Many homeowners would like to move away from conventional CO2-producing energy consumption towards a newer, more sustainable model. But many don’t understand the full array of options available. It turns out that there are many more methods of generating electricity without CO2 than you would think.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Energy is all around us. It’s just that we generally lack the ability to transform it into electricity that we can use to power our appliances.
It turns out, though, that that situation is changing. And it’s all thanks to air source heat pumps. These work almost miraculously by capturing warm outdoor air and then using it to heat water. It’s clean, environmentally-friendly and could save you a fortune off your regular heating bills.
Biomass Systems
All fossil fuel power plants work by burning fuel to produce heat that drives steam turbines. Unfortunately, by doing this, fossil fuel companies are adding CO2 back to the atmosphere.
However, burning regular biomass is not the same. It will break down in the environment anyway, releasing CO2, so burning it for fuel doesn’t contribute to climate change.
Biomass burners can save you a fortune on your energy bills, so long as you have fuel on your property to burn. And they provide you with a green source of energy. However, the downside is that they can pollute the air nearby.
Community Solar
While you can install solar panels on your roof, community solar is a better option for most people. That’s because it negates the need to set up your own panels. Instead, you simply pay a subscription fee and get electricity sent to your from large, community-funded operations
Hydro Systems
If you happen to live next to a watercourse, you might benefit from installing a hydroelectric system. The idea here is to use the gravitational potential energy of water to drive a turbine which then provides your home with power. So long as the nearby river has a one-metre drop close to your property, it will usually be able to provide all of the energy that you need.
Wind Turbines
Commercial power generators build massive wind turbines that dominate the local landscape. But you don’t have to go as big. In fact, manufacturers now make small turbines that easily install on your property and start generating power immediately.
The way they work is actually quite intuitive. Wind blows past the turbine’s blades which then rotate a magnet. This then leads to the generation of electricity via the principles of conduction. Most people can save several hundred dollars per year installing a turbine, making the investment worthwhile.
Solar Panels
The final option is to simply install solar panels on your property – usually the roof, but actually anywhere that you want them. These collect the sun’s ray and then turn it into electricity which either charges a battery or powers your home directly.
A few years ago, direct solar panel installation was all the rage. But thanks to major out of town solar projects, it is now going out of fashion a little.
