Solar Electricity Basics - Revised and Updated 2nd Edition: Powering Your Home or Office with Solar Energy

by Daniel D. Chiras

A guide to choosing and using solar electricity systems from “the man who launched a thousand rooftop solar arrays . . . the essential go-to manual” (John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, coauthors of ECOpreneuring ). As we look for safer, more economical, and more sustainable ways to meet our needs for electricity―and as more and more electric cars hit the road―solar has become an increasingly popular option. With Solar Electricity Basics , renewable energy expert Dan Chiras offers a concise and up-to-date guide covering all the essentials. It Solar Electricity Basics is an indispensable guide for homeowners, business owners, builders, and students for figuring out solar electricity quickly and easily.

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2019

About the author

Dan has spent much of the past 30 years studying sustainability and applying what he has learned in solar energy, natural building, and green building to his residences, and most of the last ten plus years sharing the practical knowledge he has gained through writing, lectures, slide shows, and workshops.
Dan Chiras paid his last electric bill in June of 1996. It is not that he has disavowed the use of electricity and modern conveniences, but rather that he has turned to the sun and wind to meet his family's needs.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the title sells itself short on the contents of this book! A must read if you are considering going to grid-connected or off-grid solar, or even if you're just curious about the topic.
I'm hoping there will be a third version that will delve into the newer battery technology and the latest all-in-one inverters. Highly recommended!

[Ethan Petuchowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty good overview. Unfortunately the photos were a bit blurry. Helps to piece together pieces of info about residential solar I’ve learned from YouTube. It’s a very introductory level book so it won’t make you an expert. In my opinion, it had way too many details about random stuff I don’t care about such as lead acid batteries. This book may just be passed its prime.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer! Enough detail to understand solar energy systems and how to choose one for yourself with none of the super technical stuff. This edition was updated in 2019, so it's fairly recent. The section on up and coming new solar technology was particularly interesting.

[Mathieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to be a complete guide to solar electric systems, covering concepts from the creation of solar cells to various installation systems to details about batteries. A good read to get the basic understanding of these systems, whether for a home or RV. Well presented, well written.