Top Alternative Power Sources for Your Home

25 Jan

In the not-too-distant past, technology was all about functionality and convenience. Or in other words, about making our lives easier and allowing us to do things we never could before. In more recent times though, technology has quickly come to revolve around helping the environment too. There are some alternatives to electricity in the home that can do wonders.

Just consider how many companies are desperate to attach some kind of “green” credentials to their products; and how many new energy solutions are touted as being more sustainable. Or better than that, just consider the astonishing fact that nearly every major car manufacturer has pledged to reduce the production of gas-powered vehicles by sometime in the 2030s.

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Furthermore, this increased environmental concern has come at precisely the same time as new home energy solutions have been developed. Alternative power is now all the rage, and many homeowners are hoping to get in on the action – if they haven’t already. Consider also the new smart home technology, the concept of having all your home devices linked together and communicating with each other over a network.

There are many advantages to this Internet of Things (IoT) technology, but a major one is certainly energy sustainability. A computer program that turns off the lights when you are not at home – it is easy to see the energy-saving potential of such technology.

So, what this shows us is that energy management and the technology that can make this easier is very important. Probably more important, however, is where that energy is coming from. Alternative energy sources could be a very good idea for your home.

Can I Afford It?

The alternative energy sources available (which we will get on to in a moment) certainly suggest that there will be some kind of energy solution you absolutely can afford. There is a great deal of choice on offer, both in the energy sources themselves and the technology that can deliver and regulate them.

But that shouldn’t be the only budgetary consideration. You should bear in mind that while spending on alternative energy sources might be an investment, it is also one that could end up paying for itself. There is a blindingly simple principle behind this – energy saved is money saved.

Alternative Energy Sources to Consider

So, what’s on offer? Here are some alternatives to electricity in the home energy sources to consider:

#1: Solar

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The great thing about solar power is that today there are not only many options to consider, but also that the cost has also come down significantly. Solar power for your home could be realized by a large rooftop installation or a supplementary solar generator placed in your garden. Solar power is usually supplementary, but it can become your main source too. Moreover, there is something for all budgets.

#2: Wind

Most of the time, wind power supplements public energy grids and is not a private source. However, if you have significant space and real estate – and especially if you live in a rural area – then you could create a private wind farm. With such large projects, there is also the opportunity to sell excess power.

#3: Battery Power

Battery power takes many different forms. Often it is combined with other energy sources in order to store the power generated. Store enough, and you can create an auxiliary supply. There are also much smaller household products, such as the USB-C D-type rechargeable smart batteries (and other form factors, obviously).

Besides the above top 3 sources, there are some more sources that can be alternatives to electricity in the home. They are #4: Biomass systems, #5: hydroelectric systems for home, #6: Renewable electricity supply, #7: Air source heat pumps, etc.

There are many more alternative energy supplies not listed here. And the whole topic rewards further exploration – you could just find a source that saves both the planet and your energy bills.

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