Monday, June 18, 2012
The words renewable and sustainable are being knocked around quite a bit, and both are strongly associated with energy conservation. Renewable forms of energy constantly replenish themselves with little or no human effort. Solar energy is just one example — no matter how much you use, the supply will never end (okay, it may end after billions of years, but your using solar power won’t make the sun burn out any faster). Other examples of renewables include firewood, water (through hydroelectric dams), and wind power. Note, however, that firewood is notoriously polluting; the term renewable does not necessarily imply good environmentalism. Firewood also has another potentially severe drawback in that people go out into forests and cut down trees, often without much thought to the overall health of the forest (a good example of not seeing the forest from the trees).
In This Chapter
- Investing in solar energy
- Looking at the benefits of solar power
- Solving for challenges
Producing energy can be dirty work. Carbon emissions, coal slurry, nuclear waste, and other pollutants can wreak havoc on the environment, cause health problems, and make people hopping mad. And many energy sources are in limited supply. Not only does that drive prices up, but it also leads to political conflicts when people decide they’re not willing to share. You’re probably not ready to go completely unplugged, but you do want to play your humble part to save the environment, help the country become less dependent on outside energy sources, and save money. Tall order? Maybe not. Above all the energy sources in use today, solar shows the most long-term promise for solving the world’s energy problems.
In this part . . .
You may be ready to go solar, but first you need to take a look at how you use energy in your household and how your energy bill is measured and calculated. Solar investments can save you money and make your life more comfortable, but part of the process is understanding exactly what types of solar investments you should make — and how big they should be. Here, I show you how to systematically dissect your energy bills and how to look around your house to find all kinds of energy conservation measures to reduce your energy bill even before you invest in solar.
Read the following chapters
Chapter 1: Helping the World through Solar Power
Chapter 2: Surveying Your Household Energy Efficiency and Use
Chapter 3: Making Your Home Energy Efficient
Solar Power Your Home guide can help you turn your inspirations into reality without losing your shirt or your sanity. With this guide — and with some good, hard work and perseverance on your part — you can achieve the laudable goal of installing solar power equipment at your home.
About This Guide
This guide provides you with an ample solar knowledge base and lets you apply that info through do-it-yourself projects — or through hiring others to do the work for you. I use plain English to the extent possible, breaking complex technical concepts down into bite-sized pieces. But my goal is always to help you navigate the maze of solar technology as efficiently and sensibly as possible.
Every house is different. Climates are different, even in areas separated by a couple of miles. Markets are evolving, suppliers are changing, and technology is constantly evolving. Sometimes you’re going to have to make your own decisions, and I can give you only the pertinent information you need to make the best one. Or in some cases, all I can do is point you toward the information sources you need to consult. But you can find the essentials here, tailor them to your own situation, and get a solar system that really works for you.
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