Solar Power For Your Home

Easy, inexpensive, do-it-yourself solar energy projects Featuring step-by-step instructions and useful photos and illustrations, this hands-on guide is filled with solar energy solutions you can put to use right away. Solar Power for Your Home shows you how to set up a variety of simple, money-saving solar projects quickly and easily, such as a solar water heater, a solar pool pump, solar lighting, a solar oven--and even a solar-powered lawn mower! Learn all about the different types of solar technologies, including passive solar and photovoltaic, and determine which best suits your projects. You'll get details on assessing current energy use in your home, estimating the costs of solar installations, and calculating your overall savings. Reduce your carbon footprint--and your energy costs--with help from this practical resource.

Solar Power for Your Home covers:

History, benefits, and potential detriments of solar energy
Fundamentals of solar technologies--passive solar, photovoltaic, concentrating solar energy, and more
Evaluating home electricity consumption
Creating a personal energy plan
How and when to contract your solar project
Emerging technologies--thin film, nano, and hybrid solar and solar storage
Funding options including rebates, incentives, and grants
Standards, conversions, and helpful resources