i liked this book. i learned some things from it. this book was worth the money (i think).

I was thinking about making the move to solar so I decided to purchase this book and do some online research. This book does a great job explaining how solar works and what you can expect with respect to wattage from a solar array based on the size of the array, where you live, time of year, etc. It explains the different types of solar installations and helps you decide which one is best for you. It also shows how to pursue local, state and federal tax incentives to help offset the costs of purchase and installation.

Well written, a good first-step book on home solar power. Recommended for those who are curious. The real work will begin later.

To be fair, I have not read this book. Why 5 stars? The book is a for-profit venture by the author, so recovery of time, effort, & energy is important for revenue reasons. So why write this review? After spending nearly 12-18 hours perusing AMAZON's book list on solar energy and photovoltaic systems, I was frustrated! None of the reviews on any single book seemed to be convincing enough to make me want to buy. For instance, none of the reviews mention how the books address the National Electric Code, specific wiring and disconnect installation information, electrical and other safety hazards, inspection issues, etc. For a DIY'er, these books seemed a waste of time, never mind the fact that some reviewers insisted they actually DIY'ed just from the book. It then occurred to me that dozens of resources that I had used over the past 10 years - with the exception of 2007 due to extenuating circumstances - many resources are available for free from our fantastic .GOV, .ORG, and .EDU sites like Sandia Nat'l Labs, NREL, NMSU, and CA.GOV. Folks, before you start buying books on PV left & right, be smart and leverage what your fine tax dollars paid for! I have to admit - I believe it's just stupid searching for good PV technical, installation, and detailed literature on a For-Profit Bookstore when so much is already available online for Free. Folks, use your head - our government and academic labs pioneered this from federal tax dollars. Hence, much of it is public domain! (REPLACE all "?" with "." in the following website links.) nabcep?org nmsu?edu/~tdi/index?html photovoltaics?sandia?gov and energy?ca?gov - just to name a few! Of course, if you're just not Internet savvy, not an engineer/analytical A-type personality, and highly resourceful, plus you'd rather prefer to kill trees buying a book instead of leveraging online resources that are 100 times more than what's on AMAZON, and most likely don't have the wherewithal to DIY, go ahead. It will be amazing to see how many are simply duped by the thousands of new "get rich quick" companies and businessmen entering the renewable energy markets.

There's a lot of books on solar out there since we're finally starting to catch a clue that this world is running out of non-renewable, polluting, energy resources in a ever increasing energy hungry planet & people. It's been shining and keeping the planet alive for 4.5 billion years, puts out tons of energy everyday, doesn't go on vacation, or take breaks, should keep shining for as long as already has and it's energy is absolutely free! We just have to be smart enough to know how to capture and store all this free energy. That's where this book becomes a valuable tool. One of the highlights of this book is the experience of the authors. Doug Pratt is one of the founding fathers of Real Goods, known as Gaiam now. Real Goods has to be one of the worlds leading retailers of natural, renewable, & Earth-friendly products. They're one of the first places to consolidate & sell solar panels to the public back in the early 80's. Both Doug & Rex Ewing have lived on & off-the-grid in passive solar houses for years. Together they have more than 30 years experience in this field. This book is a great starting place if you have been interested in solar & wind power, yet it's a great reference book for the experienced too. Very easy to read, lots of great photos & diagrams. This book also has a very extensive appendix with tons of resources and references for further exploration. I'm glad I bought this book. I've studied lots of books on solar and wind power, but this one is one of my favorites, due to it's ease of use, knowledgeable authors, great layout, excellent references & resources. The costs of these systems are not cheap initially, and you want to make sure you do the right things right, and install the system that meets your needs. This book even tells you how to recoup rebates, shop for the best prices on solar panels and apply for tax credits(important for most folks, unless you are filthy rich and throw money away) If you're thinking of going solar or wind powered, this is a must have, and you don't have to wear sunblock. (unless your installing your system) ;-}

There's a lot of books on solar out there since we're finally starting to catch a clue that this world is running out of non-renewable, polluting, energy resources in a ever increasing energy hungry planet & people. It's been shining and keeping the planet alive for 4.5 billion years, puts out tons of energy everyday, doesn't go on vacation, or take breaks, should keep shining for as long as already has and it's energy is absolutely free! We just have to be smart enough to know how to capture and store all this free energy. That's where this book becomes a valuable tool. One of the highlights of this book is the experience of the authors. Doug Pratt is one of the founding fathers of Real Goods, known as Gaiam now. Real Goods has to be one of the worlds leading retailers of natural, renewable, & Earth-friendly products. They're one of the first places to consolidate & sell solar panels to the public back in the early 80's. Both Doug & Rex Ewing have lived on & off-the-grid in passive solar houses for years. Together they have more than 30 years experience in this field. This book is a great starting place if you have been interested in solar & wind power, yet it's a great reference book for the experienced too. Very easy to read, lots of great photos & diagrams. This book also has a very extensive appendix with tons of resources and references for further exploration. I'm glad I bought this book. I've studied lots of books on solar and wind power, but this one is one of my favorites, due to it's ease of use, knowledgeable authors, great layout, excellent references & resources. The costs of these systems are not cheap initially, and you want to make sure you do the right things right, and install the system that meets your needs. This book even tells you how to recoup rebates, shop for the best prices on solar panels and apply for tax credits(important for most folks, unless you are filthy rich and throw money away) If you're thinking of going solar or wind powered, this is a must have, and you don't have to wear sunblock. (unless your installing your system) ;-}

its meant to be the first book you would read if you are considering solar power for your home or just learning more about solar energy. and thats exactly what it is, very basic, no jargon, down to earth.

This book gives a very good basic overview of the technology available and how it works. My only complaint is that it seems geared towards cooler climates. There is absolutely no information in the book about really hot climates, e.g., how does extreme heat affect PV efficiency? Not everyone lives in upstate New York or Northern California.

I've read many books on solar energy and always ended up skimming over the technical explanations because they were so complex. This book explains the basics in a clear, entertaining, and understandable way. It also is up to date, providing guidance on the different technologies available now.

After cruising the web for Solar info, I decided on this as my first solar personal library resource, and am happy I did. After a full career in computer systems hungry for power, I had little background knowledge of electricity, current, even some helpful history. This book has provided me with just the right amount of background on (residential) electricity for me to learn about PV systems, what they can provide, and where to start.

This book is well written and an easy and fast read, informative without being overly or self-rightously technical, gives web and other sources to follow, and adds some humor and anecdotes to keep your interest high.

I like doing my own projects, intending to follow up with more technical design and installation books and web resources, and an online tutorial, culminating with my mostly-self designed rural grid-tie PV solar system.
I found this book to be a great motivator toward that goal.

This book read quite nicely. The book's theme could be classified as a advanced introduction. I read this book before I purchased components for my rooftop PV system. The book was not a How-To, but served as a catalyst for inspiration and further study. The appendix was very detailed. Could I have read most if not all information on the web? Yes, but I would have had to filter through allot of sales hype. After the read,I was better educated and asked quality questions to the vendors who made my PV project come to fruition. I would recommend this title to anyone planning a solar project.

Book is a very good introduction to the subject. It's well organized.

A very good technical discussion in lay language of the solar and wind systems.

Very informative and fun to read. I think I will read it again when my PV instalation is complete.

This book is an easy read and very informative about solar photovoltaics. And the price is right. It's written in layman's English so you won't get tangled up in highly technical jargon. There is also a chapter about small scale windpower. This book will tell you that 95% of solar PV installations are grid-tied and why. Yet it also discusses battery backup systems as well.
There are easy to follow diagrams for both grid-tied and battery backup systems. Of course some of the information has changed due to newer solar panels, inverters, etc. If you are considering a PV system on your home or just want information on PV systems, I would heartily recommend this book.

I am an avid do-it-yourselfer and I was hoping to find information on selecting, purchasing, and installing pv panels. This book is interesting reading but one needs to do a lot more reading and research elsewhere.

If you want a non-techie overview of your options and typical costs for a solar power generating station, this is a great place to start. I suspect you may want some more in depth material if you do actually go ahead with the project, but I would suggest any research on the topic start with this book.

Prior to reading this book, I was not very knowledgeable at all regarding solar power for a home. This book was written so that I (a novice) could pick it up and learn the basics to build a solar powered, grid tied system on a home. Great book for a beginner to intermediate.

Good book if you just want to learn about solar without all the techinical stuff.

Another fine book from Author Rex Ewing. This book has lots of information to aid those seeking alternative energy. The only problem found was some occasional typos (Grammer) but if you look past that there is much to gain.

Very complete and practical introduction to solar power. Even covers wind. Concise and authoritative. Interesting to read as well. Ample reference materials and internet resources included.