Here are the distilled links of many hours of searching the net about alternative energy, NOT including biogas which is posted as its own topic.
The essential publication/website for all aspects of off-grid power (This resource is indispensable unless you're just hooking up to the grid):
http://www.homepower.com/home/Nice intro to photovoltaics, also with sections on hydro and other tech:
http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_solar.htmlHomemade solar tracker for PV panels:
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/04/hydrasolar_solar_tracker.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890Homemade solar air heater from empty beer cans:
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/04/how_to_almost_free_garage.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890Solar thermal water heater for under $5 (optimistic, but that's the title):
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Thermal-Water-Heater-For-Less-Than-Five-Doll/Homemade photovoltaic panels from old broken cells:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-MAKE-PV-Solar-Panels/Fresnel lens solar concentrator (generates electricity from steam via the Sun):
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Charles_Shults%27_Fresnel_Solar_DesignMore than you thought it was possible to know about solar cooking:
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/The_Solar_Cooking_Archive_WikiPico-Hydro (really small hydro generator; charges cellphone batteries):
http://www.aidg.org/component/option,com_jd-wp/Itemid,34/p,1136/The following links were part of the information I received while getting my solar (PV and thermal) training and will tell anyone anything they need to know (or where to find it):
Other Useful Products and Web Sites of Interest
1. FSEC Solar Hot Water Web Site for Consumers
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_water/index.htmProvides general information on solar water hating and the types of systems used in Florida. This site also includes dhw and pool sizing procedures.
2. FSEC Testing & Certification Web Site
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/industry/testing/index.htmDetails the various standards for solar collectors and systems and also provides listings of collectors and systems that have been certified.
3. Solar Rating and Certification Corporation Solar Water Heating System Design and Installation Guidelines
http://www.solar-rating.org/education/og300education.htmThis site provides a listing of the SRCC program design and installation guidelines for solar water heating systems.
These guidelines are presented as a tool to be used by solar installers and any other interested parties in assuring that systems are installed in a manner that meet SRCC requirements.
Many of these criteria are used in evaluating systems that have applied for SRCC system certification. Other guidelines can only be evaluated once a solar system has been installed. Therefore, the information provided in this site is suitable for both those installing and designing solar water heating systems.
The information provided will also be useful to building and code officials as well as utilities and state and local agencies implementing solar programs that require the SRCC certification and rating program. The information will be especially helpful for those local agencies wanting to conduct installation inspections.
The guidelines have been separated into subsystem categories. These categories represent the major subsystems of a solar water heating system. These are:
Collector
Transport
Control
Storage
Within each subsystem, the guidelines have been ranked by order of importance as they relate to the installation process.
Readers are able to select the major subsystems, as listed above, and then proceed to the specific guidelines within the selected subsystem. Once at a specific subsystem guideline, users can either proceed to the next ranked guideline in that subsystem, or return to the major subsystem site listing.
4. Training Video for Inspection of Solar Water Heating Systems
http://www.solar-rating.org/education/video/srcc_video.htmlThis training video is a tutorial on how the International Codes apply to solar domestic water heating systems.
The video will walk you through a site inspection, whether rough-in or final, of solar water heating systems and point out issues to watch out for, with relevant citations from the Code. For purposes of this tutorial, the term ‘Code’ refers to the relevant ICC Code document. Chapter 14 of the IMC governs the design, construction, installation, alteration and repair of systems, equipment, and appliances intended to utilize solar energy for space heating or cooling, domestic hot water heating, swimming pool heating or process heating. Other portions of Code are referenced as appropriate.
6. SRCC and FSEC Commercial Solar Water Heating System Guidelines and Recommendations
http://www.solar-rating.org/commercial/guidelines.htmThe ASHRAE and FSEC solar system guideline documents listed at this site are the most comprehensive commercial solar system guidelines available. The documents deal with both water and space heating.
Active Solar Heating System Design Manual
This manual is intended to be used in designing commercial and industrial solar energy systems for service water heating. The manual consists of five sections. Numerous forms and checklists are provided which can be used in the actual design development process.
Active Solar Heating Systems Installation Manual
This manual provides guidelines on the installation of large commercial and industrial solar energy systems for water heating. The installation practices discussed include pre-construction, construction, system checkout, and startup recommendations. Numerous forms and checklists are provided.
Guide for Preparing Active Solar Heating Systems Operation and Maintenance Manuals
The purpose of this manual is to assists system designers in the preparation of operation and maintenance manuals. It also describes the procedures that represent a full coverage of the major elements in operating and maintaining solar systems. An example of a system operation and maintenance manual is included.
FSEC Considerations and Recommendations
These recommendations were developed after in-depth inspections and modifications of solar water heating systems installed on public schools in Florida. The following excerpts are from the FSEC publications "Operation and Maintenance Manual for Large Solar Water Heating Systems for Florida Schools" and "A Survey of Solar Water Heating Systems on Florida Schools." These documents are provided in pdf format.
7. RETScreen International
http://www.retscreen.net/ang/home.phpThe RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software is a unique decision support tool developed with the contribution of numerous experts from government, industry, and academia. The software, provided free-of-charge, can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production and savings, life-cycle costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for various types of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies (RETs). The software also includes product, cost and climate databases, and a detailed online user manual.
