehicle, boat or business - a solar system that squeezes the maximum possible power for every cent invested. In our opinion, the main drawback of many solar books is that they give too much general information about solar panels and solar components and, if you are lucky enough, just one or two very basic design formulas. Those formulas, however, are far away from a proven yet simple system for sizing a solar system from scratch. Moreover, such sizing information is buried in too much fillers and fluffs you could easily find by just surfing the web. Obviously, such authors limit solar design methods to their own cases only. Ironically the reader's case rarely coincides with the authors' solar case. You feel confused and lost without being aware of how to wire and put all the components of the solar power system together. The mission of this book is to fill this gap by offering a simple practical, fast, step-by-step approach for designing a solar system of any scale, whether simple or complex, intended for your home, business, RV vehicle or boat. The book is written by experts, holding master's degree in electronics, and is intended for those who cannot get started or are utterly confused. Grab the book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' and get your solar powered home, RV vehicle, boat or business today! While reading the book you will discover that our approach to sizing a solar system is just the opposite to the currently prevailing ones. We prefer to give you lots of fast and simple step-by-step universal design methods applicable to all cases, accompanied with many sizing examples - starting from very simple solar power systems and finishing with the design of the more sophisticated off -grid solar power system. Thanks to this approach you will be capable of designing any solar power system or tailor the sizing methods according to your own needs. The book provides 3 general approaches: Business sizing - simple and fast design but not too accurate for every case Basic sizing - not so fast but more accurate, and Advanced sizing - more accurate but not so fast You may choose one of the general approaches, depending on the type of system you are going to use. For example, the fastest business case approach could be used for sizing simple solar systems for outdoor activities. It may be even accurate enough for sizing small solar systems for RV vehicles and boats. The basic and the more accurate advanced approach are best suited for designing off-grid and grid-tied solar electric systems. Grab the book 'Ultimate Solar Power Design Guide - Less Theory, More Practice' Now!