The renewable energy handbook: a guide to rural independence, off-grid and sustainable living

William H. Kemp

Aztext Press, 2005 - Technology & Engineering - 567 pages

As oil prices continue to rise, many people are starting to think about how to unhook from the power grid. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and energy independence in a rural setting. Author William Kemp and his wife designed their own high-efficiency off-grid home in 1991. They worked methodically to produce a home which has all of the standard "middle-class" creature comforts while using six times less heating, cooling, and electrical energy than the average Ontario home. Soon they were inundated with inquiries and decided to put their experience into book form in 2003. This updated edition focuses specifically on off-grid concerns and contains chapters on: a_? Energy conservation a_? Heating and cooling a_? Photovoltaic, wind and microhydro energy generation a_? Battery selection, voltage regulation and inverters a_? Backup power Twice the page count of the first edition, it also includes enhanced chapters on home and domestic water heating, wireless communications and biofuels. A "Showcase of Homes" chapter provides a tour of various off-grid cottages and homes, and details the type of lifestyle that can be achieved for a given capital cost. The book is augmented with appendices and hundreds of illustrations, line drawings and photographs. William Kemp is VP Engineering of Powerbase Automation Systems Inc. and a consulting electronics/software designer who develops control systems for low environmental impact hydroelectric utilities worldwide. He is a sustainable living and clean energy advocate working in renewable energy heating, energy efficiency, photovoltaic, microhydro and wind electric systems.

What people are saying

Review: The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living

User Review  - Alistair - Goodreads

As dry as you'd expect. This manages to take the spin off all the "green" hoo haa and put things firmly on the ground. The basics of what is financially practical are well described from the smallest ...

Review: The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living

User Review  - Robert Selzler - Goodreads

Decent starter for the not-so tech savvy amongst us.

About the author

William (Bill) Kemp, is V.P. Engineering of an energy sector corporation where he leads the development of low environmental impact hydroelectric and agricultural biogas systems. Bill is a leading expert in small and mid-scale renewable energy technologies. He is the author of four books and numerous articles. He and his wife live off-the-grid in Eastern Ontario.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The renewable energy handbook: a guide to rural independence, off-grid and sustainable living
• Author: William H. Kemp
• Edition: 2, illustrated
• Publisher: Aztext Press, 2005
• ISBN: 0973323329, 9780973323320
• Length: 567 pages
• Subjects: Energy conservation; Energy conservation/ Handbooks, manuals, etc; House & Home / General; House & Home / Remodeling & Renovation; House & Home / Sustainable Living; Natural resources; Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection; Nature / Natural Resources; Power resources; Renewable energy sources; Renewable energy sources/ Handbooks, manuals, etc; Solar energy; Solar energy/ Handbooks, manuals, etc; Sustainable living; Technology & Engineering / Power Resources / Alternative & Renewable; Technology & Engineering / Power Resources / General