How to Produce Electricity to Run a Home
Today electricity generation systems for homes are available that can reduce your home energy costs substantially if not completely. Small electricity generation systems can be built or purchased at little cost. And larger, more advanced electricity generation systems can be purchased that have reasonable payback times, allowing you to make a good investment in an clean, cost-free energy future.
Furthermore, if you successfully plan out your design, you can build an electrical system that does not compromise your comfort or your valuable time. By combining solar, water, wind and anaerobic systems into one integrated energy system, your home will have all the electricity you want when you want it. And more than that, a hybrid system will provide you electricity when your on-grid neighbors don't have it, such as during blackouts and national disasters.
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Things You'll Need
- Rigid solar panels
- Solar rolls
- Biogas generator
- Foldable solar panels
- Wind generator
- Solar battery chargers
- Solar window panels
- Battery bank
- Portable batteries
Instructions
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Start small. First look at portable solar products to power your small home electronic devices. A wide variety of portable solar chargers can be used to recharge your batteries and power your PC, GPS, cell phone and PDAs. Purchase solar luggage and solar storage containers. These items come with built-in solar panels sewn into the fabric. Line sunlit areas of your home with solar rolls. Solar rolls are flexible and can be hung anywhere where there is adequate sun. Purchase several portable and foldable solar panels. Foldable solar panels are attractive and small enough to place on shelves in sunlit rooms.
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Replace your windows with solar windows and insert solar transparent window panels. Keep in mind, though, that the efficiency of solar window panels is not as high as the latest stand-alone solar cells you will find on rigid panels. On the other hand, solar transparent window panels transform a window from an energy sink to an energy source.
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Buy a wind generation system. These systems are making more and more sense for homeowners. The cost is dropping, and their power and efficiency ratings are increasing. Federal and state tax credits also make them a cost-effective economical alternative to on-grid sources.
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Install a rigid photovoltaic solar system. This system should be placed in or on a large area, such as the roof of your house. And it should be positioned to capture the highest amount of sunlight. For the summer, this system should be designed to power your air conditioner and other major appliances. In the winter, it can also be used. But if you live in a climate where there is not much sun in the winter, you will have to rely on your other electricity-producing systems, such as your wind generator.
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Build or install a biogas generator. Also known as an anaerobic digestion system, biogas generators take food and animal waste and convert it to a gas that can then be used to generate electricity. The latest technology comes from China and India. In China, there are more than 5 million anaerobic digesters in use as of 2010.
Integrate all your electrical generation systems into one. Purchase complete integrated systems that include an energy controller and wind, solar and a biogas generator. Or configure your own energy plant controller that delivers the electricity from your electricity-producing subsystems into one battery bank.
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Tips & Warnings
Look for alternative energy appliances. Stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, and freezers are among the largest energy consumers in your home. Using appliances that have low energy ratings or built-in alternative electricity producing systems will lower your average and peak energy needs. This will lower the amount of electricity you will need to produce and lower the outlay costs of your hybrid electricity producing system. The use of Energy Star-qualified appliances will guarantee that your appliances are efficient. Also consider building your home so that it is Energy Star-compliant.
