The sunlight that hits earth in one hour is enough to cover the worlds energy demand for well over a year.

The surface of the Earth receives an amount of solar energy equivalent to roughly 10 000 times the worlds energy demand. Of course there isn’t always sunlight, but the solar panels can store the energy, and they are getting better and better at it. A solar panel converts one sixth of the sunlight into electrical energy. Although they also are getting able to turn more and more of the sunlight into energy, they are already so efficient that space isn’t much of an issue anymore. The area of solar cells needed to supply a family with electricity is usually much smaller than the roof of their house. And when including the land required for mining and excavation of coal, CPS-plants (power-plants that rely on solar energy) are more space-efficient than power-plants fueled by coal. Solar power is roughly fifty times as space-efficient as growing crops for bio fuels. And that’s just with the technology that currently is commercialized.

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Wind, solar, and geothermal energy are probably terms your are familiar with. But you may not know about the pros and cons, set-up costs, potential savings, and other details. Here are some of the basics about these types of alternative energy.

1. Wind Energy

Wind is a renewable energy source. Even though it comes and goes, it can’t be used up. This makes it an attractive choice for homeowners, and is considered a viable means by which entire communities can be supplied with electricity. The wind’s energy is harnessed by rotating blades of various shapes and sizes (wind turbines). Wind power is not without its downside, however. Here is a brief description of the basics of wind power and its pros and cons.

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Home wind turbine kits are cropping up all over the place. They can be bought off the shelf at large retail stores and installed by the homeowner or professionally. But how much power do they produce? Are they worth it? Here are some things to consider about home wind turbine kits and their efficiency.

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