| Description |
1 online resource |
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text file rda |
| Contents |
Introduction -- Why Go Solar? -- What is solar power? -- Brief history of solar power -- Photovoltaic energy -- Solar power today -- Motivation for going solar -- Environmental concerns -- Economic reasons for choosing solar power -- Practical for remote locations -- Self-sufficiency and reliability -- Drawbacks to solar power -- Cost of installing a PV system -- Amount of energy depends on sunlight and climate -- Permits and legal requirements -- Batteries and storage are needed -- Manufacture of solar panels uses energy and toxic chemicals -- Active And Passive Uses Of Solar Energy: -- Passive solar heating -- Solar heating -- Solar water heaters and pool heaters -- Heating your pool -- Understanding electricity -- Solar electricity -- How PV cells work -- Conversion efficiency -- New PV technologies -- Photovoltaic energy for your home -- Ongrid system with batteries -- Grid fallback systems -- Photovoltaic appliances and gadgets -- Components of PV system -- Conclusion -- Is Solar Energy For You?: -- Location and climate -- Evaluating your energy consumption -- Understanding your electricity bill -- How you use electricity in your home -- Cost of electricity provided by a PV system -- New home or existing home? -- Conclusion -- Making Your Home Energy Efficient: -- Home energy audit -- Who performs the audit? -- Finding an auditor -- Auditing your home -- Recommendations for improving energy efficiency -- Saving money with your thermostat -- Installing dual pane windows -- Properly insulating ducts -- Weather stripping your home -- Weather stripping -- Properly insulating walls and attics -- Do-it-yourself energy audit -- Do-it-yourself home energy assessments -- Steps for decreasing energy use -- Your attic -- Windows, doors and electrical outlets -- Energy-efficient appliances -- Solar-powered appliances -- Energy-efficient lighting -- Landscaping for more energy conservation -- Breaking bad habits -- Do-It-Yourself Or Hire A Contractor?: -- Questions to ask yourself before you begin a do-it-yourself project -- What solar contractors do -- Shopping for a solar contractor -- Questions to ask a potential contractor -- Licenses and certifications -- Comparing prices -- Guarantees and warranties -- Insurance -- Permits and building codes -- Your safety comes first -- Working with electricity -- Lifting and carrying heavy objects -- Ladder safety -- Working with batteries -- Signing the contract -- Working with a contractor -- Designing Your Solar Installation: -- Doing a load analysis -- Load analysis worksheet -- System inefficiencies -- How much solar energy is available? -- Compensating for high temperatures -- Estimating the cost of your system -- Selecting a site -- doing a site evaluation -- Selecting The Components For Your Solar Electricity System: -- Deciding on you optimum voltage -- Grid-tie system -- Off-grid or grid fallback systems -- Solar panels -- Shapes, sizes, and aesthetics -- Comparing solar panels -- Certification and PTC ratings -- Brands -- Putting together your solar array -- Mounts and mounting hardware -- Batteries -- Types of batteries -- Comparing batteries -- Cycle life -- Life in float service -- Temperature -- Size and weight -- Getting the most out of your batteries -- Wiring your battery pack -- Controllers -- Inverters -- Inverter efficiency -- Cooling your inverter -- Diagnosis and analysis -- Modular inverters -- Micro-inverters and AC modules -- Installing an inverter -- Cables and wiring -- Ground fault protection devices -- Wind turbines -- Back-up generator -- Grounding -- PV system plan -- Rebates, Subsidies, Tax Credits, And Loans: -- Federal tax credits -- Residential renewable energy tax credit -- Residential energy efficient property credit -- Commercial energy tax credits and grants -- State and local subsidies -- Property tax exemptions -- Rebates -- Getting a loan to finance your system -- Federal loan programs -- Home equity loans -- Selling power to your utility -- Net metering -- Renewable energy credits and green power -- Rentals -- Starting Up And Maintaining Your System: -- Starting up your system -- System inspection -- Cleaning your solar array -- Battery maintenance -- Troubleshooting -- Using too much electricity -- Your PV array is not producing as much power as it should -- Wiring and cables -- Weak batteries -- Controller -- Inverter -- Ground fault -- Conclusion. |
| Summary |
Now more than ever, the question of economic and environmentally friendly energy sources has become a hot topic in almost every American home. With that in mind, more and more people are turning to alternatives such as solar power as a means of saving money and reducing their imprint on the environment. This book will guide anyone interested in the process of installing and utilizing solar power for their home in the process of searching for, buying or building their own solar power system. Learn how you can start making basic adjustments to become more efficient and how solar power can help you before you start any major projects. Learn what solar power requires, from cost and equipment to maintenance and preparation, in certain times of the year. Take the cost of installing solar power and learn how long it will take to make money back on your investment, including information on federal and state rebates that might affect you. Multiple individuals who have successfully installed solar power in their homes have been interviewed and their experiences included in this guide to help you learn what others go through and how they came out. Learn how the installation process works and how it can be done in your landscape, in small projects, for heating and purifying water, swimming pool heating and other smaller projects. For anyone who has ever considered solar power as a viable means to save money and the environment, this guide will help you get started. |
| System Details |
Requires Boundless App. |
| Subject |
Solar houses -- Design and construction.
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Solar houses -- Design and construction. |
| Genre |
Electronic books. |
| Added Author |
Boundless (Digital media service)
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| ISBN |
9781601387738 : $14.99 |
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1601387733 : $14.99 |
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