Renewable Energy - What Are The Realistic Choices?

When it comes to Renewable Energy, just how many choices do we really have?

Plenty!

Although in today's world, the most prominent and promising ones would be Solar, Hydro and Wind Power. Our world is heading for destruction if it does not get a hold on the reins of fossil fuel consumption.

Now, we all know that since such Energy is non-renewable, sooner or later, depletion is most certainty the eventual outcome. Instead of leaving things to chance, we can always turn our focus to Renewable Energy Solutions.

The Sun is like a huge reservoir that is abundant in Energy. This is Free Energy. We have, up to this point, wasted the Sun Light for so many centuries. Now is the time to recoup that Energy by tapping the Solar Power to meet our Energy needs. By using Solar Energy, we are living green as well. The Sun is used today in Solar Heating Systems, Residential Solar Power Systems, Solar Dryers etc.

Other than being green and renewable, did you know that Solar Panels are built to last for decades? Most systems can last for up to 30 years. This not only saves you money and effort on its maintenance, there is hardly any repair needed as well. While it can be costly to install one at home, you will recoup the initial investment overtime.

Wind Power is another powerful and free resource nature has given us. Civilization has made use of it in many ways and for many, many years. Windmills are nothing new and have been used by different countries as a water pump or as other mechanical devices, such as grinding grains. Today, they are used to convert Wind Power into Electricity. When used for this purpose they are more often referred to as Wind Turbines. (See picture at the right of this post)

Large Wind Farms have been built to supply many homes with power. (See the picture of the First Wind operation built on Maui I just took a picture of from a distance.) While some may think they do not look aesthetic today, there are many that forget they are there. In fact, I just read a report, and I wish I could remember where, but they have not adversely affected the Real Estate Prices of homes located near them. They tend to blend well with the landscape. Unless you let them keep bothering you. That's a choice we make about most things around us.

Hydro Energy, the power of running water has been tapped for decades now. This has been used to provide Electrical Power in automotive and electrical appliances. Dams can often supply enough energy to sustain an entire town or city.

Maui does have some Hydro Electric Generation. the Big Island of Hawaii has quite a bit, but there are not too many dams to worry about. Getting enough water to run them, well that's a story by itself.

One product that I have bought and hope to put to use between work, blogging, raising grandchildren and putting on Health Conferences and Farm Tours is the Earth4Energy package. The ad is located on the right of this blog and should be on my website soon.

I recently gave away a copy to a Small Farm Family in Kentucky. Hopefully, I will have some updates on how they make out. The package has so much information, step by step plans, videos and lists of resources that you could literally build a Solar Panel for a few hundred dollars and probably double your money making them for your neighbors. That could be a nice little side money for those that have organized garages, unlike mine.