Home Renewable Energy: What You Should Know
The world today is heavily dependent on oil and fossil fuel. This is a very disturbing situation because the growing demand for oil is slowly overtaking the world supply. It won’t be long before the supply of non-renewable fossil fuel dries up. With this in mind plus the ever-increasing cost of oil, it’s not surprising that many people are now thinking of building a home renewable energy system.
Types of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources can be found around us in abundant supply. And because these sources are renewable, we can use them without worrying that the supply will run out.
• Solar energy. We can get energy from the sun everyday. Solar energy can be used for heating and can be converted to electricity to power homes, schools and businesses.
• Wind energy. A windmill or wind turbine can harness energy from the wind and convert it to electricity.
• Hydropower. Energy from flowing water can turn a turbine. The energy that turns the turbine is converted into electricity.
• Biomass. Biomass or bio-fuel comes from plants. It can be used as transportation fuel or converted to electricity.
• Geothermal. Heat energy from under the earth can be used for electricity, heating and cooling.
Not all of these energy sources are suitable for home renewable energy systems. The most viable options are solar energy, wind energy and biomass.
Benefits of Home Renewable Energy
• Clean and eco-friendly
• Small carbon footprint
• Renewable and can be replenished
• You may qualify for tax breaks and incentive plans
• Can translate to savings in home energy costs
Things to Think About
Installing a renewable energy system at home can entail a big investment. Find out what type of alternative energy source is appropriate for your home. Your choice will depend on certain conditions.
If you live in an area with strong winds averaging 10 miles per hour, a windmill is a good option for your energy source. On the other hand, solar energy may be a good choice if you live in an area where you get plenty of sunlight. And if you live on a farm, biomass or bio-fuel may be a viable option.
The primary drawback of home renewable energy generation is the prohibitive cost of alternative energy technology. For instance, it can cost up to $20,000 to install a solar cell system or a wind turbine. If making renewable power can be made more affordable, people will readily install alternative energy technology and help save the environment even as they reduce their utility bills.