Solar Power Your Home For Dummies by Rik DeGunther (PDF)

Description

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated editionWant 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 For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you!This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you’ll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible.Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the homeNew small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applicationsRik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firmFeaturing ten of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: From the Inside Flap A new edition of the best-selling guide to solar powerWant solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, this friendly guide takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! Plus, you’ll get all the latest updates on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that make solar-power adoption more feasible. Understanding why solar is king — find out how you can put solar power to use to reap financial rewards, lessen your carbon footprint, and gain independence from fossil fuelsHere comes the sun — learn to evaluate your solar potential, plot your sun charts, calculate payback on your investment, and install your solar systemPractical applications — get easy-to-follow information on how to use solar energy in a variety of projects inside and outside your home Exploring full-scale photovoltaic systems — discover the benefits of powering your home with a PV system, understand how the system works, and find out how to install oneBuilding, retrofitting, and selling — get practical guidance on building a solar-powered home from the ground up, installing solar in an existing home, and selling your solar homeOpen the book and find:Tips on surveying your household energy efficiency and useWays to evaluate your solar potential Small- and medium-sized DIY projectsAdvice on analyzing solar investments An introduction to building codes and regulations Ways to take advantage of your lot’s featuresInformation on installing PV systemsThe ten best solar investments From the Back Cover A new edition of the best-selling guide to solar powerWant solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, this friendly guide takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! Plus, you’ll get all the latest updates on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that make solar-power adoption more feasible. Understanding why solar is king — find out how you can put solar power to use to reap financial rewards, lessen your carbon footprint, and gain independence from fossil fuelsHere comes the sun — learn to evaluate your solar potential, plot your sun charts, calculate payback on your investment, and install your solar systemPractical applications — get easy-to-follow information on how to use solar energy in a variety of projects inside and outside your home Exploring full-scale photovoltaic systems — discover the benefits of powering your home with a PV system, understand how the system works, and find out how to install oneBuilding, retrofitting, and selling — get practical guidance on building a solar-powered home from the ground up, installing solar in an existing home, and selling your solar homeOpen the book and find:Tips on surveying your household energy efficiency and useWays to evaluate your solar potential Small- and medium-sized DIY projectsAdvice on analyzing solar investments An introduction to building codes and regulations Ways to take advantage of your lot’s featuresInformation on installing PV systemsThe ten best solar investments About the Author Rik DeGunther is the founder of Efficient Homes, an energy auditing and consulting firm. He holds a BS in Engineering Physics and dual Masters degrees in Applied Physics and Engineering Economic Systems. Rik is also the author of Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies and Alternative Energy For Dummies. Read more

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐We are looking to install solar electric panels on our roof, and I ordered this book to get some background. Unfortunately, this book is of little value. If you know anything about this area, you probably don’t need this book.The first 75 pages are basically garbage and fluff irrelevant to solar electricity. LIke most of the “Dummies” book, this one is filled with miserable attempts at humor. Please, just educate me. If I want humor, I will go to a YouTube channel.The book then covers ventilating houses, hydro power, and wind power; more wasted pages. How is this relevant to solar?Finally, on p. 249 the book finally takes on the technology of solar electric panels. Unfortunately, the technical content soon ends on p. 286. This is followed by a chapter on off-grid solar systems (for wealthy survivalists, I suppose). Finally, many pages are spent on how to hire a contractor,how to pay for a project, and how to sell a house.Maybe this really, really, is a book for dummies.Finally, this book’s content is somewhat dated. Although it has a 2010 copyright, most of the content seems to date from the mid-2000’s.

⭐The book is good for those people who are considering going solar. Before you put out feelers for solar contractors to give you bids for the job you should really understand what you are getting for your money. There are no “big surprises” in going solar, but there are many ways to spend way too much money in getting what you want. My own experience made me sit back and think about the whole procedure. I requested bids and proposals about installing solar on my single family home in AZ and was overwhelmed with phone calls and emailed proposals, in fact after 3 months I’m still getting them. The bids ranged from “free installs” to $33,000. I backed off and began researching the solar program starting with Solar Power Your Home For Dummies and went on to more advanced books, including books on installing my own system. Protect yourself by at least learning the basics.

⭐Too much of the book on issues like global warming,and carbon foot print….I bought the book thinking it was a book on solar panel, power collection,storage and building the systems…it was a vast mix of other ways you could use the power of the sun….as cooking, heating, house building to complement solar heating, ways to insulate and seal your home, conservation…..I was let down on the whole book, the last 5 pages had vague diagrams on solar power systems…vague unmarked drawings and math.I felt as a captive audience to the book….let down

⭐I bought this book to learn about solar panels, types and methodology as well as battery packs, inverters and controllers. Way too wide of a topic spectrum. For example swimming pools, water heaters, way too far out goobly goop. Stay on topic in concert with the title. “Solar Power Your Home For Dummies”

⭐Very preachy and written by a progressive for progressives. You have to wade through climate propaganda at every turn of a page.Too bad; I was hoping for a useful book on this. Will have to buy another.

⭐This guy goes on and on and on about everything but solar for about the first 250 pages. After the first two-thirds of the book he lightly touches on solar projects and then repeats some of the Solar projects over and over. Don’t waste your time or money on this one.

⭐I was hoping for some more detailed information about grid-tied electrical concepts. This is more just a general overview. It ended up being a waste of money for me, and I think it would be for most. If you are a DIY type of person, this probably isn’t the book for you.

⭐I bought this book in 2014, and it ended up being the catalyst for me writing the ‘No-BS Guide to Off-Grid Solar’. The book is filled with useless fluff about things like solar fountains and lawnmowers.I used mine as a fire starter last year. Avoid this like the plague.

⭐I was looking for specific guidance on connection to my house. I was not interested in how to make a fountain work in my fish pond.

⭐finding it hard reading so much to read

⭐The good book… :)Good price, lots of good info (although its pitched at the American market most of the info is still relevant.)

⭐pleased with purchase

⭐very good introduction but a pity it didn’t include anything on cable types or sizes for off grid sysytems. Ive used it substantially for compiling an energy audit

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