Delivering solar energy projects : HIstory and current use of solar energy ; Advantages of solar energy ; Solar energy project delivery process ; Integration of solar energy into the existing infrastructure -- The solar energy resource : Structure of the sun ; Nuclear fusion: the source of the sun's power ; The spectral nature of solar radiation ; Position of the sun in the sky ; Direct beam, diffuse, and global solar insolation in the plane of a solar collector surface ; Incident angle of direct beam sun on a surface ; The effect of shade ; Solar resource management ; Solar resource maps and data ; Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data ; Forecasting the solar resource hours or days into the future ; Diagnosis of solar energy system performance using solar resource data ; Computer tools for analysis of solar position and solar resources ; Standards related to solar resource assessment -- Photovoltaics (PV, solar electricity) : Photovoltaic cells and modules ; Voltage and current characteristics of PV devices (the i-v curve) ; Open-circuit voltage and operating voltage of a PV cell ; Dependence of voltage and current on temperature ; different types of photovoltaic devices ; Standard ratings and performance indicators for PV modules ; Energy balance for a PV module, Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) ; Power output of a PV module ; Photovoltaic system schematic design ; Photovoltaic system components ; Estimating the cost of a photovoltaic system ; Estimating electric use and solar fraction ; Recommended applications ; Simple hand calculation of photovoltaic system size and energy delivery ; Estimating the energy cost savings of a photovoltaic (solar electric) system ; Computer tools for analysis of photovoltaic systems ; Codes and standards for photovoltaic modules and systems ; Operation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems ; Case studies of photovoltaic system installations ; Example: Procurement specifications for grid-tied solar electric (photovoltaic) system -- Solar water heating : Different types of water heating solar collectors ; Solar water heating system schematic design ; Solar water heating system components ; Estimating the cost of a solar water heating system ; estimating building hot water use and solar fraction ; Recommended applications ; Simple hand calculation of solar water heating system size and energy delivery ; System thermodynamics and computer tools for analysis of solar water heating systems ; Codes and standards for solar water heaters ; Operation and maintenance of solar water heating systems ; Case studies of solar water heating system installations ; Example: Procurement specifications for a solar water heating system -- Solar ventilation air preheating : Operating principle of the transpired air heating solar collector ; Solar ventilation air preheat system schematic ; Solar ventilation air preheat system components ; Design considerations ; Recommended applications ; Estimating the cost of a solar ventilation air preheat system ; Simple hand calculations for size and performance of a solar ventilation air heating system ; Computer tools for analysis of solar ventilation preheat systems ; Codes and standards related to solar ventilation air preheating ; Maintenance of solar ventilation air preheating systems ; Case studies of solar ventilation air preheating system installations ; Example: Procurement specifications for solar ventilation preheat system -- Solar space heating and cooling : Site issues ; Building heat loss ; Solar heat gain through windows and opaque surfaces ; Materials and building components for passive solar space heating systems ; Thermal storage ; Heat distribution systems ; Solar space heating (passive or active) system schematic design ; Estimating the cost of a solar space heating system ; Estimating energy use and solar fraction ; Calculation of solar space heating system sizing and energy delivery ; Computer tools for analysis of passive solar heating ; Operation and maintenance of passive solar heating systems ; Case studies of passive solar heating systems ; Example: Procurement specifications for passive solar thermal storage wall -- Case studies of solar buildings : Residence in Golden, Colorado ; Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, Las Vegas, Nevada ; Research Support Facility (RSF) office building, Golden, Colorado -- Appendix A. Nomenclature -- Appendix B. Unit conversion factors.

Solar Energy is an authoritative reference on the design of solar energy systems in building projects, with applications, operating principles, and simple tools for the construction, engineering, and design professional. The book simplifies the solar design and engineering process, providing sample documentation and special tools that provide all the information needed for the complete design of a solar energy system for buildings to enable mainstream MEP and design firms, and not just solar energy specialists, to meet the growing demand for solar energy systems in building projects