How to use renewable energy at home

Aside from the environmental benefits, high-energy costs and forever improving technologies have led more and more people to consider installing renewable energy systems in their homes.

It makes sense. While coal-powered energy is expensive and polluting, and nuclear power potentially dangerous, the cleanest forms of energy are all around us, in the form of sunshine, wind, the earth and running water. The only thing left to do is to harness all that free energy.

The easiest way to plug into renewable energy is to switch your electricity provider to one that uses energy from clean, renewable wind, solar or hydropower sources.

Solar panels

If you want to cut out the middleman, however, you can harvest the power of the sun directly in to your house by installing photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on your roof. In a single hour the sun transmits more energy to the earth's surface than humankind uses in a year (source: www.sunrenewables.com), but we don't get close to making the most of this free and plentiful resource. In the past, solar panels were criticised for being too expensive, but as they become more popular and production levels increase, costs are coming down and they're starting to be a more economically viable option.

If the cost of putting in PV panels to produce electricity puts you off, you could consider a solar hot water system, which is cheaper to install. The Low Impact Living Initiative runs a weekend course on how to build a solar water heater, at the end of which, you take home a custom-made system to install.

Wind turbines

A wind turbine can also generate clean, renewable electricity. However, you need to be in a reasonably windy location for a turbine to work effectively – ideally 40 feet above ground. If your house is surrounded by trees, or is sheltered by larger buildings, or a hill, then a wind turbine is not for you. Also be aware that small wind turbines may not make a net saving in terms of carbon emissions when cost of manufacture is set against in their energy generating lifespan, so make sure you do the maths before investing.

Geothermal

Ground source heat pumps take heat from under the ground and use it to heat your home. Regardless of the temperature above ground, below the surface it is a constant temperature of between 10 °C and 14 °C. The system requires an electrically driven pump to move the heat, so unless you use green electricity to power it, it will still cause some CO² emissions. However, these will be a lot less than heating your house using traditional methods. For more information visit the website of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

Hydropower

If you happen to have a fast moving stream or river running through your garden, it may be possible to use it to generate electricity. Unlike solar or wind power, hydropower can be generated constantly – unless there is a drought. Even small hydro schemes have the capacity to generate substantial amounts of electricity, and you may be able to make money by selling some of it back to an electricity company. If you do decide this is a viable option, you should contact your local council, water authority or the Environment Agency due to the environmental impact it could have downstream of your property.

Biomass

Another renewable energy source that can be used to heat your house is biomass. Sometimes called biofuels or bioenergy, biomass is plant matter such as wood or straw. Unlike burning fossil fuels, burning biomass is carbon neutral as the CO² produced is the same as the CO² absorbed from the atmosphere during the plant’s life. As you have to buy the fuel, the cost of a biomass boiler will depend on your local fuel source. To make it even more environmentally sound, biomass can be generated from organic waste, which would otherwise be sent to landfill. For more information visit www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk.

Green Roofs

One way to save energy is to grow plants on your roof. It may sound like a wacky idea, but it has many environmental benefits. A green roof will insulate a building from heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, reducing those costly energy bills. It will also help reduce pollution, particularly in urban areas. Green roofs can also reduce rainwater run-off by at least 50% (source: www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk), contributing to urban drainage and flood alleviation schemes. They can also attract wildlife, particularly insects & birds.

The type of vegetation you grow on your roof needs to be carefully thought out, of course, and it is probably best to consult the experts rather than getting out a ladder and some gardening gloves and attempting to do it yourself. It is essential that you consult with an architect or structural engineer to confirm that your roof will bear the weight of soil, plants etc before undertaking any work. If you do fancy a bit of roof gardening, you can research your options and get ideas from www.livingroofs.org and www.thegreenroofcentre.co.uk has a DIY guide you can download.

Insurance implications

If you are thinking of modifying your property or any outbuildings to make use of renewable energy sources, you should inform your home insurance company of any changes you make. Direct Line home insurance covers solar panels as standard as part of our buildings cover.

Related information:

Home insulation – top tips on saving energy and money

Energy saving tips – how to choose the best energy supplier

Ethical travel – 'go green' on holiday