The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for your Home, 2E
by Ramsey, Dan; Hughes, DavidEdition: 2nd
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2007-05-01
Publisher(s): DK Publishing, Inc.
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Summary
You're no idiot, of course. You know that using solar power can help you keep your energy costs down, but you're not sure how best to harness those powerful rays ... See the light! The Complete Idiot's Guide[Registered] to Solar Power for Your Home, Second Edition, gives you the latest on solar systems and other good-for-the-earth energy solutions. In this Complete Idiot's Guide[Registered], you get: An easy-to-understand explanation of the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of solar power. Helpful tips on buying and installing solar systems and components. Dozens of easy ways to cut your home energy bills right now. Bright advice on designing and implementing grid-tied, off-the-grid, and portable power systems. Don't be left in the dark! Find out how to ... Conduct an energy audit to assess your home's needs. Take advantage of state and local solar rebates. Finance your solar home with low-cost loans. Build a brand-new solar home. Retrofit your existing home to make it more energy-efficient. Use solar energy to heat your home and your water. Design and install emergency power and water systems. Store solar power for later use. Book jacket.
Author Biography
Dan Ramsey is the author of more than 20 books for homebuilders and buyers, including construction and business guides and homeowner remodeling and repair books.
David Hughes is the founder and president of Affordable Solar Group, LLC, one of the nation-'s largest designers and distributors of renewable energy systems and services.
David Hughes is the founder and president of Affordable Solar Group, LLC, one of the nation-'s largest designers and distributors of renewable energy systems and services.
Table of Contents
| Saving Your Energy | p. 1 |
| Looking into the Sun | p. 3 |
| Finding the Energy | p. 4 |
| Using Renewable Energy Sources | p. 6 |
| Solar Energy | p. 7 |
| Wind Energy | p. 8 |
| Hydro Energy | p. 9 |
| Bio Energy | p. 9 |
| Geothermal Energy | p. 9 |
| Other Energy Sources | p. 10 |
| Here Comes the Sun! | p. 11 |
| Changing Technologies and Attitudes | p. 14 |
| Estimating Your Home's Energy Needs | p. 15 |
| What's Home Energy? | p. 16 |
| Where Does the Energy Go? | p. 18 |
| How Much Does Home Energy Cost? | p. 22 |
| Considering a Solar Power System | p. 24 |
| Fifty Ways to Cut Your Home Energy Bills Right Now! | p. 27 |
| Understanding Heat Transfer | p. 28 |
| Auditing Your Energy | p. 28 |
| Do It Yourself | p. 28 |
| Professional Energy Audits | p. 30 |
| You've Been Audited, Now What? | p. 31 |
| Building and Retrofitting for Efficiency | p. 34 |
| Solar Power Incentives and Paybacks | p. 39 |
| Energy Policy Act | p. 40 |
| The Feds Step In | p. 41 |
| Rebates | p. 43 |
| State Tax Incentives | p. 44 |
| Selling Your Excess Power | p. 44 |
| Renewable Energy Credits | p. 45 |
| Your Right to Light | p. 46 |
| Financing Your Solar Home | p. 49 |
| About Financing | p. 50 |
| Home Energy Rating | p. 51 |
| Energy-Efficient Financing | p. 52 |
| Fannie Mae | p. 52 |
| Freddie Mac | p. 53 |
| Farmer Mac | p. 54 |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | p. 54 |
| Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) | p. 54 |
| Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) | p. 55 |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | p. 56 |
| State Energy Financing | p. 56 |
| Utility Financing | p. 57 |
| Solar Vendors | p. 57 |
| Building Your New Solar Home | p. 59 |
| Building Codes | p. 60 |
| Beginning the Construction Process | p. 60 |
| Solar Design | p. 63 |
| Orienting Your Solar Home | p. 64 |
| Energy-Efficient Design | p. 65 |
| Thermal Envelope | p. 66 |
| Doors, Windows, and Appliances | p. 66 |
| Heating and Cooling | p. 67 |
| Controlled Ventilation | p. 67 |
| Contractors and Suppliers | p. 68 |
| Retrofitting Your Home for Solar Power | p. 71 |
| Solar Climate | p. 72 |
| Your Current Home | p. 74 |
| Planning Your Solar Power System | p. 75 |
| Pricing Your Solar Power System | p. 76 |
| Replacing Appliances | p. 77 |
| Upgrading Insulation and Weatherstripping | p. 78 |
| Solar Landscaping Savings | p. 81 |
| Saving Money with Landscaping | p. 82 |
| Summer | p. 82 |
| Winter | p. 82 |
| Trees Clean the Air, Too | p. 83 |
| Considering the Climate | p. 83 |
| Designing for Solar Advantage | p. 85 |
| Shading | p. 85 |
| Wind Protection | p. 87 |
| Planning Your Landscape | p. 87 |
| Selecting Trees and Shrubs | p. 89 |
| Shapes | p. 89 |
| Growth | p. 89 |
| Buying | p. 89 |
| Solar Energy Applications | p. 91 |
| Solar Electric Generation and Storage | p. 93 |
| Understanding Solar Electricity | p. 94 |
| Batteries Not Included | p. 95 |
| Net Metering | p. 96 |
| System Components | p. 97 |
| PV Modules | p. 98 |
| BIPV Modules | p. 101 |
| Selecting Batteries | p. 102 |
| Charge Controllers | p. 104 |
| Selecting Inverters | p. 106 |
| Waveform | p. 107 |
| Frequency | p. 108 |
| Voltage | p. 108 |
| Power Rating | p. 109 |
| Inverter Types | p. 109 |
| Battery-Charging Inverters | p. 110 |
| Intertie Inverters | p. 110 |
| Building to Code | p. 111 |
| What Else Will You Need? | p. 111 |
| Selecting Your Solar Power System | p. 112 |
| Selecting System Components | p. 112 |
| Sizing Your System | p. 113 |
| Installing Your Solar Power System | p. 115 |
| Racking PV Modules | p. 116 |
| Azimuth and Declination: What's the Angle? | p. 117 |
| Wind and Water Power | p. 119 |
| Harnessing the Wind | p. 119 |
| Selecting a Wind Power System | p. 121 |
| Using Water Power | p. 125 |
| Harnessing Water Power | p. 125 |
| Estimating Hydropower Output | p. 128 |
| Solar Water Heating | p. 131 |
| Cutting Hot Water Costs | p. 131 |
| Solar Water Heaters | p. 133 |
| Making Your Swimming Pool More Efficient | p. 136 |
| Heating Your Pool with Solar Energy | p. 137 |
| Solar Space Heating | p. 139 |
| Passive Solar Basics | p. 140 |
| Working with the Sun | p. 141 |
| Orienting Your Solar Space | p. 144 |
| Storing Solar Heat | p. 145 |
| Distributing and Controlling Solar Heat | p. 146 |
| Cooling with the Sun | p. 147 |
| Solar Power Systems | p. 149 |
| Supplemental Power Systems | p. 151 |
| Using Supplemental Power | p. 152 |
| Genverter Systems | p. 152 |
| Components | p. 154 |
| Cost | p. 154 |
| Outdoor Solar Lighting | p. 156 |
| DC Appliances and Lighting | p. 157 |
| Remote Power | p. 159 |
| Grid-Tie Systems | p. 161 |
| How Net Metering Works | p. 162 |
| The Interconnection Process | p. 166 |
| Understanding the Interconnection Agreement | p. 167 |
| Getting Permits | p. 168 |
| Installation | p. 169 |
| Off-Grid Systems | p. 171 |
| What's a Standalone System? | p. 172 |
| Efficiency Is a Virtue | p. 173 |
| AC or DC? | p. 174 |
| 12, 24, or 48 Volts? | p. 175 |
| Systems with Batteries | p. 176 |
| The Full Off-Grid System | p. 177 |
| Monitoring Power Production | p. 178 |
| Emergency Power Systems | p. 181 |
| Planning for the Worst | p. 182 |
| What's an Emergency? | p. 182 |
| What Do You Need? | p. 183 |
| Calling for Backup | p. 185 |
| UPS | p. 185 |
| Generators | p. 186 |
| Battery Banks | p. 188 |
| Other Renewable Backup Systems | p. 189 |
| Portable Power Systems | p. 191 |
| Taking to the Road: Solar RV Systems | p. 192 |
| Taking to the Water: Solar Power for Boaters | p. 195 |
| Cooking with Solar Power | p. 195 |
| Portable PV Systems for Remote and Apartment Living | p. 196 |
| Designing Your Portable Solar Power System | p. 197 |
| Solar Power Projects | p. 201 |
| Buying Solar Systems and Components | p. 203 |
| Solar Power Sans Batteries | p. 203 |
| Solar Equipment Resources | p. 205 |
| Finding Good Suppliers | p. 206 |
| Asking the Right Questions | p. 208 |
| Taking Delivery | p. 209 |
| Hiring the Brightest Solar Contractor | p. 211 |
| Considering Contractors | p. 212 |
| Building Permits | p. 212 |
| Licensed Contractors | p. 213 |
| Selecting Your Contractor | p. 215 |
| Calling for Bids | p. 216 |
| Hiring a Hard-Working Contractor | p. 218 |
| Working with Your Solar Contractor | p. 218 |
| Builder Beware! | p. 220 |
| Solar Codes | p. 220 |
| Solar Standards | p. 221 |
| Doing It Yourself-Or Not | p. 223 |
| Can You Install Your Solar Power System? | p. 223 |
| Should You Install Your Solar Power System? | p. 225 |
| A Typical Installation Process | p. 227 |
| The Right Tools | p. 228 |
| Working with Inspectors | p. 229 |
| Getting Adequate Insurance Coverage | p. 230 |
| Maintaining Your Solar Power System | p. 233 |
| Monitoring Your Power | p. 234 |
| What Should You Be Monitoring? | p. 235 |
| Maintaining Your Solar Power System | p. 236 |
| Keeping Track of Maintenance | p. 237 |
| Troubleshooting Solar Power | p. 238 |
| Making Your Life More Energy-Efficient | p. 241 |
| Expanding Awareness | p. 242 |
| Living Off-Grid | p. 243 |
| Composting Toilets | p. 243 |
| Greywater Systems | p. 244 |
| Living Like Grandpa | p. 245 |
| Driving into the Future | p. 246 |
| The Next Best Thing: Fuel Cells | p. 247 |
| Parts of a Fuel Cell System | p. 248 |
| Understanding How Fuel Cells Work | p. 249 |
| Technology Marches On | p. 251 |
| Solar Glossary | p. 253 |
| Solar Resources | p. 277 |
| Index | p. 309 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
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