Renewable Energy Systems for the Home
Climate change is making renewable energy technologies more popular for everyday home usage. Solar power, windmills and hydroelectric some renewable energy options. Planning a renewable energy system for your home begins with a bit of research. You should analyze your current electricity usage, research local codes and requirements, decide whether you want to operate your system on or off the grid, and have some understanding of the technology options that will work best for your location. Although researching, purchasing, and maintaining a system takes time and money up front, many people enjoy the independence they gain, the money savings in the long run, as well as the knowledge that they are helping the environment.
In this article:
A renewable energy system typically includes one or more.
- Solar power
- Wind power
- Microhydroelectric
Begin your home’s renewable energy system planning by analyzing your current current (yes, that happened). Consider energy efficiency measures to try to make your home more eco friendly. Review local building codes and requirements. Decide whether you want to operate your system on or off the electric grid. This decision will determine whether or not you’ll a need battery backup system. Solar is the most common but familiarize yourself with all the renewable energy options available for your home or building site. It’s not uncommon to utilize multiple renewable energy technologies at once. If it makes sense for your location, a hybrid system using combinations of technologies working together such as solar, wind, and water can be an ideal solution to more consistent power supply.
If you’re building a new home, collaborate with the builder or contractor to include a renewable energy system into your whole-house design. Try to develop an energy efficient home right from the start. You could also add the infrastructure to expand into renewable energy as the technology becomes more available and affordable. For example running wire for solar panels or for an electric car charger. You may not need either of these right now but chances are an electric car charger or solar panels will come in handy in the not too distant future. It’s a lot cheaper and easier to run wires durning the building or remodeling process than it is afterward.
Analyzing Your Electricity Usage
The first step in researching renewable energy systems is to calculate your home’s electricity needs, daily, monthly and even factor in the seasons. A detailed evaluation of your electrical requirements allows you to identify the following:
- The size and expense of the system required
- How your energy needs change throughout the day
- How your energy needs change season to season
- Some ways to lower your electricity consumption.
An electricity load study entails monitoring the wattage and average daily use of all electrical items plugged into your central power source, such as refrigerators, lights, televisions, and power tools. Some loads, such as your refrigerator, require constant power and others, such as power tools, require occasional power. These optional or selectable power loads are loads that can be used only when sufficient electricity is available. You can also stagger your power usage so you aren’t creating spikes of electricity usage. Possibly allowing you to get away with a smaller renewable energy system. Use your power tools after making breakfast, not while your coffee is brewing and your cinnamon bun is in the oven.
Consider energy efficiency techniques in your home before purchasing a renewable energy system to minimize your electricity consumption and allow you to purchase a smaller, less expensive system. Highly efficient and smaller appliances and LED lights, passive home heating and cooling are just a few things to try. Read here for more about eco-friendly appliances.
Calculate your electricity usage:
Multiply each appliance’s wattage by the amount of hours it is used each day (be sure to take seasonal variations into account). Because some appliances do not provide the watts, you may have to determine it by multiplying the amperes by the volts. Power consumption information is typically accessible on a sticker, metal plate, or cord attached to the appliance. For all chosen or selectable loads, record how often the power is most likely to be used.
Here are a few energy use calculators and resources:
Know Your Local Requirements and Codes for Small Renewable Energy Systems
To ad a small renewable energy system to your house or small company, each state and municipality has its own set of standards and regulations that you must follow. These laws can have an impact on the type of renewable energy system you can install and who installs it. They can also influence whether you link your system to the power grid or utilize it as a stand-alone system in place of grid-supplied electricity.
A local renewable energy company or organization, your state energy office, or local government should be able to inform you of the requirements in your neighborhood. If you want to connect your system to the power grid, these organizations may be able to assist you in navigating your power provider’s grid-connection regulations. Here are some of the state and local obligations you may face:
- Building regulations
- Easements (proximity to neighbors or shared access)
- Covenants and ordinances at the local level
- Specific technological needs
- Local Building Codes
Electrical and building inspectors check that your system is up to code. Building inspectors aren’t just bureaucracy. Their job is to make sure the what you are building is safe. To meet with local construction codes, your system may need to pass electrical and/or plumbing inspections.
Many building code offices additionally require a conditional-use permit or a variation from the existing code from their zoning board before issuing a building permit. Before purchasing a renewable energy system, contact your local county or city building code office to learn about their special inspection needs.
The inspector is more likely to approve your installation if you or your installer follow the National Electrical Code (NEC), install pre-engineered, packaged systems, correctly brief the inspector on your installation, and present a complete set of plans or drawings as well as the system’s diagrams. Furthermore, you should ensure that your system is made up of certified equipment and that it meets local criteria as well as relevant technical standards.
Local Ordinances and Covenants
Some neighborhoods have covenants or other rules that govern what residents can and cannot do with their property. For aesthetic or noise control reasons, these restrictions may limit the usage of renewable energy technologies. These rules may also include features that favor renewable energy systems so either way you should look into it. For more information, contact your homeowners association or local government. Not to mention discussing plans with your neighbors may avoid any future backlash.
Off Grid or Grid-Connected Renewable Systems
Some people connect such systems to the grid and utilize them to minimize the amount of conventional power provided by the grid. With a grid-connected system, you may sell any excess electricity you generate back to your power company.
Aside from the basic small renewable energy system components, grid-connected systems will require the acquisition of certain extra equipment (called “balance-of-system”) to safely transmit electricity to your loads and meet with your power provider’s grid-connection standards. Power conditioning equipment, safety equipment, and meters and monitors are examples of this equipment. However you can save the expense of a battery backup system. With a grid connected system you can get the benefits of clean, renewable energy without need to setup and maintain battery equipment.
Other people, particularly those in isolated places, use the electricity generated by their own systems instead of the electricity supplied by power companies. These are referred to as stand-alone or off-grid systems.
Balance-of-system components for stand-alone systems include batteries and a charge controller, as well as power conditioning equipment, safety equipment, and meters and system monitors.
Selecting the Appropriate Renewable Energy Technology
To begin selecting the best renewable energy system for your home, it helps to have a good understanding of how each technology works, as well as:
Availability of renewable energy resources (sun, wind, water)
- Costs and ongoing expenses
- Design and placement
- Needs and sizing
- Regulations and codes
Solar, wind, microhydropower, and hybrid electric systems are among the available technologies.
Solar electric systems — A small solar electric or photovoltaic system can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. Small photovoltaics systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines.
Small wind electric systems — Small wind electric systems are one of the most cost-effective home-based renewable energy systems. They can also be used for a variety of other applications, including water pumping on farms and ranches.
Microhydropower systems often generate up to 100 kilowatts of electricity, while a 10-kilowatt system can typically provide enough power for a big home, small resort, or hobby farm. Small “hybrid” solar and wind electric systems — Because peak operation hours for wind and solar systems varied by day and year, hybrid systems can overlap so are more likely to supply power when needed.
Keep in mind that all of these technologies can be employed independently, in combination, or in conjunction with a fossil fuel system. A hybrid system can be used. Blending various renewable technologies and/or utilized them in conjunction with a fossil fuel (gas, diesel, propane) powered generator or grid connection.
Overview
Common Home Renewable Energy System Components
- Solar panels: These convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.
- Micro wind turbine: Converts wind energy into electricity.
- Micro hydro generator: Converts the energy from flowing water into electricity.
- Battery bank: Stores excess energy generated by the renewable sources for later usage.
- Charge controller: Regulates the charging of the batteries from the renewable sources.
- Inverter: Converts the DC electricity from the renewable sources and battery bank into AC electricity used in homes.
The components work together as follows:
- The solar panels, micro wind turbine, or micro hydro generator collects energy from their respective sources.
- The energy collected is sent to the charge controller which regulates the charging of the batteries, preventing overcharging or discharge.
- Excess energy not used immediately is stored in the battery bank for later usage.
- When energy is needed in the home, the inverter converts the DC electricity stored in the battery bank into AC electricity for use in the home.
- The renewable energy sources, battery bank, charge controller, and inverter work together to provide a constant flow of energy to power the home.
Overall, a home renewable energy system allows homeowners to generate their own electricity, reduce their reliance on the electricity grid, and reduce their carbon footprint.
