Sun Through the Roof
Sun Through the Roof

Author: Suneel Deambi

Publisher: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Published:

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 817993683X

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Sun Through the Roof introduces its readers to grid-connected rooftop solar systems for the residential sector. Against the backdrop of rising tariffs coupled with fluctuating voltage and continuing shortage of electricity – and the noise and fumes from diesel-powered generators to make up for such poor-quality supply – the book hopes to convince its readers of the many benefits of generating electricity through rooftop solar systems while, at the same time, making readers aware of some of the drawbacks of those systems. In keeping with the objectives of the ‘Concerned Citizen’ series, Sun Through the Roof seeks to answer many of the frequently asked questions about rooftop solar systems and also to provide essential information and insights to those who are considering that option not only to reduce their electricity bills but also to do their bit for the environment and sustainable development. Here are the kind of questions answered in the book: • Will I have continuous supply if I install a rooftop solar system? • What should be the right-capacity (kilowatts) system for me? • Do I get any subsidy from the government (state or central)? • How much will I earn by selling surplus electricity? • What is the difference between net metering and gross metering? Contents: Foreword / Electricity: capacity and consumption / Cleaner sources of energy / Two forms of solar energy: light and heat / Electricity from sunlight: use-as-you-go or store and use later? / Electricity for consumption or for saving money? / How does a solar cell work? / The technology of a solar cell / Producing a silicon wafer / Solar modules and arrays / A complete and functional system to tap solar energy / Technical aspects / Modules: performance and cost / Choosing the right inverter / Support structures / Solar trees / Balance of system / Monitoring and maintenance / Testing and quality assurance / Financial aspects / Progress of rooftop solar energy in India / A guided tour of a solar rooftop system / Summary of tasks / Site-specific survey / Installing a solar rooftop system: Q & A / Business models for solar rooftop systems / Net versus gross metering: current (2021) regulations / Solar electricity for housing societies / Other possible citizen-centric uses of solar electricity / Solar energy for the countryside / The game-changing National Solar Mission / Conclusions / Bibliography Audience: Adults who are concerned about topical issues but lack the understanding to make sense of what they read or watch in the mass media Shelving: Environmental Science: Renewable Energy

Rooftop Revolution
Rooftop Revolution

Author: Danny Kennedy

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Published: 2012-09-03

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 1609946669

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Here is the truth that the powerful Dirty Energy public relations machine doesn't want you to know: the ascent of solar energy is upon us. Solar-generated electricity has risen exponentially in the last few years and employment in the solar industry has doubled since 2009. Meanwhile, electricity from coal has declined to pre-World War II levels as the fossil fuel industry continues to shed jobs. Danny Kennedy systematically refutes the lies spread by solar's opponents—that it is expensive, inefficient, and unreliable; that it is kept alive only by subsidies; that it can't be scaled; and many other untruths. He shows that we need a rooftop revolution to break the entrenched power of the coal, oil, nuclear, and gas industries Solar energy can create more jobs, return our nation to prosperity, and ensure the sustainability and safety of our planet. Now is the time to move away from the dangerous energy sources of the past and unleash the amazing potential of the sun.

Building Green
Building Green

Author: Clarke Snell

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 620

ISBN-13: 9781600595349

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Text and illustrations take you through the construction of a small building that incorporates a wide spectrum of alternative techniques and materials.

Innovative Approach for the Development of Sustainable Settlements in East Africa
Innovative Approach for the Development of Sustainable Settlements in East Africa

Author: Oscar Eugenio Bellini

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-11-19

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 3031002849

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This book deals with sustainable affordable housing in developing countries, providing the main results of the BECOMe research project of the Politecnico di Milano. Sustainable, affordable housing in developing countries is increasingly important for African and international stakeholders, with massive urbanization processes involving many countries consuming large territories and natural resources minus any strategy of sustainability and social equality and without consideration of the long-term effects on the environment and subsequent generations. While the issue of affordable housing requires approaches adapted to the many specific African contexts, the case of Somalia seems representative of a fragile context characterized by the uncertainty of the social, political, and economic situations and the lack of common shared legislative references and strategies. The book aims to provide knowledge and propose a methodological framework developed from this particular situation that can serve as a template. On the basis of this main objective, the book deals with approaches and problems related to the creation of sustainable housing ecosystems, activating and boosting local enterprises and stimulating foreign investors to revamp the national AEC sector and related manufacturing industries, models for modular settlements, and business models and assessment methodologies useful for evaluating a set of appropriate technological solutions. Chapters 03 and 07 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Off the Grid
Off the Grid

Author: Lori Ryker

Publisher: Gibbs Smith

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 9781586855161

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Off the Grid confronts the ecological and cultural problems associated with the way we get and use energy, and explains how it is possible to live in a beautifully designed home using much less--no matter where your home is located. Our homes are connected by a nearly invisible grid of infrastructure that binds us together. It is a system of electrical poles, wire, substations, hydroelectric dams, telecommunication towers, and water extraction and sewage systems. From within this system we work, play, and raise families. We have also created one of the greatest environmental challenges known to modern civilization. The signs of our impact upon the world can be recognized in the reports of environmental changes occurring across the earth, and they can also be seen in the growing failures of the energy grids across the world as the current system is stressed beyond its capacity. Technologies that can be used to live off the grid (geothermal energy use, wind turbines, photovoltaic arrays, micro hydropower, rainwater collection and reclamation, and more) are explained as author Lori Ryker shows how to choose and incorporate these sources according to geography and climate. Off the Grid beautifully illustrates that this is not just a concept for rural living; examples of homes that are -off the grid- to varying degrees are found in New York City; Ontario, Canada; Stuttgart, Germany; Belmont, California; Pipe Creek, Texas; Clyde Park, Montana; Twin Lakes, Minnesota; Laytonville, California; Venice, California; and New South Wales, Australia. Off the Grid shows how we can take responsibility for our future choices and conveniences now, and proves that off-the-grid living is a concept that can be easily understood and adopted by everyone, regardless of where you live or how much money you make. Lori Ryker grew up in Texas and has lived and worked in a variety of locations, including Boston, New York City, Portland, and Basel, Switzerland. She now resides in Livingston, Montana, where she teaches in the School of Architecture at Montana State University and is a partner, along with Brett W. Nave, of Ryker/Nave Design. Their work has been published in The House You Build, and Western Interiors and Design. Ryker holds a MArch from Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Ph.D. from Texas A & M University. She is the author of Mockbee Coker: Thought and Process.

BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design
BIM in Small-Scale Sustainable Design

Author: François Lévy

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-12-13

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 0470590890

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"Any architect doing small or medium scaled projects who is also vested in sustainable design but is not yet doing BIM will enjoy this book's overall focus."-Architosh.com This work is the leading guide to architectural design within a building information modeling (BIM) workflow, giving the practitioner a clear procedure when designing climate-load dominated buildings. The book incorporates new information related to BIM, integrated practice, and sustainable design, as well information on how designers can incorporate the latest technological tools. Each chapter addresses specific topics, such as natural ventilation for cooling, passive solar heating, rainwater harvesting and building hydrology, optimizing material use and reducing construction waste, and collaborating with consultants or other building professionals such as engineers and energy modelers.