It reveals you the reasons why photovoltaic solar panels are continuing to gain worldwide popularity and are becoming more important as a source of renewable energy. You can see the question “To go or not to go solar?” discussed in its practical aspects. Furthermore you are advised what kind of solar electric system you need and how to evaluate whether your home is ‘solar-ready’ or not You are also introduced to the basics of photovoltaics and to the main types of solar electric systems and their components. The book is intended to provide basic information to everyone who makes first steps in the world of photovoltaics and needs the matter explained in an easy-to-understand and straightforward way. The book exposes: Photovoltaics in the world of renewable energy Advantages of photovoltaics in a summary Why are photovoltaics continuing to gain worldwide popularity? Why is the cost of photovoltaics decreasing? Drawbacks of photovoltaics What are the main applications of solar electric systems? To go or not to go solar – that is the question! Some issues to consider before going solar Why would you need a solar electric system? Don’t go solar before reading this! What kind of solar electric system do you need? How big solar electric system do you need? How to finance the cost of your solar electric system? Financial incentives Is your building solar-ready? How to assess your location for solar resource? Why the condition of your roof does matter Free solar panels Solar power for business owners Energy efficiency above all How to improve the energy efficiency of your building The basics of solar power Solar electric systems Grid-connected solar electric systems Stand-alone (off-grid) solar electric systems Advantages and drawbacks of stand-alone systems Why are off-grid systems attractive? Main applications of stand-alone solar electric systems Selecting your solar vendor What to be careful about Grab the book and get started saving money on electricity and becoming energy independent now!

    Chicago Cooks chronicles this story through the eyes of the Chicago chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, female leaders in the food and dining world. They tell how the Chicago food scene grew and evolved, touching on landmark restaurants like Charlie Trotter's and Frontera Grill, the rise of ethnic cuisines imported from around the world, and the proliferation of shops, markets, and classes serving the ever more sophisticated home cook. The book also includes a bounty of 75 recipes for entertaining from this unique group of Chicago food authorities, gathered specially for this book.

    "Urban Homesteading" is the perfect back-to-the-land guide for urbanites who want to reduce their impact on the environment. Full of practical information, as well as inspiring stories from people already living the urban homesteading life, this colorful guide is an approachable guide to learning to live more ecologically in the city. The book embraces the core concepts of localization (providing our basic needs close to where we live), self-reliance (re-learning that food comes from the ground, not the grocery store; learning to do things ourselves), and sustainability (giving back at least as much as we take). Readers will find concise how-to information that they can immediately set into practice, from making solar cookers to growing tomatoes in a barrel to raising chickens in small spaces to maintaining mental serenity in the fast-paced city environment. Full of beautiful full-color photographs and illustrations, and plenty of step-by-step instructions, this is a must-have handbook for city folk with a passion for the simple life.a"

    According to the Greek creation myth, we are so much spilt milk; a splatter of the goddess Hera's breast milk became our galaxy, the Milky Way. But while mother's milk may be the essence of nourishment, it is the milk of other mammals that humans have cultivated ever since the domestication of animals more than 10,000 years ago, originally as a source of cheese, yogurt, kefir, and all manner of edible innovations that rendered lactose digestible, and then, when genetic mutation made some of us lactose-tolerant, milk itself.Before the industrial revolution, it was common for families to keep dairy cows and produce their own milk. But during the nineteenth century mass production and urbanization made milk safety a leading issue of the day, with milk-borne illnesses a common cause of death. Pasteurization slowly became a legislative matter. And today milk is a test case in the most pressing issues in food politics, from industrial farming and animal rights to GMOs, the locavore movement, and advocates for raw milk, who controversially reject pasteurization.Profoundly intertwined with human civilization, milk has a compelling and a surprisingly global story to tell, and historian Mark Kurlansky is the perfect person to tell it. Tracing the liquid's diverse history from antiquity to the present, he details its curious and crucial role in cultural evolution, religion, nutrition, politics, and economics.

     "The genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves." -- Mark Kurlansky, New York Times Book Review We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life: supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and pepper drove the Age of Discovery, coffee beans fueled the Enlightenment and cottonseed sparked the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, and simple fascinations. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked. Thanks to this stunning new book, they can be overlooked no more. This is a book of knowledge, adventure, and wonder, spun by an award-winning writer with both the charm of a fireside story-teller and the hard-won expertise of a field biologist. A fascinating scientific adventure, it is essential reading for anyone who loves to see a plant grow.

    No confusion. Just solid, fail-safe tips for writers to take their dictation to the next level. From the author of "The Writer's Guide to Training Your Dragon", this mini-guide will help you choose the right microphone, transcribe on-the-go with Dragon and put you on the path to sky-high word counts. You will also learn little-known tricks, such as:- Dictating into programs Dragon doesn't support - such as Scrivener;- Preventing a crash from taking your dictated text with it;- Creating a "Quiet Profile" for when you need to dictate without disturbing others;- Using the same profile on multiple computers - and keeping it updated;- Running your desktop Dragon app on an iPad or Android tablet - anywhere, anytime.Designed to get you up-and-running with this powerful software in no time, "Quick Cheats for Writing with Dragon" may make you want to never look at a keyboard again!

    If you think of it as staticky transmissions sent by people in the middle of nowhere, think again. Today's ham radio goes beyond wireless to extreme wireless, Operators transmit data and pictures, use the Internet, laser, and microwave transmitters, and travel to places high and low to make contact. In an emergency or natural disaster, ham radio can replace downed traditional communication and save lives. Whether you're just getting turned on to ham radio or already have your license, Ham Radio for Dummies helps you with the terminology, the technology and the talknology. You discover how to:Decipher the jargon and speak the language Buy or upgrade your equipment, including the all-important antennas Build a ham radio shack, complete with the rig, a computer, mobile/base rig, microphones, keys, headphones, antennas, cables and feedlines Study for your license, master Morse code, take the test and get your call sign Understand the basics of ragchews (conversations), nets (organized on-air meetings) and DX-ing (competing in contacts to make contacts) Keeping logs with the vital statistics, including time (in UTC or World Time), frequency, and call sign Written by Ward Silver, an electrical engineer, Certified Amateur Radio License Examiner, and columnist for QST, a monthly magazine for ham operators, Ham Radio for Dummies gives you the info you need to delve into the science or dive into the conversation. It explains how you can:Tune in to the most common types of signals, including Morse Code (CW), single-sideband (SSB), FM, Radioteletype (RTTY), and data signals Break in, introduce yourself, converse, and say or signal goodbye Communicate while traveling (ham radio goes where mobile phones go dead) Register with an emergency organization such as ARES and RACES Help in emergencies such as earthquakes, wildfires, or severe weather Pursue your special interests, including contacting distant stations, participating in contests, exploring the digital modes, using satellites, transmitting images, and more Complete with a glossary and ten pages of additional suggested resources, Ham Radio for Dummies encourages you to touch that dial and take that mike.CUL. (That's Morse Code for "see you later.")

    He calls these foods “negative calorie foods”—foods that help you to burn body fat, lose weight, and boost your metabolism. These whole foods are packed with fiber, so not only do you tend to eat smaller portions of them naturally, but you also stay fuller, longer. These nutritious superfoods offer the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs to keep your metabolism running efficiently. Some even offer what is known as a “thermogenic effect”—effectively boosting your metabolism to increase the rate at which your body burns energy. And you can eat as much of them as you want!Rocco begins with a ten-day cleanse designed to kick-start weight loss and detox the body, preparing it to reap the benefits of a nutrient-rich, whole foods diet. Next comes the twenty-day meal plan, with step-by-step guidance to help you achieve maximum results. To make it easy, Rocco gives you more than seventy-five recipes for meals, snacks, smoothies, and desserts that use his Top 10 Negative Calorie Foods: almonds, apples, berries, celery, citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables (such as cauliflower and Brussels sprouts), cucumbers, leafy greens (including Swiss chard, spinach, and kale), mushrooms, and nightshade vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and more.Complete with grocery shopping lists, troubleshooting FAQs, a guide to dining out, and advice for adapting the plan for kids and families as well as vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-sugar lifestyles, The Negative Calorie Diet helps you build healthy habits to lose weight and achieve better health for a lifetime.