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Summary

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 Your Home 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 Your Home For Dummies is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

Introduction
Playing the Energy Game
Helping the World through Solar Power
Surveying Your Household Energy Efficiency and Use
Making Your Home Energy Efficient
Understanding Solar - Just the Facts, Ma'am
Working with Solar Basics
Evaluating Your Solar Potential
Calculating Payback on Your Solar Investment
Installing Your Solar System
Doing It Yourself: Smalland Medium-Sized Projects
Digging In to Landscape Projects
Jumping In to Small Projects with Big Results
Heating and Purifying Water
Diving In to Swimming Pool Projects
Supplementing Your Domestic Water Heater
Breezeway : Directing Wind within Your House
Solar Pumps, Wind Power, Hydro Power, and Batteries in Applications
Home Solar Projects: Getting a Little Help from Your Friends
Deciding between Doing It Yourself and Contracting
Glass Houses (and Plastic, Too): Greenhouses and Sunrooms
Plugging In to the Grid with a Full-Scale PV System
Divorcing the Grid: Going Solo with Solar Power Systems
Buying , Selling, and Building a Solar Home
Building a Solar Home from the Ground Up
Buying and Selling a Solar Home
Finding the Moolah to Do the Job
Subsidizing Your Solar Projects with Other People's Money
Financing Your Solar Investments
The Part of Tens
Ten Best Solar Investments
Ten or So Best Do-It-Yourself Projects
Ten Cheap Solar Projects and Devices
Ten or So Worst Solar Mistakes
Index
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

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