With rising energy costs and an increasing awareness of the global impact of the use of fossil fuels, many homeowners are looking into the concept of going off-grid. Going off-grid means detaching oneself from public electric supplies through the use of renewable sources of energy. There are many sources of energy that can be implemented to facilitate this transaction, and many homes implement more than one method when deciding to go off-grid.
One method of going off-grid that comes to mind for many people is solar power. Solar power is a viable option for providing at least a portion of a home's electricity, but is rather expensive, taking a while before a return is made on the investment. In regards to energy conservation, however, it is an excellent and clean way to generate electricity, harnessing only the power of the sun. Solar panels require little to no maintenance for decades, making them a desirable option, but location of the home and the amount of sunlight throughout the year should be considered when deciding whether to use the panels as a primary or secondary source of electricity.
Wind electricity is another common means of going off grid. In areas with high average wind speeds year round, residential wind turbines can be an excellent option. It is important to select the right size turbine for your home, depending on whether it will be a primary or secondary source of power.
These days a number of home builders are utilizing biomass as a means of powering their homes off the grid. These systems use simple wood burners to create heat that is turned to steam to run turbines that create electricity. Smaller models are now available for home use and provide an excellent means of staying off grid. The machines must be fed a constant supply of biomass, such as firewood, yard trimmings, or compost, but provides clean and entirely renewable energy to power the home as well as an excellent source of clean heat.
The last means of going off-grid is through hydroelectric power. This source requires a constant and somewhat powerful source of flowing water, such as a creek or stream, but can create significant amounts of power. Because the water flows constantly, the system is always producing the same amount of power, eliminating the ebbs and flows that come with using wind or solar power.
When making the decision to go off-grid, it is important to take your location and climate into consideration. If it is cloudy and overcast a significant portion of the year, you will not want to choose solar power as a main source of electricity, while those in areas without significant wind would be best utilizing a source other than wind turbines. There is certainly a feasible option for every homeowner that would allow them to go off-grid, and a combination of multiple methods might be the best way to go, it simply takes a bit of research to find the best and most effective method for your region and climate.
Renewable Energy Today is devoted to providing individuals with up-to-date information and resources on renewable energy and sustainability. Through articles, videos and other content, you can learn how to implement renewable energy in your home as well as what the government is doing to help the environment.
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