How to Go Green With Renewable Energy

Going green by using renewable energy at home is a good way to save money on utilities and protect the environment. The easiest way to go green at home by using renewable energy is to use solar devices. There are solar roofing tiles, solar panels for hot water heating, small solar panels to power appliances like fans or computers, and even solar ovens that cook food outdoors using only the sun.
Some people can use wind to generate electricity, but in most urban areas, this is not a likely option since most zoning codes prohibit the use of these turbines because of noise and height limitations.
You can also use renewable energy in smaller, less expensive ways to get started. You can burn renewable firewood or use wood pellets, or you can use evaporative coolers in hot, dry climates to cut air-conditioning costs. You can also use solar ovens virtually anywhere to cook food for free.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Choosing the Best System for Renewable Energy

1. Do your research on your climate. The federal government has collected climate data and you can view maps and data for your particular area. Do you have a lot of sunshine? Do you have a lot of wind? These are the questions you need to ask yourself before you invest in either a solar system or a wind turbine. The first link in "Additional Resources," below, will take you to solar maps of the U.S. that show the average monthly solar radiation hitting the U.S. and its territories. These maps are guidelines. Solar panels can be used in all U.S. states, but those with abundant sunshine are more likely to realize higher energy gains than those with frequent cloud cover.
   The second link at the bottom of the page shows a wind map of the U.S. If your region has lots of wind and less sunshine, opting for a wind turbine might be your best bet.

2. Call your local zoning jurisdiction to see what kinds of restrictions they have regarding the installation of solar panels or a wind turbine. Ask them if you will need permits. If you live in a community that has a homeowner's association, you need to check with them to see what they will allow in your yard or on your roof.

3. Figure out your energy demands. Look through your utility bills for the last year and see what months cost you the most for electricity and/or gas. Utility bills always tell you how many kilowatt hours you used by month and how many therms of gas you used.

4. Ask yourself climate questions. Do you live in a hot climate and run a power hungry air conditioner the better part of the day? If you do, you will need high-performance solar panels, or you can go with a system that will supply you with enough power to get through the cooler seasons using solar power, and use energy from the grid to power your air conditioning. You may live in a cold climate and need lots of heat in the winter. Could you install an EPA-certified wood stove that uses renewable firewood and creates almost no air pollution to avoid having to use gas, oil or electricity to heat your home?

5. Study your budget. Can you afford solar panels, or would it be better for you to put on a new roof using the new solar roofing tiles? There are companies that are installing these solar roofs on existing homes, and making the payments affordable by helping you take advantage of tax and utility rebate programs. Wind turbine companies will also help you navigate the rebates available for installing their products.

Starting Small With Renewable Energy

6. Consider your options if you can't afford a solar or wind turbine system to power your home. You can start small and affordably by using wood-burning stoves in the winter. When you buy a wood stove, make sure it's an EPA-certified wood stove. These burn far less wood than other stoves, and they don't cost that much more. These stoves have almost no emissions and use far less firewood or pellets than other types of stoves.
   If you live in a hot, dry climate, look for evaporative coolers at your local home-improvement store. These homes cool dry air effectively. In the driest climates in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and California, these coolers can cut the air-conditioning bill by more than half. Evaporative coolers do not work well in humid climates. You can also add a solar panel to an evaporative cooler to run the motor using the power generated by sunshine. Most evaporative cooler motors use about 100 kW per hour to operate, a far cry from the electric demand from an air conditioner.

7. Think about solar cooking. The sun does an excellent job of cooking food. Plans for solar cookers you can make yourself abound on the Internet, and you can buy a solar oven online as well. Solarcookers.org (see "Additional Resources," below) is an information storehouse for solar cooking, oven plans, types of ovens and companies that make them. Solar-cooked food tastes delicious, and you can cook virtually anything in solar ovens or cookers. Solar cookers work all year long everywhere in the U.S. when the sun is shining. If a solar oven won't work for you, use your Crock-Pot for cooking. It uses very little energy.

8. Get a solar hot-water heater. If you use this type of heater, you'll have to contact your homeowner's association or local jurisdiction to see what the rules are regarding a rooftop panel.

9. Use small solar panels and storage batteries that you can simply put in a sunny location to charge batteries for your laptop computer or hand-held games. You can also get solar-operated lamps that you set in the sun during the day to charge. Bring them in at night for additional lighting. You can also switch out your old-style lightbulbs with CFL lights or LED lights, both of which use very little electricity and last a long time.

10. Forget the heat cycle on the dryer when it's warm enough to dry your clothes outside. You can use the fluff cycle to get the wrinkles out, and then hang the clothes on coat hangers on a clothes line you can string from tree to tree. Clothespins are handy for hanging sheets and towels. You can also switch the dry cycle to "off" on your dishwasher, letting the dishes dry naturally.

11. Replace old appliances with EPA Energy Saving appliances when you need to. These appliances have the Energy Star label on them, and will save a lot of money on energy over the life of the appliance.

Resources

• Solar Maps of the U.S.
• Wind Map of the U.S.
• Solar Tax Benefits by State in the U.S.
• Wind Energy Information
• Solar Cooking Information