Summary

The Green Guru Guide to easy solar projects you can set up at homeThe perfect reference to be used during the planning and implementation stage of any solar energy project,Solar Power for Your Homeoffers unbiased coverage of solar energy and the realities of solar usagefrom cost analysis to set up. Learn all about passive solar energy, thin film solar, pv cells, and other technologies. You'll get step-by-step instructions on how to construct a number of simple yet effective solar projects. The book contains detailed explanations of the associated costs of each project, including a discussion of grants, financing, different types of loans, rebates, and tax incentives available for solar installations.Solar Power for Your Homefeatures Easy-to-construct solar projects with step-by-step instructions Information on the environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits of solar power A completely global perspective with cost information from all over the world Details on how solar energy systems function, how to implement them properly, how to shop, and payback analysesFilled with practical information on: The benefits of solar; Zero cost solar or passive solar power; Fundamentals of a solar system; How to plan; Thin film solar; Specific solar; How to pay for your system; and much more!

Author Biography

About the Author
David S. Findley is an Assistant Professor at Farmingdale Sate College. He is also the owner of Synergy New Technology, a not-for-profit organization that develops and sells green technology, provides global solutions with the development of partnerships with government, corporations, education, venture capitalists, and individuals, and develops local, regional, and national climate change projects. He has six years of college engineering, green technology education, business, and environmental sciences education. He has overseen the development of a green engineering sciences curriculum. He also has 3 years of environmental science and green business development.

The History of Solar Energy	p. 1
Sunlight and Life on Earth	p. 1
The Human Factor	p. 4
The Future	p. 7
Food Production and Declining Natural Resources	p. 9
Desertification	p. 10
Solar for Humanity	p. 12
The Benefits and Detriments of Solar Energy	p. 15
The Solar Power Convergence	p. 17
Types of Solar Power	p. 20
Other Forms of Energy	p. 23
Wind Power	p. 23
Geothermal Energy	p. 24
Tidal Energy	p. 25
Ultimate Benefits of Solar Energy	p. 26
Challenges of Solar Energy	p. 29
Types of Solar Energy	p. 31
Energy and Oil	p. 31
Passive Solar	p. 33
Concentrated Solar Power	p. 36
CSP with Parabolic Mirrors	p. 36
Stirling Engine	p. 37
Solar Water Heaters	p. 41
Updraft Solar	p. 42
Concentrating PV Solar	p. 43
Types and Benefits of PV Solar	p. 45
Thin-Film Solar	p. 46
Focused-Lens and Specialty PV	p. 46
Solar Costs	p. 47
Energy-Efficient Home Systems	p. 51
Remove and Replace Appliances	p. 51
Washing Machines	p. 53
Clothes Dryers	p. 53
Small Appliances	p. 54
Hot Water Heaters	p. 56
Solar Water Heater	p. 57
Tankless Water Heater	p. 59
Heat Pump	p. 60
Gas Condensing Hot Water Heater	p. 61
High-Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heater	p. 61
Cooling Systems	p. 62
Room Air Conditioners	p. 62
Central Air Conditioning	p. 64
Heating Systems	p. 68
Geothernal Energy vs. Ground Geothernal	p. 70
Maintaining Home Heating and Cooling Systems	p. 72
What to Look For in a New Heating System	p. 72
Other Large Energy Consumers	p. 74
Zero-Cost Passive Solar	p. 75
Passive Solar Homes	p. 76
The Big and Small Pictures	p. 78
Building a Passive Solar Home	p. 78
Passive Solar Home Modifications	p. 82
Good Solar Design	p. 83
Types of Solar Gain	p. 83
Simple Improvements for Solar Gain	p. 84
Landscaping	p. 91
Fun with Passive Solar	p. 96
Solar Oven	p. 96
Solar Clothes Dryer	p. 96
Solar Water Purification	p. 98
Passive Solar Cooling	p. 98
Gardening	p. 99
Creating a Personal Energy Plan	p. 101
Creating a Home Energy Plan	p. 101
Evaluating Your Home Energy Use	p. 104
How to Use the Plan	p. 105
What to Include in a Complete Energy Plan	p. 105
Making the Most of Your Plan by Changing Old Habits	p. 107
The Fundamentals of a PV System	p. 109
PV System Components	p. 113
How PV Cells Work	p. 117
Solar Cells and Panels	p. 120
Single, or Monocrystalline, Silicon Panels	p. 121
Polycrystalline, or Multicrystalline, Silicon Panels	p. 121
Amorphous Silicon or Thin-Film Panels	p. 122
Group III and V Technologies	p. 124
Building-Integrated Photovoltaic	p. 124
Concentrated Solar Power	p. 125
High-Efficiency Multijunction Devices	p. 125
Solar Panel Efficiency	p. 126
The Inverter	p. 126
Electrical Meters	p. 127
Solar Tracking System	p. 127
PV Energy Production and Savings	p. 129
How Much Does a Typical PV System Cost?	p. 129
Rebate and Deduction Caveats	p. 130
Warranties and Replacement Costs	p. 130
Payback Time	p. 131
Solar Projects You Can Use Today	p. 133
Solar-Powered Swimming Pool	p. 133
Solar Lighting	p. 136
Solar Pet Home	p. 138
Flexible Solar-Powered Gear	p. 138
Solar Oven	p. 141
Electric Lawnmower	p. 142
Solar Carport	p. 143
The Real Costs of Energy Consumption	p. 145
Global Warming	p. 145
CO₂, You, and the World	p. 146
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint	p. 148
How and When to Hire a Contractor	p. 151
Planning Your Solar Renovation	p. 152
Hire an Architect	p. 153
Know Your Budget	p. 153
Choose the Right Contractor	p. 154
Interviewing Contractors	p. 155
Things to Notice During the Interview	p. 157
Licensing	p. 157
Getting Estimates	p. 158
Building Contracts	p. 158
Payments	p. 159
Permits	p. 160
What to Do If Things Go Bad	p. 162
Funding Your Solar Project	p. 165
Savings	p. 165
And Loans	p. 165
Bank Loans	p. 166
Contractor Loans	p. 166
Credit Cards	p. 166
FHA and HUD Loans	p. 167
State-Funded Loans	p. 168
Home Equity Loans	p. 169
Mortgage Refinancing	p. 169
Rebates, Tax Incentives, and Tax Credits	p. 170
Tax Rebates	p. 170
Tax Credits	p. 170
Grants	p. 170
Selling Power Back to the Grid	p. 171
The Future of Solar Energy	p. 173
Thin-Film Solar	p. 173
Micro Solar	p. 174
Nano Solar	p. 176
Light-Spectrum Technologies	p. 176
Hybrid Technologies	p. 177
Electrical Grid	p. 177
Hydrogen Fuel Cells	p. 177
Battery Backup	p. 179
Storage Systems	p. 179
The Promise of the Future	p. 180
Appendix: Standards, Conversions, and Green References	p. 183
Index	p. 191
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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