Essentially, Solar Success is about using solar energy to reduce the fossil generated electricity that we use: to reduce one's carbon footprint. Throughout, it stresses the need to reduce what one uses unnecessarily before one thinks about generating more. This can be done by three associated and economically viable approaches:

• reduce energy usage by doing things differently

• reduce energy usage by using more energy-efficient appliances

• change the supply of energy to non-fossil fuel through appropriate technology.

The solar energy required is there; 7000 times more energy than the world currently uses is available. It makes every sense to use it and countries worldwide increasingly do.

Solar is also affordable. In California, Italy and Japan, solar power now challenges power generated through natural gas and nuclear energy. In Germany, home owners' solar generated surplus fed back into the grid network and all energy generated is paid at close to five times grid electricity's buying cost.

Australia's solar take up is high in rural areas that lack grid-connection. Sales of systems that draw from and feed back to the electricity grid (i.e. grid-connect) proved even more successful than expected as installation rebates and feed-in tariffs were initially very generous.In mid 2014 the Australian Federal government virtually ceased paying rebates on the curious basis that the scheme was attracting many more takers than had been expected. There is now however a growing move to go off-grid as electricity prices continue to rise (and feedback payment drop).

Knowing what is practicable and what is less practicable with solar enables readers to evaluate what is offered. And to have an often necessary and educated say in the decisions. For those who wish to design and implement systems themselves, Solar Success shows how to do it, and how to avoid the traps.

However you finance the system, and no matter where or how you live, follow the guidelines in Solar Success and you will have an economic system that will supply clean and reliable power for years to come.

Preface: Terminology

Chapter 1: Solar Reality - an overview

Chapter 2: Lighting

Chapter 3: Fridges & freezers

Chapter 4: Air conditioning

Chapter 5: Washing machines

Chapter 6: Clothes dryers

Chapter 7: Dishwashers

Chapter 8: Power tools

Chapter 9: Phantom loads

Chapter 10: TVs and computers

Chapter 11: Water

Chapter 12: Swimming pools

Chapter 13: Ponds

Chapter 14: Solar

Chapter 15: Solar modules - voltage & current

Chapter 16: Solar regulation

Chapter 17: Batteries

Chapter 18: Battery charging

Chapter 19: Energy monitoring

Chapter 20: Generators

Chapter 21: Alternative power - wind & hydro

Chapter 22: Alternative energy storage - fuel cells

Chapter 23: Inverters

Chapter 24: Energy auditing

Chapter 25: Scaling stand-alone systems

Chapter 26: Meters & measuring

Chapter 27: Installing - legal

Chapter 28: Installing the system

Chapter 29: Constructing a Stand-alone System

Chapter 30: Grid-connect

Chapter 31: Example systems

Chapter 32: Living with solar

Chapter 33: Our solar systems

Chapter 34: Technical Terms Explained