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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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