A general tendency toward economical and eco-friendly energy solutions is not news. For years, people have been considering using different “green” energy-producing options for their homes. They want sustainable homes based on some of the renewable and clean energy sources. Something that, in most cases, produces low to zero carbon emission, if possible. If you, too, are considering sustainability, you should know about several home renewable energy options.
Renewable energy options for your home
Whether you are moving to or building a new house, costs of future energy consumption are among your primary concerns. Everything that can reduce the monthly bills and maintenance costs is a welcoming option. After closer analysis of potential electricity use on average, renewable energy systems are a great way to save money. Of course, there are situations where they are not always 100% efficient, like using solar panels in areas without enough sunlight. But, if they are, they can be a great way to reduce living costs and even stay off the grid completely.
To help you better understand the options, here are some of the most popular renewable energy options for your home:
- Solar panels
- Solar shingles
- Wind-powered options
- Geothermal solutions
- Using the power of water
- Hybrid options
- Biomass systems
Before you install the system
When choosing a new home, for example, there are a few considerations to take before deciding which system is appropriate:
- First, you will need to determine the average energy consumption of a household.
- Second, call professionals to audit your home energy efficiency.
- Third, check the appliances in the house for the energy star ratings
- Finally, estimate the costs of fixing the eventual issues.
Only when you are sure the previous steps are manageable can you go completely green. And to maximize your efforts, you can even organize a more environmentally-friendly relocation. Moving is not a very sustainable endeavour, but it can be helped. You can create a green process while relocating your belongings if you research some tips online. Once everything is done, it’s time to add one or more renewable energy systems we have mentioned above.
1) Solar panels
Probably one of the most known options and something that first comes to people’s minds when talking about renewable energy. Solar power is an effective and highly sustainable option that produces zero carbon emissions. Typically, you can use solar panels to harvest the energy of the sun. But, there are also other convenient solar options we will mention later. Some of the most popular applications of this type are:
- Photovoltaic systems – a classic and probably the most popular option. These options use large panels to collect the sunlight and transform it into electricity. Professional roofers can install solar panels to your roof with ease, and the investment will pay off relatively quickly.
- Thermal solar systems – you can use solar power not only to produce electrical energy, but you can produce heat too. In general, this option is cheaper than panels and is an excellent alternative if you only need heating solutions for water or to keep the temperature right inside your home.
While the roof is the most commonly used place for panels, it’s not the only one. You can install solar panels in your yard. Or on any open landmass, like they do for community solar systems.
2) Solar shingles
Besides panels, there is a miniature version where you use smaller tiles. These so-called Solar Shingles are a great alternative to regular shingles. They are durable, look better, and most importantly, they efficiently generate electricity. If you want something different from standard panels, this can be a convenient option. The best part is that they are even easier to install than solar panels. Usually, they come with an extended warranty – 25 years and up. However, the downside is that they cost more than panels. But, they are worth it since with solar shingles, you are not sacrificing the outdoor aesthetic for sustainability.
In addition, you can easily combine both panels and shingles with battery storage. It will allow you to store extra electricity for later use, for example, at night or on dark rainy days.
3) Wind-powered options
Third on the list of home renewable energy options are wind-powered turbines. In most cases, they fall into two categories:
- Large and massive wind turbines – usually require a large piece of land with enough wind.
- Smaller wind turbines – convenient personal wind turbines for those who don’t have a part of the land to dedicate to this specific use.
Both large and small turbines are a great source of renewable energy. In simple words, they use the power of the wind to create electricity. If you live in a windy area, this can be an even better option than solar solutions. Ideally, you can combine wind turbines with solar power and completely eliminate your energy bills.
4) Geothermal solutions
In essence, geothermal solutions generate energy by using the heat below the surface. They are not 100% carbon-free but are much more efficient than traditional HVAC systems. When you need a quiet and long-lasting cooling solution, this energy-efficient sustainable system can be a great option. Just don’t forget to insulate your household first to make it even more effective.
5) Using the power of water
Anyone who has flowing water on its land can use hydropower systems to generate renewable energy. If you have a stream or creek, you can use its natural flow to create electric power for your household. This is a consistent and sustainable source of free energy that can generate enough power for a large house throughout the year.
6) Hybrid options
As we have mentioned, nothing stops you from combining different renewable energy options. However, there are already hybrid systems you can use to power up your household. They typically combine solar and wind solutions into one extensive sustainable system. This is most beneficial because wind and solar systems generate power under different conditions and in different periods.
7) Biomass systems
Probably one of the less known options, at least when it comes to home renewable energy solutions. But, using biomass to create energy has been with us for a long time already. The only difference is that these Biomass systems are much more eco-friendly than ordinary combustion systems. Basically, the entire point is using organic materials, like wood pellets, chips, and even waste materials. Mainly, you can see the application of these renewable energy options through different residential biomass boilers.