Member Article

Alternative energy sources

With all of us feeling the effects of harsher summers, colder winters and more destructive natural phenomena, words such as ‘climate change’ and ‘greenhouse effect’ hang like perpetual dark clouds above us. However, with minor changes in lifestyle and habits, we can collectively exert a positive influence on slowing down the damage. Home is usually where the seeds of eco-friendly lifestyle habits are sown. So let’s explore some alternative energy sources for home.

Solar energy

It’s not new news that solar energy is one of the most abundant energy sources available. The good news is that technology has progressed so much so that prices have fallen significantly over the years. That means major savings on monthly electricity bills and effortless tapping into this free source of alternative energy with the help of solar panels installation professionals.

Solar energy is by far the easiest alternative energy to kick-start green living as solar panels require little maintenance once installed. The solar installer will help you with the toughest part of the job, which is installing photovoltaic (production of electric current when exposed to light) solar panels, inverter and batteries to store excess energy for use on an overcast day.

Things to note when installing solar panels for homes:

Solar panels could cost a substantial amount to install upfront. Be a savvy consumer and compare quotations from different solar panel installation companies before committing to one. Performance of your solar panels may vary due to the number of sunshine days in different areas of the country. Southwestern parts of the U.S. has the greatest advantage in generating solar energy as that part of the country is basking in sunlight throughout most of the year. A report on average annual sunshine in American cities revealed that Phoenix in Arizona gets 211 clear days and 3872 hours of sunshine a year. Seattle in Washington has only 58 clear days and 21870 sunshine hours yearly. So, it’s expected that solar panels in Phoenix are more efficient at generating electricity than those in Seattle. Many areas have regulations on the size and type of solar panels you can install. So it’s good to check with your town council or solar installer to ensure that the right type of solar panel is installed.

Wind power

While wind power may be one of the cleanest alternative energy sources around, you should consider several factors when determining whether it’s the right type of green power for you.

Like solar energy, wind power is dependent on the weather. Moreover, the amount of space you can afford to install a sizeable wind turbine is also crucial. As common logic goes, the bigger the wind turbine, the more electricity it could generate. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recommends that a typical American household would require a 5 kilowatt wind turbine to generate enough power for all its needs. Such turbines usually measure 18 feet in diameter and require mounting on towers between 30 feet (minimum tower height for wind turbines to be efficient) and 140 feet in height.

Is wind energy right for you?

• Bear in mind that the wind turbine is made of gigantic blades and other moving parts that require regular maintenance.
• A turbine to generate electricity for an entire house is usually big enough to require a permit. The Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recommends a minimum one acre of rural land and a windy climate for any wind turbine to be of any practical use.
• What if space is a luxury for you? Fortunately, there are wonderful inventions such as personal home wind turbines. These domestic wind turbines may be mounted on rooftops and can generate between 100W and 50KW. If 400W can already power lights and some appliances, imagine what you can do with 50KW!
• We can’t will the wind to blow. So check out whether the state you’re living in is in the windy belt before investing in an expensive wind system. According to a report in currentresults.com, the following are the top 10 windiest metropolitan cities in the U.S. So where is “Windy City” Chicago? It’s ranked no. 12.

Geothermal energy

This renewable energy uses the heat from under the earth’s surface to generate electricity. However, why does the earth generate heat in its underbelly? Below the earth’s surface are layers of molten lava which continuously emit an incredible amount of heat. It’s said that 33,000 feet underground, there’s 50,000 times more geothermal energy than all current oil and natural gas resources in the world added up.

Generally, areas high in volcanic activity give rise to ‘hotspots’ where the earth’s crust is thin enough to release geothermal energy trapped underground. Milder heat can also be located anywhere from 10 feet to a couple of hundred feet below the ground. This means you may be able to generate geothermal energy for home use right in your own backyard.

How geothermal energy is captured

The most conventional way of capturing geothermal energy is to tap into areas where underground water trickles into the earth’s crust, gets heated up and steam rises to the surface. The steam is then redirected to drive turbines which in turn generate electricity.

When steam escapes from underground to drive turbines, does it mean it’s gone forever? Fortunately, the answer is no. Intelligent and environmentally-friendly geothermal plants are designed in such a way that when steam is pumped from underground to drive turbines, it gets condensed back into liquid form to be redirected underground again, thereby prolonging the life of underground water sources. Which is why geothermal energy is also known as a renewable energy source.

Geothermal energy and domestic use

While geothermal energy is generally produced and used on a commercial scale, it’s also possible to make use of this alternative energy source at home. Home use of geothermal power is usually limited to heating and cooling purposes.

A pump is drilled into the ground to tap into geothermal energy (remember we mentioned earlier that milder heat is found almost anywhere underground?). During winter, the pump transports underground heat into the house. During summer, it sucks heat out of the house. As most geothermal pumps have simple construction, you may also connect it to a water heater.

Some domestic geothermal systems are known to shrink electricity bills up to 40%. However, the hefty installation cost involved could be a major deterrent for people who are considering switching to geothermal energy. Drilling cost could run up an eye-popping $30,000 bill while a geothermal pump that could keep the whole house warm could cost another $8,000.

Mini hydropower

If you live near a river or stream, you may consider tapping into another one of Mother Nature’s clean energy resources – hydropower. Energy is produced when running water from higher ground is channeled downhill, passing through a turbine or wheel to drive a generator to produce electricity. The amount of kinetic energy from running water depends on the vertical height where it drops through the system and its volume. Some domestic hydro systems are known to be able to generate up to 100 kilowatts. However, you only need a 10-kilowatt system to generate enough electricity for a large house. Unlike solar energy which is limited at night or on overcast days, hydro energy can be generated continuously as long as there’s flowing water from its source. You may even use an inverter and batteries to store the extra hydro energy generated.

However, before we think all is perfect with the micro hydro system, there are limitations in this energy source. Running water may dry up during summer or freezes in winter. As the volume of water directly affects the amount of power generated, a tiny stream or when there’s a fall in water flow, hydro power may be unable to meet the energy needs of a whole house efficiently.

Introducing alternative energy into your home

Switching to alternative energy sources for the home may be good for reducing electricity bills and saving the environment. However, the most immediate way of saving money is really to reduce your current power usage. With less reliance on conventional power, you’ll naturally need less of alternative energy when you introduce it into your home.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Ford .