If you want to lower your energy bill or even go off grid you may want to look at ways to utilize renewable energy sources. A renewable energy source, by definition, is one that is not used up. This is a definite benefit over other energy sources since they are finite and will eventually be totally used up. Although the idea of moving totally over to renewable energy sources can be very appealing to many people it will take planning and creative thinking in order to use them in your own home.

Examples of renewable energy sources

There are a number of renewable energy sources. They include:

• Solar power

• Wind power

• Geothermal energy

• Biomass

• Power from water

Some of these sources are much more suitable to a small scale home or business. Here are a few ways that you can utilize these renewable energy sources in your own home.

Solar power

One of the easiest forms of renewable energy to use in your home is solar power. Installing solar panels can provide you with the electricity or hot water that you need to run your home. Although many people think that only warm, sunny locations can utilize solar power this is not actually the case. In fact, as long as you have an area that is fairly unobstructed it may be possible to harness the solar energy you need for your home.

You may be able to heat water for your home using solar water heating panels. This water can be used to heat a home through the use of radiators or in-floor heating systems that radiate heat up through a home’s floor.

Geothermal energy

There is a great deal of heat available in the soil and water that surrounds a home. A heat pump system can draw heat up out of the ground or surrounding water and transfer it to your home. This is done through the use of refrigerants that are pumped down into the ground, heated up by the ambient heat and then brought back into a home for use in a variety of different ways.

Geothermal systems are wonderful as they are able to be used regardless of where a home is located. Although a heat pump system can be expensive they do lower heating costs enough that one of these systems will pay for itself in a fairly short period of time.

Other renewable energy systems such as wind power can be very useful in some areas but are not necessarily the best choice for everyone.