Renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind, rain, and geothermal heat are friendly options that will save the environment and substantial money on your energy bills. A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and ScottishPower found that installing green technologies could reduce energy bills by up to £1,878 annually for homeowners.
Moreover, switching to renewable energy pays you extra through government tax incentives and deductions. These incentives are implemented to make domestic and residential renewable energy installation more affordable. In this article, you’ll learn five sustainable renewable energy options you can invest in for your home to reap all its benefits.
#1 Solar and Storage
Solar power is likely the first option that will be recommended if you want to switch to green energy. And for some good reasons—it’s abundant, eco-friendly, and can save you substantial electricity bills.
How Solar Power Works
Solar panels are typically installed on your roof or in a nearby open space to capture the energy from the sun’s rays and convert it into electricity for your home. After a series of electrical connections, you can use “solar electricity” to power your home’s appliances, light bulbs, or other electrical devices.
There are two main types of solar systems you can use for your home:
a. Rooftop Solar System: Solar panels are mounted directly on your roof and exposed to the area with the highest sun rays. Rooftop systems are a popular choice for homeowners with limited space.
b. Ground-Mounted Solar System: If you have a large yard or open area, you can opt for a ground-mounted system. With this system, solar panels are mounted on racks or frames and can be positioned to maximize sun exposure. It allows you to install more panels and results in more energy overall
Combining Solar with Battery Storage
No matter where you install your solar panels, you can combine the solar system with a battery storage solution to make their power more sustainable. You only need to retrofit your house to benefit fully from this solar-battery renewable energy setup.
You are probably wondering; what is retrofit? Retrofitting simply means integrating batteries into your existing solar installation to store energy produced during the day for use at night or during power outages. This means greater energy independence and potentially saving even more on your utility bills.
Solar power and batteries may be costly at first, but they will help you save money on your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Moreover, the UK Government has removed the 5% VAT on purchases of solar equipment and installation for the next five years.
#2 Wind Power
Wind power is another eco-friendly option you can explore for your home. A modern wind turbine generates 24/7 renewable electricity, unlike solar, which relies on sunlight.
How Wind Power Works
Wind turbines capture the wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electricity. Precisely, as the wind blows, it spins the turbine’s blades to turn electricity generators. There are different types of wind turbines that can generate electricity for your home. You will need to choose the most appropriate for you.
Small-Scale Wind Turbines
These wind turbines are explicitly designed for residential use and can be easily installed on your property. They typically have a tower height of 80 feet or less, which is enough to generate electricity to power a small home or supplement your existing power supply.
Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines
These are the most common types of wind turbines. Horizontal-axis turbines have blades that spin around a horizontal axis. Their designs are usually larger but more energy-efficient than vertical-axis turbines. They also require consistent wind speeds to work to their full capacity.
Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines
Vertical-axis wind turbine blades spin around a vertical axis. In this direction, the turbine blade can capture wind from almost any direction. This will be a good choice if you stay in an area with unpredictable wind patterns.
Now, for wind power to work for your home, you will need a location with consistent and strong wind speeds of at least 10 meters per hour. Moreover, check your local zoning regulations and restrictions on wind energy. Some areas may have specific rules like height limitations for wind turbines or noise level requirements for installing one.
#3 Biofuel
Biofuels are renewable strength assets crafted from organic substances like plants or animal waste. These substances undergo biochemical approaches like fermentation, gasification, or chemical treatment that convert them into gasoline. You can in turn use the gas to energy your property and reduce environmental waste and your carbon footprint. There are exceptional varieties of biofuel, generally primarily based on their source.
Biogas
Biogas is from the digestion of meal waste, animal manure, or sewage sludge but without oxygen. The ensuing fuel, that’s mostly methane, can generate electricity or warmth for your own home.
If you have smooth access to a source of natural waste, inclusive of a farm or a nearby meals processing facility, it is going to be desirable to put in a small-scale biogas machine in your private home. This system may have a digester tank wherein the organic material breaks down, and another part of the device captures and converts the biogas to energy in your own home.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is like the normal diesel however from an organic source. You can get biodiesel from vegetable oils, animal fat, or recycled cooking oils and use them on your diesel engines. Another alternative is mixed with conventional petroleum-based totally diesel gas. Homeowners with diesel-powered generators or heating systems may be capable of take advantage of this biofuel.
#4 Thermal Energy
You can use ground, air, or water warmth to warm or cool your dwelling spaces through a thermal renewable energy system. Hot water from underground reservoirs will warm your property and buildings effectively. Conversely, absorption chillers can use geothermal heat to energy aircon systems. Here are your options on the subject of thermal energy:
Ground-Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)
Geothermal warmness pump structures use the earth’s distinctly constant temperature some feet under the floor to provide regular renewable electricity. GSHPs paintings by way of circulating a fluid through underground loops or wells. This fluid absorbs warmness from the encompassing soil or bedrock. The absorbed heat is then transferred to or from your home using a heat pump to heat in the winter and cool in the summer.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
Similar in precept to ground-supply structures, air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) extract heat from the out of doors air and transfer it indoors at some point of the icy months. In the summer season, the manner is reversed. The heat pump eliminates warm air from your home and releases it outside. ASHPs are commonly greater low-priced to put in than floor-source systems, but their efficiency can suffer from excessive out of doors temperatures.
Water-Source Heat Pumps
If you have got the right of entry to a frame of water, including a lake or pond, you could use a water-supply warmth pump. The systems work similarly to ground-source warmness pumps, but instead of the usage of underground wells, they rely on water as the warmth source or sink.
Thermal strength systems can warm and cool your private home and decrease power charges. However, installation costs can be excessive, and some structures require specialised gadget and excavation.
#5 Hydroelectric Systems
Hydroelectric systems capture the kinetic energy of the flowing water and convert it into electricity. The water flows through a turbine and generates power through an attached generator.
You don’t need a large river to harness the power of flowing water for your home. Small-scale hydroelectric or micro-hydro systems can still generate electricity from streams or man-made water channels.
Micro-hydro systems are the most practical option for residential use. These systems will generate electricity even from small water sources like :
- Man-Made Channels: Some homeowners have built artificial water channels or pipelines specifically to generate hydroelectric power.
- Streams or Creeks: If you have a stream or creek running through or near your home, you can install a micro-hydro system to capture its flow energy to power your home.
- Run-of-River Systems: With this system, you can divert a portion of a river’s flow through a turbine and then return the water to the river downstream.
Before installing a hydroelectric system in your home, ensure a consistent water flow of at least 20 gallons per minute around your area. Technically, you will need a suitable terrain and elevation to maximize the hydro-energy generation. Additionally, there are potential environmental impacts and necessary permits and regulations for diverting or using water sources.
Conclusion
Switching to renewable energy sources is a better option for your home and the environment. There are obviously many options, but your choice will depend on location, resources, and budget. Whether you opt for solar, wind, geothermal, or biofuels, transitioning to clean energy is an investment in a sustainable future.