Renewable energy technologies are playing an increasingly important role in securing our energy independence. Since 2010 there has been a 60% increase in investments in renewables, and in early July of this year production of renewables surpassed nuclear energy sources for the first time in history.
The spread of renewables has fundamentally altered the energy spectrum, and as traditional energy industry players and new market entrants continue to join the fold, the scale, feasibility, and opportunity for renewables will only improve. Significant decreases in costs have made it more affordable than ever to augment your home with an energy system that: reduces your dependence on outside electricity, cuts energy bills, and most importantly, places energy control and decisions within your hands.
When you create power from the convenience of your own home, you are reducing strain on the electrical grid, and this can help to ensure that your community maintains access to reliable energy, when it is needed most. If you produce more energy than you need, it can be fed back into the grid and dispersed by your utility provider to other locations in need. Sending your own energy into the grid will also make your electrical meter run backwards, which is a very satisfying feeling.
Installing solar panels on your roof is one of the most common ways to create your own energy at home, but solar water heating systems, residential wind turbines, geothermal ground piping, and many others are viable solutions. It all depends on your geographic region (as some areas are better suited to capture certain sources) and your personal preference or inclinations. And adding some eye candy to impress the neighbors doesn’t hurt either.