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

William H. Kemp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

As oil prices continue to rise, many people are starting to think about how to unhook from the electricity grid. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and rural energy independence.

Author/engineer William H. Kemp, who is a leading expert in small- and mid-scale renewable energy technologies, designed and built his own off-grid home. The result is a house that has all the standard “middle-class” creature comforts while using less than five times the total fossil-fuel energy of the average North American house.

The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses on the unique requirements of off-grid living and contains chapters on energy conservation; heating and cooling; backup power; domestic water heating; wireless communications; photovoltaic, wind, and microhydro energy generation; battery selection; and inverters.

Since its release in 2003, The Renewable Energy Handbook has been a top-selling technology book and is recognized as the best book in its field.

The book is augmented with hundreds of illustrations, line drawings, photographs, and appendices.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

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 also an author, sustainable living and clean energy advocate working in renewable energy heating, energy efficiency, photovoltaic, micro-hydro and wind electric systems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Aztext Press; First edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0973323329
• ISBN-13: 978-0973323320
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Remodeling & Renovation > Energy Efficiency

More 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 and is the author of four books including the best selling "The Renewable Energy Handbook". He is also a co-author of the David Suzuki Foundation report "Smart Generation; Powering Ontario with Renewable Energy". In addition he has published numerous articles on small-scale private power and is the chairman of electrical safety standards committees with the Canadian Standards Association. He and his wife Lorraine have lived off the electrical grid on their hobby/horse farm in eastern Ontario, for the past 15 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars R.E. Handbook by Kemp, January 9, 2007

By 

Nick Houser "Arkansas Boy" (Lund, British Columbia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living (Paperback)

Best single source of information on this subject I've seen, as a professional in this field. Though perhaps not enough detail for expert system designers, it nevertheless
covers each item in some depth and explains it on a level that the layperson can not just understand, but maybe enjoy reading. Very good summary of a very large subject.
Excellent. I'll be giving them out to my customers. Nick
Houser, Off Grid Services.

85 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Renewable Energy is Energy Independence, November 9, 2006

By 

Maverick Brown "Maverick Solar" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living (Paperback)

I own, consult for and sell items related to Solar Power and other forms of Renewable Energy. I read this book and use it as reference when people approach me about using Renewable Energy. It is a great source of knowledge and the author lives what he wrote about, which is refreshing. I recently ordered another 5 copies to pass out when people order a complete system from me, as a guide to other components they might need in their pursuit of Energy Indpendence. Maverick Solar

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A rather simplistic book., May 24, 2009

By 

Brian D. Cunningham - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living (Paperback)

I bought this book at the same time as another very good renewable energy reference based on the "Customers who bought this..." cross sell offered by Amazon. That's a mistake I won't make again.

The book may be helpful to a neophyte in the renewable energy field, but anyone with any kind of background will find it very basic. That the author uses the book to make subtle political statements is annoying. I was looking for detailed information, not political diatribe. I was disappointed.