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

This is probably the best all-around “how-to” guide to renewable energy systems. It will educate you about all the major system components and help you perform your system planning and installation. Covers everything from composting toilets, to PV systems, to small scale wind, to micro hydro, to back up fossil fuel systems. Includes some basics on biofuels, including how to process your own biodiesel from used cooking oil or lard. Some of the other references cover their individual topics in greater detail and depth, but if you want to buy just one book, this is the one to buy!