Have you ever wished that the monthly energy bills would disappear from the face of the earth? If so, there is good news for you. There are ways to go off the grid and do away with those annoying bills.
The first step in this direction is by restricting energy usage is by increasing the efficiency of electrical appliances and plugging the energy leaks and drains. A full check-up of the wiring and appliances will help. Together with raising your awareness about daily electricity usage, you can bring down the energy consumption to a healthier level.
If you want to go a step further and eliminate the bill altogether, you would be happy to know that it is an achievable goal. It is possible to generate electricity at home and sever your connection to the grid. Before you get carried away by the idea and take the plunge, be warned that this requires initial investment as well as time and effort to maintain the setup.
Before you decide to go off the grid, you need to look up the government regulations regarding renewable energy installations in your location. In case the installation of solar systems or wind turbines is not allowed in your area, it is better to have that knowledge before the purchase.
Most states offer incentives and tax credits for the installation of residential renewable energy systems in a bid to promote green energy. Again, this information will come in handy while purchasing the system of your choice.
Let us take a look at how to make free electricity to run your home and the ways to generate electricity at home.
Solar panels
Installing a solar system will help you in tapping into the free and abundant energy provided by the sun to make electricity. The solar panels may be installed on the rooftops or in the yard. Solar shingles are another option to explore that offers the same benefits without damaging the aesthetics of your home.
The electricity produced by the solar panels has to be used straight away. You may consider adding a solar battery to the system to store the excess energy generated. A battery allows you to have a round-the-clock power supply, even when the sun is not available for energy generation.
Another option is to stay connected to the grid and upload the excess energy generated to the grid using the net-metering arrangement. The credit or cash earned may be used to draw energy from the grid when your solar system is unable to meet your energy requirement.
Wind turbines
If you are living in a windy area, generating electricity with wind turbines is one of the cheapest and cleanest choices available to you. Wind turbines for residential purposes are not as big or tall as the ones used in commercial wind farms. A properly installed residential wind turbine can power a home completely or partially.
As in the case of solar panels, installing a battery in the system can help in storing excess energy produced for later use. Or you may send the extra energy to the grid in exchange for credit or cash.
Related: Negative Effects of Wind Turbines on the Environment
Micro hydroelectricity
If your property has running water such as a small stream, installing micro hydroelectricity is a possibility. The energy of the flowing water is used to turn a turbine connected to a generator. Unlike solar and wind systems, this is a more reliable source of electricity.
Geothermal heat pumps
If you are living along the fault lines and your location has the potential for extracting geothermal energy, it offers you clean energy to meet your heating needs. The immense quantities of heat buried deep underneath the surface of the earth are brought to the surface by injecting fluids into a closed loop of pipe. Once the heat is transferred using a heat exchanger, the fluid is again pumped back in.
Solar water heater
Similar to solar energy installation, a solar water heater uses the sun’s energy directly for heating water without converting it into electricity. One of the biggest energy needs in a home, heating water can be managed free of charge by installing a solar home heating system.
Solar-Wind hybrid system
Solar energy can be generated only when the sun is up, wind of ample speed is essential for producing electricity from it. Eliminating the shortcomings of solar and wind energy generators, solar-wind hybrid systems ensure a 24×7 power supply. It relies on solar power during daytime and wind energy during windy nights.
Biogas/Biodiesel
When you have access to large quantities of organic waste, generating energy from it is not only cheap and clean, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the waste.
When biomass undergoes anaerobic decomposition, it produces renewable natural gas or biogas. It can be used as a replacement for fossil fuel natural gas. When biomass is subjected to a thermochemical process known as pyrolysis, it produces renewable diesel or biodiesel.
Direct combustion or burning is the simplest method to produce energy from biomass. Firewood, wood chips, or wood pellets can be burned for heating homes and water. This method doesn’t require conversion to electricity.
Is electricity generated from renewable sources really free?
Not exactly. In the general sense energy generated from renewable sources is considered free. However, the fact remains that energy installation is required to make energy and an initial investment is required for the installation. They also require regular maintenance, which means an expenditure, though minor, and effort. Only the renewable resources that form the input for these installations are free.
All alternative home energy installations offer you green energy, save you money, and help you reduce/eliminate monthly energy bills. Getting your home assessed for renewable energy installations by an expert is important. If these installations are not viable in your location, it would be a waste of money and effort.
Renewable energy sources offer homeowners an amazing opportunity to generate electricity at home for free. You may use this energy to supplement the energy from the grid and reduce the bill amount. Or, you may completely go off the grid and produce your entire energy needs from one or more of the alternative home energy sources. It is dependent on the availability of energy resources at your location and the viability of producing renewable energy at home.
By opting to create electricity from renewable resources at home, you are not only helping yourself, but you are also helping the environment from the harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from fossil fuels.
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