Introduction 6 Chapter 1. Getting Started 8 What is off-grid energy? 10 What will it power? 12 Location options 14 Urban, suburban and rural settings 16 Doing the work 22 Chapter 2. Solar Energy 24 Basics 26 Urban setting 32 Suburban setting 34 Rural setting 36 Different Systems 38 Hints and tips 50 Chapter 3. Wind Energy 52 Basics 54 Urban setting 60 Suburban setting 64 Rural setting 68 Installing a guyed tower 72 Hints and tips 74 Chapter 4. Wood Fuel Energy 76 Basics 78 Urban setting 82 Suburban setting 84 Rural setting 86 Systems 88 Hints and tips 94 Chapter 5. Bioenergy 96 Basics 98 Composting 102 Woodchip Systems 106 Biodiesel 110 Hints and tips 114 Chapter 6. Hydro Energy 116 Basics 118 Picohydro turbines 122 Microhydro turbines 126 Water wheels 130 Hints and tips 134 Chapter 7. Geothermal Energy 136 Basics 138 Horizontal closed loop system 144 Vertical closed loop system 148 Closed loop system in Lake 152 Hints and tips 156 Chapter 8.

Gas Energy 160 Basics 162 Making a giogas digester 166 Hints and tips 170 Chapter 9. Storing Energy 172 Insulation 174 Storing biomass 174 Storing heat 176 Storing electricity 180 Storing water 184 Glossary 186 Index 190.