Solar Power for Your Home

Solar Power for Your Home

Authors: David Findley

Published: July 2010

eISBN: 9780071667852 0071667857 | ISBN: 9780071667845

Contents

1 The History of Solar Energy

Sunlight and Life on Earth

The Human Factor

The Future

Food Production and Declining Natural Resources

Desertification

Solar for Humanity

2 The Benefits and Detriments of Solar Energy

The Solar Power Convergence

Types of Solar Power

Other Forms of Energy

Wind Power

Geothermal Energy

Tidal Energy

Ultimate Benefits of Solar Energy

Challenges of Solar Energy

3 Types of Solar Energy

Energy and Oil

Passive Solar

Concentrated Solar Power

CSP with Parabolic Mirrors

Stirling Engine

Solar Water Heaters

Updraft Solar

Concentrating PV Solar

Types and Benefits of PV Solar

Thin-Film Solar

Focused-Lens and Specialty PV

Solar Costs

4 Energy-Efficient Home Systems

Remove and Replace Appliances

Washing Machines

Clothes Dryers

Small Appliances

Hot Water Heaters

Solar Water Heater

Tankless Water Heater

Heat Pump

Gas Condensing Hot Water Heater

High-Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heater

Cooling Systems

Room Air Conditioners

Central Air Conditioning

Heating Systems

Geothermal Energy vs. Ground Geothermal

Maintaining Home Heating and Cooling Systems

What to Look For in a New Heating System

Other Large Energy Consumers

5 Zero-Cost Passive Solar

Passive Solar Homes

The Big and Small Pictures

Building a Passive Solar Home

Passive Solar Home Modifications

Good Solar Design

Types of Solar Gain

Simple Improvements for Solar Gain

Landscaping

Fun with Passive Solar

Solar Oven

Solar Clothes Dryer

Solar Water Purification

Passive Solar Cooling

Gardening

6 Creating a Personal Energy Plan

Creating a Home Energy Plan

Evaluating Your Home Energy Use

How to Use the Plan

What to Include in a Complete Energy Plan

Making the Most of Your Plan by Changing Old Habits

7 The Fundamentals of a PV System

PV System Components

How PV Cells Work

Solar Cells and Panels

Single, or Monocrystalline, Silicon Panels

Polycrystalline, or Multicrystalline, Silicon Panels

Amorphous Silicon or Thin-Film Panels

Group III and V Technologies

Building-Integrated Photovoltaic

Concentrated Solar Power

High-Efficiency Multijunction Devices

Solar Panel Efficiency

The Inverter

Electrical Meters

Solar Tracking System

PV Energy Production and Savings

How Much Does a Typical PV System Cost?

Rebate and Deduction Caveats

Warranties and Replacement Costs

Payback Time

8 Solar Projects You Can Use Today

Solar-Powered Swimming Pool

Solar Lighting

Solar Pet Home

Flexible Solar-Powered Gear

Solar Oven

Electric Lawnmower

Solar Carport

9 The Real Costs of Energy Consumption

Global Warming

CO[sub(2)], You, and the World

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

10 How and When to Hire a Contractor

Planning Your Solar Renovation

Hire an Architect

Know Your Budget

Choose the Right Contractor

Interviewing Contractors

Things to Notice During the Interview

Licensing

Getting Estimates

Building Contracts

Payments

Permits

What to Do If Things Go Bad

11 Funding Your Solar Project

Savings

And Loans

Bank Loans

Contractor Loans

Credit Cards

FHA and HUD Loans

State-Funded Loans

Home Equity Loans

Mortgage Refinancing

Rebates, Tax Incentives, and Tax Credits

Tax Rebates

Tax Credits

Grants

Selling Power Back to the Grid

12 The Future of Solar Energy

Thin-Film Solar

Micro Solar

Nano Solar

Light-Spectrum Technologies

Hybrid Technologies

Electrical Grid

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Battery Backup

Storage Systems

The Promise of the Future

Appendix: Standards, Conversions, and Green References

Index