What is the cheapest way to harness solar and wind energy to power your home?
Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at
11:45 am
I live in a very hot and open area, so solar energy will work perfect since the sun shines the whole day with no shadows from trees, and since it is open it is also windy at times too
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One of the cheapest ways is to take advantage of any passive solar energy you can. If you have any south-facing windows, keep those curtains open all day to warm your home.
Solar hot water can be done very cheaply with a simple system that uses coiled black hoses on your roof. You pump the water up into the hose, it warms as it flows through the hose on the roof, then back down to be used as warm water. (that is a very simplistic explanation, but you get the idea)
For about $200 – $250, you can get yourself set up with a solar panel system or a wind power system, if you’re willing to learn how to do it yourself. This is the method that will save you the most money in the long run, as it will eliminate your power bills. You can get the installation guide to do this here: http://www.solar-powered-home.com/solarpowerhomereviews.php
I think they are called Zolur Panulz and Wint Povver Zeneruters but don’t quote me on it.
Use google to find solar power companies and look up your national government’s energy department and your local government to see if there are any subsidies. Also get some wind speed measurements done, but in general note that small wind turbines are worthless. Unless you’ve got a great site.
In general, if you want renewable power, it’s cheaper to simply change providers to one that invests in renewable energy. In the UK we have Good Energy and Ecotricity who only buy renewable & nuclear electricity and only invest in renewables.
This is more sensible, since big renewable power stations are usually more cost efficient than domestic ones!
I recently got a Solar Panel on my Garage roof, I definately did it the cheapest way possible…
http://www.gomestic.com/Home-Improvement/Getting-a-20000-Solar-System-for-Free.687537
It takes a couple hundred dollars. You need a good website to teach you how to do it. Try http://tiny.cc/solarandwind
Since you have a lot of sunshine in your area, you could also try a solar water heater.
Windows
The glass lets in sunlight and can heat the home somewhat and when opened can let in the wind to cool the home somewhat.
For a hot and open area, solar hot water is your best bet (after insulation and conservation).
Wind will be 1/3 the price of solar electricity, if you have a suitable location. Most cities will not let you erect the necessary tower – hopefully you live in a rural area.
for a wind tower in Wis. you must enough space in your land for the tower to fall down.A Large Tower Requires One Square Mile. All kinds of Subsidies .It sounds like you need connections to get the required permit here. Mother Earth News had An Article about a couple on a Farm Bought a Huge Wind Generator. Thirty years ago. they lived someplace around a Town Called Sparta,Wi. I remember they were supposed to have recovered their investment a few times.They were shopping for a new one.There were no rebates at that time. Sometime in the 30’s 1940’s if you wanted electricity you bought a wind Generator.They weren’t all that big as now.
You stated the CHEAPEST ways to harness solar and wind energy.
In the winter, open drapes on the South side of your home for maximum solar gain.
In the summer, keep those same windows drapes pulled close. You may even want to add a second bamboo drape on the outside of your house to hang down over those windows, to shade them, to help keep them extra cool.
Opens windows and doors on the North side of your home to allow the cool air to enter at night, and early in the morning in the summer.
In the winter keep those same windows and doors closed, draped, and good insulation to prevent drafts.
Open a single window on the side where your prevailing wind is, and then open a window at the other end of the house. It acts as a wind tunnel. If your house and windows are well positioned you can actually cool your house 40 degrees within 10 minutes.
Harnessing solar and wind energy in well constructed, well insulated modern homes does not mean having to purchase and install expensive equipment.
We heat and cool our 1970’s house in by major portions (40-50 degrees) just by what drapes we open for the solar gain, and what windows we open for the breeze.
40-50 degree temperature changes in the house absolutely for free…nothing more than our time and effort.
~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
The solar energy is the cheapest. It stores energy from sun and this energy is stored in the batteries which shines in the night. However the system which you might have is somewhat costly. If you get this system from China, this will cost you very cheap. We in Pakistan have installed solar lights in Racecourse Garden in Lahore, which are working well. You can ContactHuhuan Hong yuan Solar Techology Co. Ltd. China. Their phone No. is +86-576 8727579 and email address "sales@yhhtyn.com" http://tiny.cc/solarandwind and "yhhytyn@yahoo.com" Good Luck
These days the cheapest way to produce electricity at home from wind and solar is to build these products yourself.
If you are just a little handy you can save a small fortune vs. buying them pre-made.
Wind Power:
http://www.thegreenhomeeffect.com/energy-production/wind-power/how-to-build-a-wind-generator
Solar Power:
http://www.thegreenhomeeffect.com/energy-production/solar-power/build-your-own-solar-panel