Book

Ramsey, Dan, 1945- author.

The complete idiot's guide to solar power for your home / by Dan Ramsey with David Hughes.

Third edition.

New York, N.Y : Alpha Books, [2010]

©2010

xvii, 332 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on and off-grid systems.

Complete idiot's guide.

Solar houses.

Photovoltaic power generation.

Photovoltaic power systems.

Dwellings -- Power supply.

Hughes, David, author.

Complete idiot's guide

Solar power for your home

Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-320) and index.

[part 1:] Solar basics. [1.] Looking into the sun. Finding the energy -- Using renewable energy sources -- Here comes the sun! -- Changing technologies and attitudes -- [2.] Solar power incentives and paybacks. Federal tax credits for energy efficiency -- American recovery and reinvestment act (ARRA) -- Rebates -- State tax incentives -- Selling your excess power -- Renewable energy certificates -- Your right to light -- [3.] Financing your solar home. About financing -- Home energy rating -- Energy-efficient financing -- State energy financing -- Utility financing -- Solar vendors -- [4.] Building your solar home. Building codes -- Beginning the construction process -- Solar design -- Orienting your solar home -- Energy-efficient design -- Contractors and suppliers -- [5.] Retrofitting your solar power home. Solar climate -- Your current home -- Planning your solar power system -- Pricing your solar power system -- Replacing appliances -- Upgrading insulation and weatherstripping -- [6.] Solar landscaping savings. Saving money with landscaping -- Trees clean the air, too -- Considering the climate -- Designing for solar advantage -- Planning your landscape -- Selecting trees and shrubs -- [part 2:] Solar energy solutions. [7.] Solar electric generation and storage. Understanding solar electricity -- System components -- Selecting batteries -- Charge controllers -- Selecting inverters -- Inverter types -- Building to code -- What else will you need? -- Selecting your solar power system -- Installing your solar power system -- [8.] Wind and water power. Harnessing the wind -- Selecting a wind power system -- Using water power -- Harnessing water power -- Estimating hydropower output -- [9.] Solar water heating. Cutting hot water costs -- Solar water heaters -- Making your swimming pool more efficient -- Heating your pool with solar energy -- [10.] Solar space heating. Passive solar basics -- Working with the sun -- Orienting your solar space -- Storing solar heat -- Distributing and controlling solar heat -- Cooling with the sun -- [part 3:] Solar power systems. [11.] Supplemental power systems. Genverter systems -- Outdoor solar lighting -- DC appliances and lighting -- Remote power -- [12.] Grid-tie systems. How net metering works -- The interconnection process -- Understanding the interconnection agreement -- Getting permits -- Buying-system components -- Installation -- [13.] Off-grid systems. What's a stand-alone system? -- Systems with batteries -- The small off-grid system -- Sizing your off-grid system -- Monitoring power production -- [14.] Emergency power systems. Planning for the worst -- Calling for backup -- [15.] Portable power systems. Taking to the road: solar RV systems -- Taking to the water: solar power for boaters -- Cooking with solar power -- Portable PV systems for remote and apartment living -- Designing your portable solar power system -- [part 4:] solar power projects. [16.] Buying solar systems and components. Solar power sans batteries -- Solar equipment resources -- Finding good suppliers -- Asking the right questions -- Taking delivery -- [17.] Hiring the brightest soar contractor. Considering contractors -- Selecting your contractor -- Calling for bids -- Hiring a hardworking contractor -- Working with your solar contractor -- Builder beware! -- Solar codes -- Solar standards -- [18.] Installing your solar power system. Can you install your solar power system? -- Should you install your solar power system? -- A typical installation process -- The right tools -- Working with inspectors -- Getting adequate insurance coverage -- [19.] Maintaining your solar power system. Monitoring your power -- What should you be monitoring? -- Maintaining your solar power system -- Keeping track of maintenance -- Troubleshooting solar power -- [Appendix A:] estimating your home's energy needs -- [Appendix B:] fifty ways to cut your home energy bills right now! -- [Appendix C:] solar glossary -- [Appendix D: ] solar resources.

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description

2009937015

9781615640010

1615640010

426803588

1

0

1

312207

1

1

697.78 Ramsey