Look Into Renewable Energy
Green power is the best power
Renewable energy doesn’t have to mean installing a wind turbine on your roof or powering your home entirely with solar panels. That’s the ideal for many people, but there are several ways to get started that don’t involve a sizeable amount of debt.
Purchase green power
Many utilities and private companies offer the option to buy renewable energy for a premium (it costs more). You can be satisfied knowing your power comes from renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass, without having to add any costly equipment upgrades to your home.
For the garden and patio
Outdoor lighting is the perfect way to get into the swing of using solar power. Many solar garden lanterns are barely noticeable during the day and light up at night.
Motion-sensor lights can also charge up during the day with solar panels. They won’t be as blinding as some other high-powered porch lights, but that’s probably a good thing.
Solar recharging
You’ve probably already got the rechargeable batteries covered, but have you considered charging them off-grid? Many portable solar charging systems allow you to hook up electronics like cameras, cell phones, iPods and battery chargers to take advantage of free power.
Solar homes
If you’re building a new house, incorporate passive solar designs to take advantage of free energy from the sun (no solar panels needed).
Water heating is one of the biggest applications for solar power. The many different types of solar water heaters can be used for pools, hot tubs or the home. Pool heating systems are popular because they are cost-competitive with other systems. Home-use solar water heaters can cut down on your bills and provide great backup to an existing system.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels can be placed on your roof and generate renewable energy for the home. They are coming down in price, but still take about 15 years or more to pay for themselves. People continue to buy solar panels for a number or reasons. These can include being in a good solar location, having no grid connection available, energy independence, environmental concerns, selling excess power and sufficient tax credits and incentives.
