Alternative Energy House

Our homes are one big source of pollution. Our domestic life depends heavily on electricity, water and cleaning products, not to mention all the trash that it produces. In order to decrease our homes' impact on the environment, we can recycle, be frugal when it comes to water usage and transform our homes into an alternative energy house.

An alternative energy house is one that gets its electricity from solar and wind power. A home can be completely independent from a utility company with a stand-alone system or use renewable energy to power the house only partially. Wind energy is one of the best options for the alternative energy house although it is more suitable for rural and suburban locations. A wind turbine is installed on top of a tall tower to collect kinetic energy from the wind and convert it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system.

Solar power is another great option for the alternative energy house. It can be captured via photovoltaic panels (PV) or solar water heaters. These can provide up to 80% of hot water needs of an average home. If you're going to build a new home or remodel an existing one, passive solar design is another alternative energy house option. The concept here is to maximize solar exposure with adequate house orientation and window sizing, roof overhangs (to shield the house from sunlight in the summer and absorb it during winter), daylighting (enabling sunlight to pour in the house during the day) and other design details that can make all the difference.

Finally, always enquire whether your electricity company can provide power from a renewable source. Utility companies usually have to disclose this type of information and depending on your location, this may be the most viable way toward an alternative energy house.