What is the most efficient way of powering your home? Do you use solar power, wind turbine, coal?

Question

fire, gas, electric, wood fire, ice blocks and a fan? What works for you, how green is it and why it works for you? Anyone have any additional costs associated with installing or using these options? Any installation professional, or self? What would you say are pros and cons to alternative power sources? What do you think is the cheapest, easiest way to power a home? Would like to hear from folks who have added alternative power sources to their homes and hear your experiences.

Answer 1

I have just answered a Q. similar to this,My G/Fs small holding has no mains, water, sewage,gas or electricity we have a genny that runs the washing machine, T.V & charges a large battery pack we have bottled gas for cooking & heating filtered rain water for showering & washing clothes, a composting toilet, all waste water is collected to water the veggys, when we've finished our waste 'gulper' we should be able to produce our own gas, the genny runs on bio fuel which we produce & the back up petrol genny runs on methenol, which we also produce, we dont pay any utility bills, how cheap do you want to run? you can only watch T.V for a couple of hours a night, but we've got all mod cons!

Answer 2

your location will decide that

In the desert or hot places ,it would be solar power

this wont be much good in places like England

there tidal generators would be a good idea.

on the coast ,wind power

If you live on a fast flowing river or stream or a water fall .water turbines

Wind and sun are the best options for most

Answer 3

Unfortunately, I don't have answers for most of your questions.  I rent my house so I am still at the mercy of the utilities company.  

For the first part of your question, which option is most efficient would depend largely on where you live.  Up here in Northern New York, trying to use solar would be not be a good idea because we don't get much sun, but there are wind farms.

Answer 4

The cheapest and most efficient way is still to purchase power in bulk from local utilities who pass on the savings they achieve with large fossil fuel powered generators on to you.  Unless you are lucky enough to live near major hydroelectric producers or nuclear plants.