Renewable energy is quite the buzzword now, with more and more people looking into alternative ways to meet their electricity needs in their homes. We are finally realising that fossil fuel consumption cannot continue at the current rate ad infinitum if we want the world to survive in its current state for future generations and access to renewable domestic energy is becoming easier and easier.
The development of renewable sources also offers cleaner electricity generating methods; cuts down our overwhelming reliance on fossil fuels and reduces the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere.
We have all heard of solar power and generating electricity from wind turbines, but renewable energy covers a lot more than those two options. For instance, there is heat generated from the ground and air, plus the science behind plants grown for biomass or biofuel purposes. Then, there is the science behind generating energy from waste products and hydro power – the movement of water and wind.
So, what can we do to generate renewable energy in our own homes? First of all, a homeowner must assess the location of their property to work out what types of renewable energy would be appropriate to consider. Installing solar panels on the roof has become popular in recent times, but the roof must face the right way and be large enough to capture enough sun. Wood-fuelled heating systems require enough space for the log burner, or similar, plus an area to store extra wood until it is needed, while hydro-electricity requires a nearby river or stream.
Domestic renewable energy is used primarily for two reasons: generating electricity and sourcing heat. The former is largely catered for by solar panels, hydro electricity and wind power, while heat is generated by methods involving solar water heating, wood-fuelled heating and air or ground source heat pumps. Initial installation costs can be quite high, but homeowners will reap the rewards fairly quickly with reduced energy bills and a cleaner, more ecological and sustainable way of living.
Some renewable energy sources can even produce a financial gain for the ecological property owner. Excess electricity generated by solar panels or wind turbines, for example, can be sold back to the grid. If you allow your land to be used to erect a wind turbine, this too can be a lucrative way to earn money through rent.
The UK government also runs a Feed In Tariff system that pays people for creating their own ‘green electricity’. This scheme incentivises homeowners to invest more into renewable energy sources in order to help meet the national target of having 15% of all our energy produced through renewable means by 2020.