Got Sun? Go Solar, Expanded 2nd Edition: Harness Nature's Free Energy to Heat and Power Your Grid-Tied Home - Softcover

Rex A. Ewing; Doug Pratt

3.7

61 ratings by Goodreads

9780977372461: Got Sun? Go Solar, Expanded 2nd Edition: Harness Nature's Free Energy to Heat and Power Your Grid-Tied Home

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0977372464 ISBN 13: 9780977372461

Publisher: PixyJack Press, 2009

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This straight-talking book cuts through the green energy hype and explains how grid-connected homeowners can be smart about their energy future. Solar and wind-generated electricity, solar water heating, passive solar techniques and geothermal heating/cooling will enable homeowners to become self-sufficient while protecting themselves from rising utility rates and grid blackouts. With financial incentives now available, the time is perfect to utilize nature's free energy.

Table of Contents
- Why Invest in Renewable Energy
- Is It Legal and Safe
- How Solar Electricity Works
- Grid-tied Solar and Wind System Options, with and without batteries
- Sizing Your Solar / Wind System
- What Does It Cost
- Any Financial Help Out There
- Permits & Paperwork
- Nuts & Bolts: What to Look For, What to Avoid
- Who Does the Solar/Wind Installation
- Using the Sun's Warmth to Heat Your Home (NEW)
- Solar Water Heating Systems (NEW)
- Geothermal Heating & Cooling (NEW)
- Extensive Appendix includes manufacturers, associations, reference web sites, state energy offices, worksheets, glossary and more

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About the Author:

Rex A. Ewing has lived off-grid with solar and wind energy since 1999. His energy books also include Power With Nature, HYDROGEN Hot Stuff Cool Science, and Crafting Log Homes Solar Style. Before moving to the mountains to concentrate on his writing, Rex raised Thoroughbred horses and ran an equine nutrition firm where he formulated and marketed a variety of products worldwide. In 1997 he penned a popular book on horse nutrition, Beyond the Hay Days. His articles on renewable energy and equine nutrition have appeared in numerous publications since the early 1990s.

Since the mid-1980s, Doug Pratt has been in the forefront on the renewable energy industry as consultant, technician, teacher and writer. He has worked with a wide range of industry manufacturers, beta-testing new equipment and bringing it to market. For 15 years Doug was the technical editor for the industry-leading Real Goods Solar Living, while designing and consulting on thousands of residential and commercial renewable energy systems. Pratt has lived in passive solar homes, on and off-grid since 1980.

Review:

A book that's on topic, to the point, and well-written! Without burdening the reader with off-on-a-tangent distractions or too little information, Rex and Doug have done an excellent job in addressing the more important bits of knowledge and information sought after by those wanting to get involved with solar energy. A true value of the book is found in the Appendices: there is a great amount of information to a large number of related, from lists of component manufacturers, to state agencies, U.S. maps of solar insolation, lists of organizations and associations, and others. --Richard Carter, GreenEnergyCafe.com

Are you connected to the grid but seeking independence from high energy bills? Looking to harness solar and wind power? Plenty of other books have surveyed the benefits of renewable energy or systems; but this is one of the few to add simplicity into the formula to make it possible for novices to convert. Chapters tell how to power an existing grid-tied home with renewable sources and how to make the conversion at minimum expense. From understanding a home's big energy wasters and how to contemplate either doing without or doing with less to sizing a system, obtaining permits for installations, and considering the pros and cons of manufacturers, Got Sun? Go Solar is a winning guide: specific where others just generalize. --Diane Donovan, California Bookwatch

Got Sun? Go Solar offers a clear and practical introduction for non-technical folks wanting to adopt solar electricity. And renewable energy dealers and installers will find it to be an excellent tool for helping their potential customers sort through all the options. --Chris Phipps, DC Power Systems, Inc.

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