Alternative Methods to Power a House
Using alternative and renewable energy sources to power your home will not only benefit the environment but can also save you money. The cost of traditional power supplies, mainly produced by burning fossil fuels, has increased over the last decade. Switching to sustainable and renewable energy is a realistic option for many households. Does this Spark an idea?
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Solar Power
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Solar energy is one of the least expensive and easiest ways to switch your home to an alternative power source. A full solar energy system uses photovoltaic solar panels to turn the sun's energy into electricity to power your home. Solar heating systems use solar collectors to absorb the sun's warmth and heat the domestic water supply. Many communities across the United States have established solar access planning guidelines for households that want to switch to solar energy.
Wind Power
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Another low-cost way to change to an alternative energy supply is to harness the power of the wind. Installing wind turbines to power your own home is feasible if you have around an acre of land on which to place the turbines, according to the United States Department of Energy. Smaller properties can use small wind turbines to supply some domestic power or for specific purposes such as pumping water.
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Geothermal Power
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Geothermal power is an option for heating and cooling your home wherever you live in the U.S. Geothermal systems generate power by harnessing the natural heat of the Earth. Geothermal systems use a network of underground pipes connected to a ground-source heat pump to tap into the power generated by the Earth's internal heat reservoir.
Clean Energy Providers
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Clean energy companies provide an option for households that want to switch to alternative power but don't want to install wind, solar or geothermal equipment. Clean energy companies use only "green" energy sources to provide the power used by domestic companies. Alternative energy sources used by clean energy companies include biomass, solar, wind and geothermal.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit wind turbines image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
