Solar energy

Solar energy, as shown in this video, is suitable, in some areas, for industrial usage and public distribution, and can be extended to all exposed surfaces on the planet. Home owners and companies, depending on their office locations and structure, should also consider using solar windows.

For an accurate estimate of the capacity of a solar installation, we recommend measuring energy levels over the course of a year, or referring to recent figures, if available, for the target location. See charts and tools for solar potential calculation. Finally, many other domestic applications of solar energy can be considered, for example, swimming pool heating systems.

Wood and biomass energy

Biomass and wood, when used appropriately, represent an important resource - as demonstrated in this example, where regular fuel boilers are replaced by biomass boilers, vastly lowering the corresponding carbon footprint. Some countries like Denmark already extensively, and publicly, use biomass power for an important part of their energy needs.

The drawback of biomass energy is that it can be depleted, through excessive use and deforestation. To avoid this, energy sources such as the geothermal solution, shallow or deep, should also be considered when using wood or biomass power. Read more on biomass boilers.

Water power

Water power is a promising, clean energy source, based on using water movements, tides and waves, to produce electricity. Because of the amount of water on our planet, this technology has the potential to provide infinite, environment friendly energy.

Another advantage of water power, even for households, is that production rates remains relatively constant over time (while solar and wind power production rates vary depending on external factors). If there is running water on your property, a micro-hydro installation could cover an important share, and in some cases even, the whole of your electricity consumption.

Wind farms

In some areas, wind farms are an interesting solution for industrial energy needs. On the other hand, while domestic wind turbines are evolving, they still require favorable conditions to perform adequately. Thanks to public figures and tools, US residents can rapidly estimate how well a domestic wind turbine would serve them. If figures are not available, as in the case of solar power, we recommend measuring wind speeds on site for a year before investing in actual equpiment.

Even if domestic usage currently is limited, the wind power potential of the planet exceeds our energy needs, and large scale farms may produce enough electricity for thousands of households. For this reason, in many countries, the development of wind farms, and the distribution of domestic turbines are supported by public grants, like other clean technologies listed above (geothermal, solar, and water based - and in some areas, biomass also).

Carbon capture

Carbon capture is a tool to mitigate the small environmental impact of geothermal power, and generally, carbon levels in our atmosphere. By injecting vapors freshly emitted by fossil fuels or other sources back into the ground, it can also help heat conservation and assist geothermal power plants in reducing their carbon footprint. Read more on carbon capture.

Hybrid cars

Hybrid cars have become an interesting alternative to regular cars, due to the recent variations in petrol prices. They are competitive with many standard models, and offer several long term advantages to their counterparts (reduced maintenance and fuel costs). See this detailed guide to hybrid cars for more information.

Programmable Thermostats

Heating is one of the most important ways in which we consume energy, and can easily be managed by installing programmable thermostats. They allow a proper balance of heat when and where it is needed in an apartment, and an appropriate configuration allows savings of about 15% of an average household's heating bill - every year. Learn how to setup a programmable thermostat in this video.

Solar ovens

In some areas, solar cooking may be an interesting alternative to using standard or microwave ovens. Solar ovens come in different forms, generally, easy to assemble - even from spare parts. The finest of these ovens rival commercial electric ovens - and they are suitable for sunny areas, or for barbecues. They practically have no impact on the environment. Read more about solar cookers.