The Benefits of Solar Energy

Renewable energy can be cost effective right now in the right application. For cabins and homes the first step is to make sure that you have the most energy efficient appliances available. This will lower your cost of the renewable energy system and give a quicker payback. Efficient appliances would include fluorescent lighting (about 4 times as efficient as incandescent), efficient appliances such as a refrigerator/freezer and clothes washer (you won't find these at a regular appliance store), efficient water pump, and so on. The use of propane or natural gas appliances will also have to be considered for heating, cooking, air conditioning, and other high power consuming duties. Although, these could also be done with high efficiency wood burning appliances, solar heating, floor radiant heating, geothermal heat pump, or other renewable means.

In some cases there may not be a choice because of your location. The utility may not have power lines that run to your property, so the cost of having lines installed could be rather large. Typically, if your site is 1/2 mile or more from the utility grid, then it may be more cost effective to purchase some type of alternative energy source. Some estimates of running power lines have been anywhere from free to $50,000. You can get an exceptionally good renewable energy system in that price range. Cabin and remote home renewable energy systems can range anywhere from $500 for lights, radio, and TV on weekends to $16,000 for a complete system with all the comforts.

Cabins and remote homes are not the only cost effective use for renewable. They are being used today in many applications such as remote lighting, telecommunications, fish houses, marine applications, highway signs, calculators, and many other areas. There are also many projects going on around the country where people are tying their systems into the utility and selling excess power back to the utility. This type of system is popular because it can be configured without a battery bank, which means the cost and maintenance of the system is greatly reduced.

There is also growing concern about environmental issues related to the burning of fossil fuels and nuclear waste disposal. Renewable are definitely better for the environment. They are basically pollution free, they don't depend on oil supplies domestically or in the Middle East, and they give you more independence from local utilities. Money

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