It’s all well and good to have noble goals about going green at home. Recycling, using less water and utilizing natural cleaning products are all part of that. What if you want to go bigger, though? If you’re thinking about expanding your positive impact on the environment, you should think about how your home uses energy and where you could make changes. The renewable energy industry has several options from which homeowners can choose to reduce their carbon footprints.

Solar

By now, most people have at least seen solar panels. Many people have them on their roofs or in their yards to help power their homes. In addition to the solar panels themselves, we know they need special batteries to store the power the sun generates so that power can be used when the sun’s not out. We also know about the special electrical connections needed to ensure our power grids aren’t overloaded. What many of us don’t know is that the renewable energy industry has been tinkering with solar power to expand its’ uses. Solar water heaters are now available. That solar-heated water can be stored for use in your showers and faucets or can be pumped through pipes in your home as a heat source.

Wind Power

Most of the wind power harnessed by the renewable energy industry is by large wind turbines at farms located at sea or in deserts. Homeowners can specify that their home’s electricity be provided by energy that comes from wind farms to encourage electric companies to continue to invest in this green energy source. You can, however, consider investing in a wind turbine to put at your own home. Consider how much wind you typically get at home. There are ways of measuring it yourself or you can consult the government’s wind map or ask your local airport about the average wind speed data they collect. Figure out how high you can go, also, as the higher your home wind turbine, the more electricity it will generate. Newer, quieter, smaller turbines are an alternative to the large towers with their loud mechanics. Turbines allow homeowners to exploit this green energy source.

Geothermal Temperature Control

You can use the steady temperature of the earth to help maintain a level warmth in your home. Merely by sinking geothermal pipes down four feet into the ground, you can help regulate your home’s ambient temperature to augment or replace your existing heating and cooling system.

The renewable energy industry is continually making improvements to help homeowners go green.