Solar Power for Your Home
All the power you need is already there. \ This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems.\ •Solar power is a $3 billion industry, and it's poised to grow to $39 billion by 2014\ •By 2011, the United States will surpass Germany as the largest market for solar power products
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All the power you need is already there. This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems. •Solar power is a $3 billion industry, and it's poised to grow to $39 billion by 2014 •By 2011, the United States will surpass Germany as the largest market for solar power products
\ Saving Your Energy 1\ Looking into the Sun 3\ Finding the Energy 4\ Using Renewable Energy Sources 6\ Solar Energy 7\ Wind Energy 8\ Hydro Energy 9\ Bio Energy 9\ Geothermal Energy 9\ Other Energy Sources 10\ Here Comes the Sun! 11\ Changing Technologies and Attitudes 14\ Estimating Your Home's Energy Needs 15\ What's Home Energy? 16\ Where Does the Energy Go? 18\ How Much Does Home Energy Cost? 22\ Considering a Solar Power System 24\ Fifty Ways to Cut Your Home Energy Bills Right Now! 27\ Understanding Heat Transfer 28\ Auditing Your Energy 28\ Do It Yourself 28\ Professional Energy Audits 30\ You've Been Audited, Now What? 31\ Building and Retrofitting for Efficiency 34\ Solar Power Incentives and Paybacks 39\ Energy Policy Act 40\ The Feds Step In 41\ Rebates 43\ State Tax Incentives 44\ Selling YourExcess Power 44\ Renewable Energy Credits 45\ Your Right to Light 46\ Financing Your Solar Home 49\ About Financing 50\ Home Energy Rating 51\ Energy-Efficient Financing 52\ Fannie Mae 52\ Freddie Mac 53\ Farmer Mac 54\ Department of Energy (DOE) 54\ Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 54\ Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 55\ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 56\ State Energy Financing 56\ Utility Financing 57\ Solar Vendors 57\ Building Your New Solar Home 59\ Building Codes 60\ Beginning the Construction Process 60\ Solar Design 63\ Orienting Your Solar Home 64\ Energy-Efficient Design 65\ Thermal Envelope 66\ Doors, Windows, and Appliances 66\ Heating and Cooling 67\ Controlled Ventilation 67\ Contractors and Suppliers 68\ Retrofitting Your Home for Solar Power 71\ Solar Climate 72\ Your Current Home 74\ Planning Your Solar Power System 75\ Pricing Your Solar Power System 76\ Replacing Appliances 77\ Upgrading Insulation and Weatherstripping 78\ Solar Landscaping Savings 81\ Saving Money with Landscaping 82\ Summer 82\ Winter 82\ Trees Clean the Air, Too 83\ Considering the Climate 83\ Designing for Solar Advantage 85\ Shading 85\ Wind Protection 87\ Planning Your Landscape 87\ Selecting Trees and Shrubs 89\ Shapes 89\ Growth 89\ Buying 89\ Solar Energy Applications 91\ Solar Electric Generation and Storage 93\ Understanding Solar Electricity 94\ Batteries Not Included 95\ Net Metering 96\ System Components 97\ PV Modules 98\ BIPV Modules 101\ Selecting Batteries 102\ Charge Controllers 104\ Selecting Inverters 106\ Waveform 107\ Frequency 108\ Voltage 108\ Power Rating 109\ Inverter Types 109\ Battery-Charging Inverters 110\ Intertie Inverters 110\ Building to Code 111\ What Else Will You Need? 111\ Selecting Your Solar Power System 112\ Selecting System Components 112\ Sizing Your System 113\ Installing Your Solar Power System 115\ Racking PV Modules 116\ Azimuth and Declination: What's the Angle? 117\ Wind and Water Power 119\ Harnessing the Wind 119\ Selecting a Wind Power System 121\ Using Water Power 125\ Harnessing Water Power 125\ Estimating Hydropower Output 128\ Solar Water Heating 131\ Cutting Hot Water Costs 131\ Solar Water Heaters 133\ Making Your Swimming Pool More Efficient 136\ Heating Your Pool with Solar Energy 137\ Solar Space Heating 139\ Passive Solar Basics 140\ Working with the Sun 141\ Orienting Your Solar Space 144\ Storing Solar Heat 145\ Distributing and Controlling Solar Heat 146\ Cooling with the Sun 147\ Solar Power Systems 149\ Supplemental Power Systems 151\ Using Supplemental Power 152\ Genverter Systems 152\ Components 154\ Cost 154\ Outdoor Solar Lighting 156\ DC Appliances and Lighting 157\ Remote Power 159\ Grid-Tie Systems 161\ How Net Metering Works 162\ The Interconnection Process 166\ Understanding the Interconnection Agreement 167\ Getting Permits 168\ Installation 169\ Off-Grid Systems 171\ What's a Standalone System? 172\ Efficiency Is a Virtue 173\ AC or DC? 174\ 12, 24, or 48 Volts? 175\ Systems with Batteries 176\ The Full Off-Grid System 177\ Monitoring Power Production 178\ Emergency Power Systems 181\ Planning for the Worst 182\ What's an Emergency? 182\ What Do You Need? 183\ Calling for Backup 185\ UPS 185\ Generators 186\ Battery Banks 188\ Other Renewable Backup Systems 189\ Portable Power Systems 191\ Taking to the Road: Solar RV Systems 192\ Taking to the Water: Solar Power for Boaters 195\ Cooking with Solar Power 195\ Portable PV Systems for Remote and Apartment Living 196\ Designing Your Portable Solar Power System 197\ Solar Power Projects 201\ Buying Solar Systems and Components 203\ Solar Power Sans Batteries 203\ Solar Equipment Resources 205\ Finding Good Suppliers 206\ Asking the Right Questions 208\ Taking Delivery 209\ Hiring the Brightest Solar Contractor 211\ Considering Contractors 212\ Building Permits 212\ Licensed Contractors 213\ Selecting Your Contractor 215\ Calling for Bids 216\ Hiring a Hard-Working Contractor 218\ Working with Your Solar Contractor 218\ Builder Beware! 220\ Solar Codes 220\ Solar Standards 221\ Doing It Yourself-Or Not 223\ Can You Install Your Solar Power System? 223\ Should You Install Your Solar Power System? 225\ A Typical Installation Process 227\ The Right Tools 228\ Working with Inspectors 229\ Getting Adequate Insurance Coverage 230\ Maintaining Your Solar Power System 233\ Monitoring Your Power 234\ What Should You Be Monitoring? 235\ Maintaining Your Solar Power System 236\ Keeping Track of Maintenance 237\ Troubleshooting Solar Power 238\ Making Your Life More Energy-Efficient 241\ Expanding Awareness 242\ Living Off-Grid 243\ Composting Toilets 243\ Greywater Systems 244\ Living Like Grandpa 245\ Driving into the Future 246\ The Next Best Thing: Fuel Cells 247\ Parts of a Fuel Cell System 248\ Understanding How Fuel Cells Work 249\ Technology Marches On 251\ Appendixes\ Solar Glossary 253\ Solar Resources 277\ Index 309
