Alternative Energy Products

The green consumer these days is blissfully well catered for and considering the growing interest in carbon footprint reduction, chances are than an even wider variety of products will enter the market. One of the most exciting categories is alternative energy products.

Solar energy powers some of the most exciting alternative energy products available. They can perform a wide range of tasks, from solar heating to electricity generation through photovoltaic panels, to light up the garden and power gadgets such as rechargers. The alternative energy store , for example, features an impressive range of products, from the expected, such as panels and lights, to the truly novel, such as solar water fountains.

Wind power is another leading force within the alternative energy products market. In order to power your home with wind, you need a wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tower. The turbine will collect kinetic energy from the wind and convert it to electricity that is compatible with a home's electrical system. As in the case of solar power, excess power can be sold back to the utility company.

But you can also have wind power with other types of alternative energy products, although there are fewer options than solar, which is much more suitable to gadgetry. Take, for instance, HYmini, a wind-powered charger for small electronic items, such as iPods, mp3 players, cell phones, PDAs and digital cameras. There�s also the Air-X, which is a small wind turbine designed for home owners. Its manufacturers say this mini wind turbine can charge "any size battery bank from 25 to 25,000 amp hours or higher". You can also take your green credentials on the road with another category of alternative energy products: hybrid cars. These usually combine two sources of power, the most common being a combination of electric motors and gasoline combustion engines. Hybrid fuel cars don�t have to be plugged-in for power as the battery is recharged through the combustion engine. Hybrid fuel cars produce less pollution because the combination of battery power and internal combustion decrease the emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. They offer good performance and although upfront costs are higher, manufacturers offer warranties of up to 100,000 miles. Finally, hybrid fuel cars often qualify for tax breaks which are part of governmental incentives to increase consumer adoption of greener cars.