DIY Renewable Energy Sources
Now that the supply of fossil fuels is beginning to run out the search is on for all kinds of renewable energy sources to replace, or at least reduce, our dependence on oil.
Nuclear fission and hydroelectric power are well established but have geographical, technical and political limitations as sources of alternative energy.
Nuclear fusion is on the horizon and could provide huge amounts of power, but it will not have any practical application for many, many years to come. It might not even happen at all.
Geothermal, tidal and wave energy hold out some promise as alternative energy sources but are still largely at the research and early development stages.
For each of us this means the worry of a large utility bill every month, and the prospect of worse to come. Higher fuel costs, more power outages, the cost of living increasing year by year.
So is there any renewable source of energy that we could use right now to reduce our dependence on the national grid and the utility companies?
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The only practical alternative energy sources are solar energy and wind energy. Systems using these alternate energy sources have been available for quite some time and, as a result, have been developed and refined so that they make good sense for residential use.
When used together, they really can make a huge reduction in domestic energy costs. Even if used separately they are still worth serious consideration.
Both solar and wind are renewable sources of energy – they will not run out if used! They are available everywhere around the world. Best of all, they are freely available to everybody. So, how can we use these sources of renewable energy in our homes?
Solar energy can be used to provide both electricity and direct heating, indirectly it can provide cooling as well. Wind power can produce electricity and can power some types of machinery such as mills and water pumps.
For the average home this means power for lighting, appliances, hot water, hot showers, swimming pool heating, hot tubs in the backyard – there is a long list of exciting possibilities.
The problem, for many people, is the cost of ready-made alternative energy source systems. A solar panel array for an average house will cost $20,000 or more, and a useful wind turbine can also cost a similar amount. These costs need as many as 20 years to recoup with lower utility bills, making them unattractive for those of us not on the Rich List.
The good news is that these devices are now very simple to make yourself, they are cheap ($200 for a 100 watt solar panel, for instance) and you do not need to be either a professional electrician or an engineer. Anybody can do it!
In fact, your difficulty is more likely to be the huge range of offers you will encounter, especially on the internet. Many of these will not provide you with the information or guidance necessary to do a good job. Some are so badly produced that they could be dangerous if followed to the letter, or be unacceptable to your local building inspectors.
How can you separate the good ones from the bad, without trying them and risking a lot of wasted time, materials and expense?
I hope to help you in this process. Using my experience with building, installing and operating energy alternative sources for myself, I believe that I am able to select only those products that will work properly and offer good value for money.
I am only interested in practical solutions, preferably ones that are also fun and rewarding in more than just financial terms. So I have only chosen products that include all the data and information needed to make a working system easily and cheaply.
This means that the kit must include good quality plans, clear and simple instructions, diagrams and sketches to help wherever necessary, preferably photos and videos to give a clear understanding of the build process especially for amateurs or those new to these renewable sources of energy.
Since I assume you will be buying these products online I also insist on a proper, no-nonsense guarantee that will ensure a full refund of your money if you are not satisfied for any reason. That way you can be sure that you are not taking any risks, even though none of these kits cost more than a few dollars.
At present my favorite kit for making renewable source energy products is Earth4Energy, although there are several others which you can see on this website that have advantages in particular areas. For instance, if you are interested in making a solar swimming pool heater, then I would recommend the GreenLiving kit.
However, I feel Earth4Energy offers the best and most comprehensive package if you are new to this and want to make both solar panels and a wind turbine. Their videos are first class, and they include loads of supporting information such as wind maps, where and how to get government assistance, electrical wiring techniques – all very useful.
Overall, a very good package that I highly recommend for making your own renewable energy resources.
Click here to check out my recommended renewable energy sources kit
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