books on Solar Energy

Basics of Energy Efficient Living: A Beginners Guide to Home Energy and Home Energy Savings by Loonie Wibberding.

Whether you're building a new house or have an existing one, "Basics of Energy Efficient Living" shares the principles behind energy efficient living. Have you ever wondered: What is R-value? How much energy could I get from my creek? Can I use alternative energy in the city? How much heat will it take to keep my house warm? How much heat will I lose if I put in a bigger window? Learn what it takes to save energy, then take the next step and collect your own. Find out how much energy you can get from water, sun, wind, and wood. Discover how much energy you need by making an energy budget specific for your house. Learn energy principles as you design a house step-by-step

Solar Power (photovoltaics) is now a one-billion-dollar industry, and it’s poised to grow rapidly in the near future as more pressure is placed on limited fossil fuel resources and as advances in solar technology drive down the costs of residential solar systems. This book helps readers understand the basics of solar power and other renewable energy sources, explore whether solar power makes sense for them, what their options are, and what’s involved with installing various on and off-grid systems. Fully illustrated, it covers every conceivable solar-power topic and concern, including updated information on the increasing number of state rebate and incentive programs

The new book from the internationally renowned author of The Solar Economy and A Solar Manifesto, and named one of Time Magazine’s "Heroes of the Green Century." For 200 years industrial civilization has relied on the combustion of abundant and cheap carbon fuels. But continued reliance has lead to perilous consequences. On the one hand, the insecurity of relying on the world’s most unstable region--the Middle East--compounded by the imminence of Peak Oil, growing scarcity, and mounting prices. Yet there is an answer: to make the transition to renewable sources of energy and to distributed, decentralized energy generation. It is a model that has been proven, technologically, commercially and politically, as Scheer comprehensively demonstrates.

A good introductory book on solar energy, it also includes a section on using solar in combination with wind turbines. The appendix in this book is particularly useful. It contains some practical worksheets for estimating the size of the solar array you would need, as well as some helpful graphs, charts and maps.

As the price of gas, oil and electricity rises, homeowners will scramble to cut their fuel bills. Two options for meeting the upcoming challenge are dramatic improvements in home energy efficiency and efforts to tap into clean, affordable, renewable energy resources to heat and cool homes, to provide hot water and electricity, and even to cook. These measures can result in huge savings and a level of energy independence. The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy tells you how. It starts by outlining the likely impacts of fossil fuel shortages and some basic facts about energy. It then discusses energy conservation to slash energy bills and prepare for renewable energy options. Focusing carefully on specific strategies needed to replace specific fuels, the book then examines each practical energy option available to homeowners including solar energy.

Designing, installing and maintaining such systems requires knowledge and training, but there have been few easily accessible, comprehensive guides to the subject. Now, with Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual, a world-class solar energy training and education provider-Solar Energy International (SEI)-has made available the critical information to successfully design, install and maintain PV systems. The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. It also includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems, as well as detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting and solar insulation data for over 300 sites around the world.

Solar Energy: Complete Guide to Solar Power and Photovoltaics (2 CD ROM Set)

This up-to-date and comprehensive electronic book on two CD-ROMs presents an incredible and totally revised collection of important documents and publications about solar energy, solar heating and lighting, solar concentrating technology, and photovoltaic (PV) solar power cells. Encyclopedic coverage of every practical aspect of solar power, heating, electricity, and research is thoroughly covered in this incredible collection!

In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues - on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models - that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the cheapest choice for cost electricity and energy applications.  Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur. 

Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling by Daniel D. Chiras

Passive solar heating and passive cooling can provide comfort throughout and reduce or eliminate the need for fossil fuel.  Readers will learn the principles of passive solar design and how to implement them; how to select a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly backup heating system; how to preserve indoor air quality in an airtight, energy-efficient home; and how to employ green building materials in a naturally conditioned home.

Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook by John Schaeffler

Do you want to harvest sunlight, wind, or falling water to power your home? Or sell that renewable energy back to your utility company? Are you looking to build your dream eco-home? This fully updated classic of sustainable living technology from Real Goods, the nation's largest solar retailer, tells how and gives you access to the world's most extensive selection of hardware to make it all happen.

Solar Power Your Home for Dummies by Rik DeGunther.

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 Your Home 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.

Heating water with the sun is almost as old as humankind itself, and it is done all over the world. Yet there are strangely few resources on the topic in North America. Solar Water Heating fills this gap. It reviews the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, then presents the basics of solar water heating, including an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation and energy economics. Drawing on the author's experience as an installer of these systems, the book goes on to cover types of solar collectors, solar water and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages.