Wind Power
As the name suggests, wind power harnesses energy from the wind. You probably think of massive wind turbines out in an open expanse of land, such as the new GE Haliade-X. This particular turbine could power a single home in the UK for two whole days…after just one rotation! While that’s pretty amazing, a huge wind turbine just isn’t a very practical solution for the vast majority of homes.
That being said, there are some wind power options for the home to consider. The Department of Energy refers to these as small wind electric systems. However, with all the complications and size requirements, there’s a good chance that a small electric wind system is just not worth it for most homeowners.
Pros:
- Get off the electrical grid
- Lower your “carbon footprint”
Cons:
- Large and impractical
- Extremely complicated
- Can be very expensive
Geothermal Heating
Geothermal heating is not the same thing as geothermal power. In order to create geothermal energy, you need an actual power plant. In other words, the very thing we’re trying to get away from!
Geothermal heating, however, is something that can supply homes with a heat source without needing a power plant at all. Instead, geothermal heating uses a geothermal heat pump (or “ground-source heat pump”, or GHP for short).
GHPs have the power (literally) to provide heating, cooling, and even hot water to homes. It does this by transferring heat either into or out of the ground. In fact, this is a remarkably common device and has been for over fifty years. It’s extremely popular because it can lower your energy bill by up to 65% when compared to a traditional HVAC unit.
Pros:
- Less reliance on the electric grid
- Reduce energy bill substantially
- Popular and time-tested technology
- Lower carbon emissions
Cons:
- Requires new equipment and installation
- Upfront cost
- Maintenance costs
- May not get a home completely off the grid
Fuel Cells
You might be wondering, “What kind of fuel cells?” That’s a great question. The answer is hydrogen. Hydrogen fuel cells can be stored to provide energy and electricity at a later date, just like solar or wind power.
