Alternative Home Energy
Supply, Use and Generation

Alternative home energy options give us a way of being part of the movement into alternative ideas for energy. The house we live in and the way we power it can be part of the solution.

Also appliances and accessories we use can affect our consumption of it.

So much is changing at the moment. Building codes, insulation and lighting types, entertainment equipment and cooking methods are evolving. Alternative types of home energy covers many aspects.

An Illustration From Lighting

Even remembering Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb invention illustrates some of the changes already on us. With the amount of power required to generate light - only 10% of the power consumption creates light. The rest is used in heat - which creates a sometimes unwanted side-effect.

Halogen lights, a variation on the incandescent light, but with more efficient light production, created one option.

And fluorescent lights are supposed to be four or so times more efficient than incandescent ones. This led European countries to ban the incandescent lights. And in New Zealand a brief ban was imposed by one government, reversed when it lost power. Some people have problems with fluorescent lights and their rapidly flickering pattern. Then there is the internal mercury that creates problems with disposal. How many people dispose of them in an appropriate way?

Older model LED downlight

LED light production is rapidly advancing and is at a point where it can be useful for alternative energy homes. And although much information currently out there states that there is still some distance to go to create useful lights to replace others available now, in fact very good LEDs are coming on now. An example of some of these rapid changes.

To explore further ideas for choices in alternative home energy efficient home lighting see more information on this site.

For those seeking even more specific information about LEDs there is a section dedicated to using LED lights in the home.

Power Supply And Appliances

So as well as choosing who supplies our electricity, the way they might generate the power, and any supplementary generation we might use there are the appliances we use in our homes.

House Design Ideas

The design of our homes can improve our energy consumption - such as recommended by this well-qualified energy consultant in the Home Energy Faire website. Insulation obviously reduces heating and cooling costs. And design ideas can use available influences of the sun for extra benefit. We can utilise what is already available.

New ideas to create more energy-efficient homes as well as making them more sustainable are emerging including using easily grown industrial hemp.

For the current gold standard on maximizing energy efficiency, passive heating and occupancy comfort in alternative home energy the passive house concept holds a wealth of ideas.

Even beyond this ideal standard there is the possibility of a low energy consumption home that also generates more of its own power than it consumes!

Newer Developments

At the same time it is wise to keep a sense of perspective. If we know what is coming in the near future it is possible to plan more effectively.

For alternative energy homes changes in the wings can mean cheaper energy or much more efficient delivery. This can affect how we plan to use what is already there. Costlier or longer term options might be best put on hold if it is possible to achieve real savings in the future.

As a salient example this video on free energy available in the near future challenges some of our long held practices and ideas.

Alternative Home Energy Supply

First there is the consideration of current power providers out there. Sometimes there are valuable alternative power sources for home we can already use in our own country or city.

Right now energy supply is deregulating around the world - a once in many lifetimes event.  You should be able to choose a supplier who may best meet your needs.

Then there are ways we can create our own alternative energy homes. These can supply all or part of our current use needs. In some cases it may be possible to sell power we generate back to a national or city grid.

Ideas such as sun generated power for our homes are important. This can be passive with effective design or active with water or power generating options.

In a great helpful and informative website dedicated to DIY Green Energy For Homes see the specific page on solar panels which you can create at greatly reduced cost.

Especially for those of us in windy locations and areas of the world, wind generation is a viable alternative home energy option to consider.

Alternative power from streams and other moving water will be an option for a limited number of people.

And other alternative home energy heat sources besides the sun can provide warmth. Heat from something like a geothermal source or variations in ground and air temperature are already used in some parts of the world and some building designs.

For further ideas on maximizing your use of and benefits from home energy take a look at Home Alternative Energy for some other perspectives.

As a passing idea it is also possible to utilise composting, animal waste and similar facilities on site as a source for alternative home energy.

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