(Newswire.net — November 13, 2016) — There are many inexpensive and even cost-free ways to conserve energy in your home and keep your utility bill low – such as performing an energy audit, sealing any air leaks and installing programmable thermostats in your home. However, if you’ve exhausted all these easier methods and are ready to go to the next step in adding clean energy into your home, consider the following alternatives:
Solar Panels
Once your home is as energy-efficient as you can make it, the next step for most people is to install solar panels in your home. The technology has advanced exponentially in the last few decades and so has the accessibility provided by the solar industry – making it much more affordable than it has ever been. Many companies even offer financing to help make the purchase a more viable option.
You can even pair them with whole house standby generators to help keep your electricity running at all times, even during power failure.
Wind Turbines
If you have a large plot of land (at least one acre) with plenty of strong wind resources, wind turbines can be an incredibly effective way to produce energy for your home. A small wind system will require some careful planning – estimating your wind resource and cross-checking your localities zoning regulations and permit requirements are important steps in the pursuit of this alternative. Just like solar panels, the prices of wind resource systems are steadily dropping and initiatives are in play to reduce the cost even further.
Most small wind systems are attached to grid; while the turbines from the system are used to produce electricity, excess energy runs off onto the grid – which must be compensated for by the power company. If there is not enough wind resources to power your home, you can still draw on the power generated in the grid to supplement the difference.
Geothermal Heating
This method of alternative energy should not be mixed up with geothermal power, which requires drilling into the surface of the Earth. Geothermal heating relies instead on a pump that circulates water through underground. Residential geothermal systems implement either a closed or open loop heat pump. The preferred method is the closed-loop system, which uses a network of pipes circulating water to create energy. The open-loop system requires a well to function optimally and is considered to be less flexible.
Hydropower Systems
If there is a creek, stream or another type of flowing water on your land, consider the installation of a hydropower system. A 10-kilowatt hydropower system will provide enough energy to power a large home or small farm. Prior to installation, you will need to determine how much power you will be able to receive from the water flowing on your property. Permits and water rights are also factors that must be considered before setting up the equipment on your property.
While the average consumer may find the systems of alternative energy to be prohibitively expensive, prices are steadily dropping. If it is possible within your budget to make a move to one of the above alternative methods, you should seriously inquire in to the implementation of one on your property. It’s not only a great way to eventually save money on energy costs, but it is a solid investment in the environment and the future of our planet.