Product Description

Want 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 takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you!

This friendly, hands–on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy–efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. You’ll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You’ll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you’ve decided on a project, you’ll see whether it’s best to hire a contractor or do it yourself. We leave no stone unturned—you’ll also discover how to:

• Choose and install your best solar system
• Handle small to large solar projects
• Heat and cool your house with solar energy
• Install exterior solar lighting
• Handle swimming pool, water heater, or ventilation solar projects
• Create greenhouses or solar rooms
• Build, buy, or sell a solar home
• Finance your solar investments
• Take advantage of tax rebates and incentives associated with solar power
• Avoid the worst solar mistakes

Featuring ten of the easiest and cheapest do–it–yourself solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68595 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Back Cover
Features the ten best solar investments

Make your home energy efficient and put solar power to work for you!

Want to take advantage of solar power? This friendly, hands–on guide takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to do everything from adding small components to your home to building a solar–powered house from the ground up. You′ll see how to heat and cool your home, create solar rooms, install solar lighting, and much more.

Discover how to:

• Choose the best solar system for your needs

• Handle small to large solar projects

• Build, buy, or sell a solar home

• Finance your solar investments

• Avoid the worst solar mistakes

About the Author
Rik DeGunther is the founder of Efficient Homes, an energy consultant firm that focuses on home energy audits and the design of efficient heating and cooling systems.

Customer Reviews

Not very practical
This book was bought with the aim of using it as practical guide to purchase and installation of simple solar PV and water heating. Frankly the book is of little practical use, and for anyone with even basic knowledge, the level of information presented is very limited. There is not so much as a circuit diagram in anything but the most basic form.
Disappointing.

Average. ok. mediocre. middling!
American publication and aimed at the American market. Wow, they use a lot of electricity so that puts some of the [rough] calculations in a different league to what I use at home and therefore much of it pretty irrelevant.

Ok as an introduction to the topic but nothing more. One or two good ideas and some things to get you thinking in "solar" terms.

Solar for Dummies
A great book, with lots of sensible guidance.

Why can't I have the same content with British references? Planning permission, regulations, suppliers and even voltages are all different in the UK.