As the world tries to move away from fossil fuels as a fuel source, and as the cost of living is increasing but wages are not, there is a very real need to try and find ways to power your home for less. Ways that are also eco-friendly.
Energy bills can eat into a massive portion of your wages depending on where you live, the construction of your house and how many people live in your house. This isn’t factoring in how destructive conventional methods of power are to the planet and how unreliable they can be.
If you, like most of us, are tired of paying through the nose for your energy bills and are looking for a new power supply to supplement your existing one, here are three ways to power your homes for less.
Solar Power can Power Your Home for Less
The obvious and most affordable choice on how you can power your home for less is by installing solar panels. A lot of governments offer tax incentives for doing so as solar panels provide clean energy, but they can be pricey to buy and install. That being said, the savings associated with solar power are great. In the US, the average price of installing a solar system is around $13,000. Over the course of 20 years, you could save as much as $30,000 – giving you a profit of $17,000 through electricity savings.
It is important to note that how much you save will depend on where you live and how much direct sunlight your house gets. In colder states like Washington, Alaska and Vermont – all of which are quite cloudy – sunlight hours are reduced which means you may still need to rely on traditional electricity meters to a degree. In comparison, those who live in sunny states like Florida, Texas and California will see more of their electricity bills covered by solar panels.
Regardless of where you live, though, solar panels will definitely bring you savings and can even increase the value of your house, making them well worth the investment.
Domestic Wind Turbines
Another clean method of producing energy for your home is in the form of domestic wind turbines. If you live a particularly windy area, this is a viable way for you to produce 100% clean electricity and power your home for less. Installing a wind turbine is not quite as straightforward as installing solar panels, but the benefits are just as quantifiable. It is thought that your energy bills could be reduced by as much as 90% if you have a sufficient domestic wind turbine, but taking advantage of the benefits requires careful consideration.
First, you need to think about location. This means carrying out tests to see which part of your land gets the most wind. Next, you need to consider noise. Some wind turbines are loud which – if you live in close proximity to others – could be an issue.
Finally, you need to think about maintenance. You will need to check for things like loose bolts, corrosion and guy wire tension. All of this means you may need to undertake an extensive amount of research to understand the ins and outs of wind turbines and how they work, but if you’re prepared to do so, the savings are more than worth it.
Hydroelectric System
The third of our eco-friendly ways to power your home for less is to use water. This isn’t an option for those who live inland, but if your house is situated next to a river or a lake with a one meter drop, you could well take advantage of hydropower. Hydroelectric systems harness the energy of downhill flowing water, using it to provide clean energy for your house. As with most money saving ways to power your house, the initial outlay can be expensive, but the system will certainly pay for itself in energy savings.
Will you be trying any of these money-saving and eco-friendly ways to power your home for less moving forwards?