Softcover, 159pp
by Rex A. Ewing and Doug Pratt
Are you connected to the grid, but want to reduce or even eliminate your electric bills with free energy from the sun and wind? From the sun-soaked Southwest to windy North Dakota to the hurricane-prone Southeast, homeowners are discovering renewable energy. Now with rebates and incentives from most states, installing a solar/wind system is an economically-attractive and environmentally-responsible option. Do it for your checkbook, or for independence from blackouts. Or do it just because you want to help the environment. You'll be glad you did.
- Why invest in renewable energy for your home?
- Is it legal and safe?
- How solar electricity works
- Batteries or not?
- Sizing your system
- Got Wind?
- What does it cost?
- Any financial help out there?
- Permits & Paperwork
- The Nuts & Bolts: what to look for, what to avoid
- Who does the installation?
- Appendix: manufacturers, web resources, state energy offices, sizing worksheets, glossary, and more
Illustrations include photos, drawings, figures and tables
About the Authors
Rex Ewing has lived blissfully off-grid with solar and wind energy since 1999 when he left the dusty plains of Colorado and headed for the Rockies to build his wife, LaVonne, a long-promised log home. When he's not writing books or magazine articles about renewable energy-or his first love, horses-he and LaVonne are probably trekking through the back country, canoeing, or enjoying the 50-mile view from their deck. Before moving to the mountains to concentrate on his writing, Ewing raised grass hay and high-strung Thoroughbred race horses in the Platte River valley. Whenever his employees were clever enough to corral him behind a desk, he served as CEO of a well-respected equine nutrition firm, where he formulated and marketed a successful line of equine supplements worldwide.
Doug Pratt grew up in a wonderful rural community of Frank Lloyd Wright homes, but after 23 Michigan winters, he figured it wasn't going to get any better and ran off to northern California to be a good hippie and enjoy milder winters. Within a year the Arab Oil Embargo hit, which ignited a lifelong interest in renewable energy and energy conservation. Doug has lived in passive solar homes, on and off-grid since 1980, and worked in the RE industry as a technician, consultant, teacher, and writer since 1985 (former technical editor of the Solar Living Sourcebook). His house has been solar grid-tied since 2000 and his Toyota Prius was the first one sold into Mendocino County. And because the scenery is so beautiful, the roads so swoopy, and the climate so friendly in northern coastal California, his favorite recreation is two-up day trips on his BMW motorcycle.
What Others Say
"Got Sun gets it right. Clear and concise, all the information needed by anyone who wants solar or wind energy, which should be everyone!"
— Jeff Wolfe, CEO - Global Resource Options, Vermont
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
"Great reading and a valuable resource for anyone considering a solar or wind system for their home or business. Not only will the reader get the good news, but a healthy dose of reality is served up by two guys who know what they're talking about."
— Tom Bishop, President - Sunelco, Inc., Montana
"A must-read for anyone interested in learning about the benefits of renewables."
— Marc Cortez, Director of Marketing - Sharp USA
Click here for order form >> | Return to Previous Page >> |
