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Installing residential renewable energy systems, such as geothermal heat pumps and wind or solar energy systems, can save energy, lower utility bills, and earn homeowners money.
Making the home energy-efficient before installing a renewable energy system will save money on electricity bills. Energy-efficiency improvements can conserve energy and prevent heat or cool air from escaping. Homeowners can obtain home energy assessments and install proper insulation, air sealing, and ENERGY STAR®–qualified windows, heating and cooling equipment, kitchen appliances, and lighting systems. Smart water use, available daylight, proper landscaping, and native vegetation can also improve home efficiency.
Once home energy-efficiency improvements have been made, homeowners are best positioned to consider options for installing a renewable energy system.
Solar water heaters use sunlight to heat water for the home. Solar water heating systems use insulated storage tanks and solar collectors to capture and retain heat from the sun, and heat circulating water. Solar water heaters require a backup system, such as conventional hot water heaters, when there is insufficient sunlight.
Federal and state incentives can significantly reduce the upfront costs of installing a renewable energy system. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency can help homeowners find incentives near them. Plus, renewable energy systems can pay for themselves over time. Grid-connected solar and wind systems are particularly cost-effective because excess electricity is sent back to the power grid and can earn homeowners direct rebates or credits from local utility providers.
Many homeowners can sell any excess energy their solar and wind systems produce back to their utility providers and, therefore, pay off their renewable energy investments more quickly. Most states have established "net metering" rules for customers who generate excess electricity through solar, wind, or other systems and feed it into the grid. In net metering, a bi-directional meter records both the electricity the home draws from the grid and the excess electricity the homeowner''s system feeds back into the grid.
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Planning for a home renewable energy system is a process that includes analyzing your existing electricity use, looking at local codes and requirements, deciding if you want to operate your system on or off of the electric grid, and understanding technology options you have for your site. | Photo courtesy of Thomas Kelsey/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
Maybe you are considering purchasing a renewable energy system to generate electricity at your home. Although it takes time and money to research, buy, and maintain a system, many people enjoy the independence they gain and the knowledge that their actions are helping the environment.
A renewable energy system can be used to supply some or all of your electricity needs, using technologies like:
Planning for a home renewable energy system is a process that includes analyzing your existing electricity use (and considering energy efficiency measures to reduce it), looking at local codes and requirements, deciding if you want to operate your system on or off of the electric grid, and understanding technology options you have for your site.
If you''redesigning a new home, work with the builder and your contractor to incorporate your small renewable energy system into yourwhole-house design, an approach for building an energy-efficient home.
Calculating your electricity needs is the first step in the process of investigating renewable energy systems for your home or small business. A thorough examination of your electricity needs helps you determine the following:
Conducting a load analysis involves recording the wattage and average daily use of all of the electrical devices that are plugged into your central power source such as refrigerators, lights, televisions, and power tools. Some loads, like your refrigerator, use electricity all the time, while others, like power tools, use electricity intermittently. Loads that use electricity intermittently are often referred to as selectable loads. If you are willing to use your selectable loads only when you have extra power available, you may be able to install a smaller renewable energy system.
To determine your total electricity consumption:
Considering energy efficiency measures in your home before you buy your renewable energy system willreduce your electricity useand allow you to buy a smaller and less expensive system. For information about determining the overall energy efficiency of your home, seeenergy assessments.
Each state and community has its own set of codes and regulations that you will need to follow to add a small renewable energy system to your home or small business. These regulations can affect the type of renewable energy system you are allowed to install and who installs it. They can also affect whether you decide toconnect your systemto the electricity grid or use it in place of grid-supplied electricity as astand-alone system.
A local renewable energy company or organization, your state energy office, or your local officials should be able to tell you about the requirements that apply in your community. If you want to connect your system to the electricity grid, these groups may also be able to help you navigate your power provider''s grid-connection requirements. Here are some of the state and community requirements you may encounter:
Electrical and building inspectors ensure that your system complies with standards. Building inspectors are interested in making sure the structure you are adding is safe. Your system may be required to pass electrical and/or plumbing inspections to comply with local building codes.
Many building code offices also require their zoning board to grant you a conditional-use permit or a variance from the existing code before they will issue you a building permit. Check with your building code office before you buy a renewable energy system to learn about their specific inspection requirements.
You are most likely to gain the inspector''s approval if you or your installer follow the National Electrical Code (NEC); install pre-engineered, packaged systems; properly brief the inspector on your installation; and include a complete set of plans as well as the diagrams that come with the system. In addition, you should be sure your system is composed of certified equipment, and that it complies with local requirements and appropriate technical standards (the links at the bottom of the page provide more information on technical standards).
Some states permit easements, which are a voluntary, legally binding agreement between owners of adjacent land regarding use of the land. For example, you might seek an easement specifying that no structure which blocks the renewable resource necessary to run a renewable energy system will be built. These agreements are binding regardless of changing land ownership. In addition, you may want to do a title search of your deed to determine if any prior easements or other agreements exist that could prevent you from adding a renewable energy system to your own property.
Some communities have covenants or other regulations specifying what homeowners can and can''t do with their property. Sometimes these regulations prohibit the use of renewable energy systems for aesthetic or noise-control reasons. However, sometimes these regulations have provisions supporting renewable energy systems. Check with your homeowners association or local government for details. In addition, you may want to discuss your intentions with your neighbors to avoid any future public objections.
Some people connect their systems to the grid and use them to reduce the amount of conventional power supplied to them through the grid.A grid-connected systemallows you to sell any excess power you produce back to your power provider.
For grid-connected systems, aside from the major small renewable energy system components, you will need to purchase some additional equipment (called "balance-of-system") to safely transmit electricity to your loads and comply with your power provider''s grid-connection requirements. This equipment may include power conditioning equipment, safety equipment, and meters and instrumentation.
Other people, especially those in remote areas, use the electricity from their systems in place of electricity supplied to them by power providers (i.e., electric utilities). These are calledstand-alone(off-grid) systems.
For stand-alone systems,balance-of-system componentsinclude batteries and a charge controller in addition to power conditioning equipment, safety equipment, and meters and instrumentation.
To begin choosing the right small renewable electric system for your home, you will need a basic understanding of how each technology works, as well as:
Remember that all of these technologies can be used by themselves, combined, or used in conjunction with a fossil fuel system. When these technologies are combined or used with a fossil fuel generator, the result is a hybrid system.
Technology options include solar, wind, microhydropower, and hybrid electric systems (solar and wind).
Today, many homeowners around the world are considering moving away from the fossil-fuel based energy sources that have served as our primary sources of electricity for the last 100 years or so. Using renewable energy sources for home living is simpler and less expensive than you might think.With the growing awareness of climate change and the diminution of nonrenewable resources, attention has shifted toward finding sustainable technologies and re-thinking age-old solutions for economy and efficiency.
If you are in the stage of building a new home, a careful analysis of needs and expenses can save you a significant amount of money and wasted energy over time. The United States Department of Energy website has tools to help you calculate your energy needs so that you can decide what systems work best for you recommends a lot of common-sense considerations, such as designing for light and temperature that one might not otherwise think about.
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