Sustainable Energy at Home: Tips and Tricks

Are you looking for ways to make your home more environmentally friendly? Then sustainable energy at home is just what you need.

The benefits of renewable energy for the environment are more than obvious. However, not only will you be doing something good for the nature, but you can also save yourself some money. With the source of sustainable energy at home, you can significantly reduce your utility bills. Maybe even eliminate them completely.

Even though installing renewables can be costly at the beginning, in the long run, it’s an investment that pays off. Additionally, states offer tax incentives to anyone who wants to go for alternative energy. This makes setting up renewables even more affordable option today. In case you are interested in making the switch, there are simple tips you can follow which require minimal effort. Keep reading to find out some of these ways to power your home with sustainable energy.

Using sustainable energy at home has many benefits for the environment:

Rooftop solar panels are the most popular choice for sustainable energy at home

If you are looking into sustainable energy, this is the method you hear most about. Solar panels usually go on your roof, although some choose to set them up in their yard. Depending on the orientation of the panels and your location, panels can generate 10 or more watts per square foot. For comparison, a typical household consumes about a kilowatt of power. That mean a few square feet of solar panels will be more than enough to power most if not all of your needs. 

The alternative to solar panels is solar shingles. While solar panels are mounted on top of your roof, solar shingles replace your roof tiles. So, if your roof is nearly ready to be replaced, solar shingles may be the option for you. Additionally, if you decided to relocate to a new home, this might be the perfect time to install the panels. You can help create a more sustainable world. The work can be done before you move in and you’ll be all set up to go from the beginning.

Of course, solar energy has one big weakness. It works only during the day when the sun is up. To power your home during the night you’ll still need to be connected to the electrical grid. Alternatively, you can invest in the second type of sustainable energy at home.

Solar water heating

You don’t have to use solar power just for electricity. You can use it to heat your home. Solar water heaters use solar energy to heat a reserve of water. This water can later be pumped through your house to the radiators or your faucets and showerheads.

This system is considerably cheaper than using electricity or gas. Also, it’s much easier to install than solar panels. If you are not completely committed to using sustainable energy at home, this is a good alternative. There are many different types of solar water heaters. Each comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. So be careful and chose wisely the type of system that works best for you.

Solar oven

Another alternative for people who are not ready to power their entire home with renewable energy is investing in a solar oven. Solar ovens are a common sight at science fair’s but can be quite useful in everyday life. Regular electrical ovens can use quite a bit of electricity so using a solar oven may be the right option. Solar oven work by trapping the sun energy to heat up your food. You can buy a solar over or even build one on your own. All you’ll need are some common materials easily found in stores.

Solar air conditioning

Now you may be thinking: how can the heat from the sun cool your home. Well, there is a way. Solar air conditioning works similarly to solar water heating. More precisely, it uses that hot water in the air conditioning system. If you already have a solar heater installed you can expand its functionality to air conditioning as well. However, consult a professional before you do since not all water heaters can be used for both.

Wind turbines

You’ve seen those big turbines, right? They are usually found in wind farms or even floating offshore. However, you can install a smaller version to power your home, especially if you have enough land.

There are some downsides to wind turbines that make them a less popular choice for residential areas. For example, they make a lot of noise and are not really pretty to look at. Also, they take up a lot of space. Additionally, depending on where you live, you might not be allowed to install them since local laws and zoning regulations may forbid it.

However, if you don’t have to worry about those disadvantages, wind power may be a great solution. Wind power is more stable than solar power. Mostly because you are not limited to a part of the day. A good-sized turbine can easily generate all the power you need. Depending on where you live, a wind turbine can be better sustainable energy investment than solar-powered energy sources.

In case you are considering moving to an area that offers more sustainable energy options, think about moving to another country. Different locations offer different options. If you decide that this is the right step, you’ll help with moving your home to a foreign country. There are companies that can provide necessary bits of advice, services, and equipment for relocation.

Hydropower as a source of sustainable energy at home

People have used water power to generate energy for a long time. And you can use it also to power your home. However, this is not an option available to everyone. It will work only if you have a source of flowing water in your property. You can divert part of the steam to flow through a turbine which will generate power for your home.

Although you can generate a substantial amount of power this way, setting up the system is not easy. You’ll most certainly need professional help to set up a hydropower generator. Additionally, you need to figure out the best place to set up your generator at. This is where professional help can also be useful. If you have some engineering knowledge you could do it yourself. But it’s still recommended to consult the professionals before you start.

And the advantages of water power are immense. Unlike solar and wind, water flow is stable and continuous. This means you’ll always get the same input of source power no matter what. You won’t have to worry about not generating enough energy for your home. That piece of mind may be worth the effort of setting this system up.

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