Whether to add the extra expense
of battery backup is important. A pair of Tesla Powerwalls will cost about $14,000 installed and store enough electricity to power a home for seven days. It’s suit- able for people looking to go off the grid because the sun doesn’t always shine, and power generated on sunny days can be stored and used when it’s overcast. Off-the-grid solar is not just for those
living in sun-rich states. Installers can look at a property—oſten remotely, through ap- plications like Google Earth—and deter- mine if solar is appropriate. Sometimes a few trees will have to be sacrificed, but the benefits are manifold, and not just because there will be power during grid blackouts.
Wind: If the Resource is Right Wind power accounted for the largest share of renewable energy growth in 2017, reports the International Energy Agency, but it’s in its infancy for homeowners, partly due to an average cost of $48,000 to $65,000 per installed project. Residential turbines have been installed in all 50 states, but many parts of the U.S. have marginal resources. Check the Department of Energy wind resource guide for local data at
WindExchange.Energy.gov. Te best-case scenario is strong winds
plus few neighbors close to a large property (and lenient zoning laws). Wind may work for the 19.3 percent of the population that lives in rural areas and the 21 million American homes built on properties of an acre or more. However, it isn’t for everyone. James
Weston, of Greene, Maine, installed his tur- bine 10 years ago, and considers his rooſtop solar panels a better investment. “By the time you put up your 100-foot tower to get the tower above the tree line and optimize the wind resource, the return isn’t there,” he says, noting that his savings from the turbine amount to a few hundred dollars a year. Bergey WindPower, maker of
the 10-kilowatt BWC Excel 10 turbine ($31,770), recommends that a property have at least a 10 mph average wind speed, coupled with high electricity prices of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or more. Also con- sider the neighbors: Te system’s turbine is typically installed on an 80-to-100-foot tower, and so-called “viewshed” objections
Residential wind power is in its infancy in the U.S.
have taken down many projects (including Cape Wind, in Massachusetts). With annual maintenance, the DOE
reports that small wind turbines should last about 20 years, the same basic lifespan as solar panels. Te federal production tax credit for wind is available this year, but won’t be available aſterwards. Some states offer incentives. A useful small wind guidebook can be found at WindExchange.
Energy.gov/small-wind-guidebook.
Geothermal:
Available Anywhere Some common misconceptions about home geothermal are that consumers need to live in one of the planet’s “hot spots” (think Iceland, California or Utah). But the truth is the Earth’s temperature just below the surface al- most anywhere is a constant 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Northeast and Midwest have the highest geothermal adoption rates. Geothermal doesn’t necessarily require a large piece of property. Local geology will be a factor in siting and sizing the system. Geothermal systems use underground
pipes filled with refrigerant that absorbs warmth from the ground through a heat exchanger. In summer, that same under- ground temperature can be tapped to cool
a home, combining heating and air condi- tioning in one system. While it necessitates a relatively high
upfront cost, low operating costs mean the systems can pay for themselves in less than 10 years. Most include a ground-source heat pump with a 50-year warranty. For a 2,500-square-foot home, an average off- the-electrical-grid system will cost $20,000 to $25,000 to install. Bill Martin, in Quincy, California, runs an efficient three-ton geothermal system installed in 2014. “It’s been a very good experience,” he says. “I’m ecstatically happy.” Te same 30 percent federal tax credit
that applies to solar also applies to geother- mal for systems installed by 2020. States also provide incentives. A detailed guide on availability is available at
Tinyurl.com/ GeothermalHeatPumpListing.
Special Considerations Buildings, especially older structures, are usually sieves in terms of energy loss, so before investing in a system, check to see if the local utility provides free energy audits. Even if it’s not free, it’s worth finding out if the home needs new windows or strategi- cally applied insulation. Tere are scammers in every field, and
alternative energy is no exception. Ask pro- viders for references to previous customers and check for online cautions from the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and others. Alternative energy in any form can
save money and precious resources. Ex- plore the options thoroughly and choose wisely before pulling the plug.
Jim Motavalli, of Fairfield, CT, is an author, freelance journalist and speaker, specializing in alternative energy, clean automotive and other environmental topics. Connect at
JimMotavalli.com.
If a Stream Runs Through It P
roperties with moving water have a fourth sustainable power source available to them: hydroelectric. If opting to harness the energy in a nearby flowing stream or river, 10-kilowatt micro-
hydropower systems can power even large homes. Tey combine piping from the water source to a turbine, pump or waterwheel with an alternator or generator, regulator and wiring. According to Home Power magazine, a fully installed hydro system for the average use of a modern household might cost $20,000 to $100,000.
April 2019 25
Worldpics/
Shutterstock.com
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