Energy is one of those issues that seems to never go away. It has always been a problem for civilizations, and some experts would argue that the management of energy is the number one cause of collapse in societies and systems. It can definitely make or break the homestead, and careful planning and management of this resource is a top priority.

So, what is energy, and how do we manage it? Energy for the homestead is basically what resources we input. The sun serves as the source for most of our applications, but for some systems, we will be using products of the sun's energy, like plants, biofuels, and wind.

The first object of an energy management plan is to examine the needs of energy in your homestead. How many vehicles do you have, and how much fuel do they need, and what about the house, the animals, and yourself as well. Once you can determine your needs, you can plan to meet them.

Useful energy output is a balance between cost, maintenance, time, and input. All systems must examine each of these components to maximize the useful output. We will examine the different types of energy available to a homestead.

Off-Grid Power Systems
Off grid power systems have a basic structure that is independent of their source. They involve sources of power, controls, storage, and safety components. Find out about these components >>

Solar Power
Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy available to the Earth. Harnessing this energy can be tricky, but fortunately, there are several options available.

Water power
Water power is dependable and easy to implement. With water power, you have a consistent source of energy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn how to harness this power >>

Wind Power
Wind energy is more complex than simple solar systems, but it is also less expensive and more efficient. A wind system can be built with a modest tool set and skills. Get the inside view of how these systems work >>

Biofuels
Biofuels hold promise, but all of them have pros and cons. Explore the production, processing and components needed with each type of biofuel >>