How can I figure out what type of renewable energy is best for my home?

Question

There are all kinds of renewable enery technologies making news these days. Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, Wind, Geothermal. How can I determine which one is right for my home?

Answer 1

This one of the problems with renewable energy.  It is way too complicated.  You mentioned small wind, solar photovoltaic, solar hot water and geothermal heat pumps all possible for homes and businesses.  Don't forget tax incentives and local utility rates.  Not pretty.  The most important answer is that there is no single best technology for everyone.  To get the most for your money, technologies must be compared locally.  Corporations have meteorologists, engineers and financial analysts that "prospect" for spots to build big wind farms and solar plants.  They are making LOTS of money.  The rest of us average Joes deserve a shot too.  My friends and I started doing research in renewable energy for our homes (yeah, we're all nerdy engineers) and ended up building something to break down the complexity.  We have a renewable energy calculator to compare renewable energy technologies against local weather data, utility rates and incentives.  It has wind and solar pv so far.  Solar hot water and geothermal are coming, along with more improvements.  Check out the renewable energy Calculator page at  www.AlternateEnergyCentral.com.

Bear in mind, there are also lots of considerations like property specific features, zoning regulations, etc. that the calculator will never fully predict.  A local renewable energy professional is your best bet there.  Hopefully, the calculator is a good first source of information about what may (or may not) be good for you.

Answer 2

A combination is the short answer.

A wind turbine and solar cells for electricity.

Solar collector for direct water heating.

Answer 3

There is a very good article explaining the difference between solar power at home and wind power at home and when to use it at

http://www.squidoo.com/off-grid-living

Good luck

Answer 4

well, unless you are a very rich billionare i wouldnt suggest geothermal, and for the others check ur weather, if your weather is windi go wind, if your weather is mostly sunny go sunpower if both go both (if affordable) if neither you mastill want both so that u may have enough power to live.

Answer 5

I think the only renewable technology that has really worked its way to the public is geothermal. I hear that it works very well and is non intrusive to the surrounding aesthetics. Since it goes underground you don't have ugly solar panels or any other obtrusive machinery. Geothermal will also work in all types of weather. Since it uses the earth as a heat exchanger, you do not have to worry about constant sun, wind, water .. ect.

Note: all the options are still very expensive but might be worthwhile in the long run (with energy costs always increasing)      

Answer 6

geothermal is not the way to go. "MDL" is thinking of a geothermal heat pump, with is very efficient, but requires energy to operate. it does not make power. solar is expensive with little gain. if you live in a windy area, a wind mill will give you a return over a long period of time. the best options are: if you have a large stream, built a water wheel. if you have a farm build a anaerobic digester (makes natural gas, they are popular in 3rd world counties to power stoves). those are the only you will get a return on. instead of trying to make power, you should find ways to save it. replacing your windows will give you ten fold the return that the same $ would for solar panels. buy some insulation. replace your water heater with a on demand heater.