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MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT
This article was read 62 times
Saving Energy, Saving Money: Part 2, Alternative Energy In Your Home With oil wars and immanent energy crises foremost on many people’s minds these days, it is becoming increasingly popular to look into alternative forms of energy that can be harnessed for use not only in large industry, but also right at home. While it is not feasible to harness nuclear power in our homes, there are some natural, renewable resources at our fingertips that can be used to cut our energy costs and our dependence on non-renewable fuel resources.
While pressure on our governments to research and implement larger-scale energy reform in the form of investment in renewable resources such as hydro-electric, wind energy, solar power and natural gas is one major way that we can take care of our world, implementing some alternative forms of energy at home will help us do our part for the environment and also for our bank accounts. When we hear discussions about reducing our dependence on foreign-owned non-renewable resources like oil, there are several alternative options that are bandied about. Many of these have been adapted for use in our individual homes. The most common forms of alternative energy in the home include geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, and good old fire.
Where To Start Second, you need to take a look at what is feasible based on your home’s current status and your financial means. Installing an alternative energy source will require an initial investment, a substantial one in some cases. Your investment will pay for itself in the following years through energy savings and, if your government is savvy, tax incentives, but you will have to make the initial investment. Also, find out as much as your can about your options. If possible, talk to people who have installed the systems you are looking at (in person, or even in an online forum), and find out the pros and cons of your preferred system before going ahead. You don’t want to find out halfway through your solar panel installation that the surrounding trees are going to block any viable rays, rendering your system all but useless.
Geothermal Pumps There are two major types of geothermal systems: open loop and closed loop. The open loop system uses ground water, from a well or nearby lake. The water is pumped form the water source to the heat exchanger and transferred to a refrigerant system that runs through your home. Heat in the pipes warms the air in your home. The water used is returned to the ground from whence it came. This system depends on access to a water source. A closed loop system is not as dependent on water source, as it involves the transfer of a water/antifreeze solution through a closed system of pipes that are buried from 6-8 feet (in the case of horizontally laid systems) or as deep as 200 feet straight down into the ground for vertical loop systems. Again, the solution is pumped through a heat exchanger and refrigerant circulates through the home to heat (or cool , as the case may be). If the space available for piping is limited, a Direct Exchange closed loop system can be installed, wherein the refrigerant itself circulates through the piping system. The basic theory behind this system is this: ground temperature, at depths below 10 feet, maintains a constant temperature of 12.8°C (55°F). When the refrigerant passes through the heat pump, it either vaporizes (to absorb heat) or condenses (to release heat). In the winter, the pump absorbs heat from the fluid and releases it into your home, and in the summer, the cycle is reversed, absorbing heat form your home and transferring it to the fluid to be released in the ground. On the downside, the initial cost of the geothermal system is significant, especially if you have limited space and find you need to drill fairly deeply into the ground. If you can get other homeowners in the neighborhood in on the investment, however, you can install the geothermal system to service several homes off of one system of pipes. On the upside, this is an extremely efficient system that can reduce your furnace heating costs by 50% and your air conditioning costs by 30%, so you can recuperate your money in as little as 6-8 years. If you are building a new home, it is worth checking into the geothermal system, which will make your home immediately energy efficient, as well as increase your resale value.
Solar Energy The power collected by solar panels can be converted into energy to run appliances in the home as well. Energy accumulated can be stored in the cells of solar batteries to run appliances at night. While the home run completely on solar power is rare (but certainly increasingly common, given the right conditions), solar energy is a great way to cut your reliance on traditional forms of energy in your home, and can cut the cost of your energy bills significantly. A solar power system can pay for itself in as little as 2-6 years.
Fire Using an alternative form of energy in your home to cut costs and dependence on non-renewable forms of energy is an investment in your home, as well as in the well-being of the earth. The savings your will see will not just be on the monthly bills, but also in the form of tax breaks and in increased resale value. It is only a matter of time before converting to alternative forms of energy is not a choice, but a necessity. Why not get a jump start?
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