Power from the Sun: A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity

From the author of The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy, an easy guide to solar electricity--everything you need to power your home or small business.

Written for the individual or business layman, this is the fully revised and updated guide for generating solar electricity. Practical and accessible, it provides a basic understanding of electricity, wiring, and solar energy. The book guides the reader through assessing your solar electricity site and determining the type of solar system needed for to generate solar electricity, providing you with a solid understanding of grid-tied and off-grid systems, along with important guidelines on installation.

Power from the Sun, 2nd Edition, discusses types of photovoltaic and photovoltaic solar energy systems, and includes comprehensive information on recent changes and improvements in PV modules, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, generators, and net metering policies. It offers an excellent overview of the many options available as a guide for generating solar electricity, allowing you to make the best choices for your individual situation during the design, installation, and operation of a solar energy system. This is the definitive layman’s guide for homeowners, business owners, installers, architects, and just about anyone interested in generating solar electricity to lower energy bills and achieve greater independence through solar energy.

＂Dan Chiras is as reliable as a Swiss watch--once again he’s created a text that’s as accessible as it is informative.＂--Ann Edminster, author of Energy Free: Homes for a Small Planet

＂Chiras makes it as easy as possible for you to affect your own transition away from fossil fuel dependence.＂--Bruce King, PE Director, Ecological Building Network, and author of The New Carbon Architecture

Dan Chiras is Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Green building through which he teaches workshops solar electricity, wind energy, passive solar design, natural building, and green building. He is also president of Sustainable Systems Design, Inc., a company that installs residential solar electric and wind energy systems and consults on passive solar design, residential renewable energy, and green building throughout North America. Dan is the author of 32 previous books, including The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy and Power from the Wind.