An essential how-to on powering your home with sun, wind, water, and more. For readers wanting to save money-and the planet-by using alternative energy, this book provides everything they need to know. The five basic sources are fully covered: sun, wind, water, earth, and bio. The benefits, what is needed, and whether it will work for a particular home are all carefully laid out in this comprehensive overview: ? Solar energy for home heating, water heating, and electricity ? Wind power, hydrogen, and micro hydro power ? Heat pumps-air, geothermal, and water source ? Heating with wood and going bio

Solar power (photovoltaics) is now a $1 billion 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. Twenty-six states now offer tax and utility credits to solar energy users, and the market for solar power products and services is expected to increase 25 to 40 percent each year over the next 20 years. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Solar Power for Your Home, Second Edition, 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.

All the power you need is already there This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on– and off–grid systems. • Solar power is a $3 billion industry, and it's poised to grow to $39 billion by 2014 • By 2011, the United States will surpass Germany as the largest market for solar power products

All the power you need is already there. This third edition helps readers understand the basics of solar (photovoltaic) power and explore whether it makes sense for them, what their options are, and what's involved with installing various on- and off-grid systems. Solar power is a $3 billion industry, and it's poised to grow to $39 billion by 2014. By 2011, the United States will surpass Germany as the largest market for solar power products.

The environmental movement and rising awareness of global warming have sparked an interest in green living. People want to know what they can do to live sustainable lives. In this book, you will find an overview of global warming and environmental degradation of air, water, soil; what sustainable living is and how to do it; how to cut down on carbon output (the cause of global warming) with alternative cars and fuels; and environmentally friendly home and lawn care products.

Presents information on how to improve a home's energy efficiency and switch to renewable energy resourses to provide electricity, hot water, heat, and cooling for a home.

Energy drives all life and is a key component to how humanity works, lives, and sustains itself. Due to the depletion of existing energy sources and the damage being done to the earth's ecosystems, renewable, non-polluting energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, are being developed and implemented.

In-depth critical essays on important men and women inventors of all time, from around the world. Features 409 essays covering 413 individual inventors (including twenty seven women).