Book excerpt: Now more than ever, the question of economic and environmentally friendly energy sources has become a hot topic in almost every American home. With that in mind, more and more people are turning to alternatives such as solar power as a means of saving money and reducing their imprint on the environment. This nearly carbon neutral method comes with hefty tax rebates from the federal government and in states like California and New Jersey massive rebates from the state. More states are considering similar rebates and with a 3 to 8 year energy savings possible according to a recent report by the New York Times, it is an ideal solution for anyone looking to save money in the long term and help the planet immediately. This book will guide anyone interested in the process of installing and utilizing solar power for their home in the process of searching for, buying, or building their own solar power system. Learn how solar power and other alternative energy sources can help to save the world regardless of the cost and how you can start surveying your own energy use and efficiency. Learn how you can start making basic adjustments to become more efficient and how solar power can help you before you start any major projects. Learn what solar power requires, from cost and equipment to maintenance and preparation in certain times of the year. Learn how solar power works and how to start evaluating the potential of it for your building needs. Take the cost of installing solar power and learn how long it will take to make money back on your investment, including information on federal and state rebates that might affect you. Multiple individuals who have successfully installed solar power in their homes have been interviewed and their experiences included in this guide to help you learn what others go through and how they came out. Learn how the installation process works and how it can be done in your landscape, in small projects, for heating and purifying water, swimming pool heating, and other smaller projects. Learn about how individuals construct solar power systems on their own to save money and what is involved in a full PV system. Finally, learn how the market for green homes has made it possible to extract a huge return on investment from building or remodeling a home with solar power. For anyone who has ever considered solar power as a viable means to save money and the environment, this guide will help you get started right away.br> Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company presidentâe(tm)s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.