Look for solar power companies near you and schedule a consultation. Solar power companies can look at your home and property to determine how efficient solar panels would be. [2] X Expert Source Guy GabaySolar Energy Contractor Expert Interview. 4 August 2020. Solar power companies will examine the slope of your roof and the direction that it faces, whether it’s north, south, east, or west. These are all variables that will determine how much energy that solar panels could theoretically produce for your home. [3] X Expert Source Guy GabaySolar Energy Contractor Expert Interview. 4 August 2020.

See if there are any financing options for the solar panels so you can pay them off over a set period of time rather than spending a lot up-front. You can install single solar panels at a time if you can’t afford to buy multiple panels. Sometimes, electric companies offer certain rebates or incentives if you install solar panels. Contact your electric provider and ask them if they offer grants or discounts for solar panel installation.

If you don’t feel comfortable installing the solar panels yourself, many solar power companies will install the panels for you. [6] X Expert Source Guy GabaySolar Energy Contractor Expert Interview. 4 August 2020. Solar panels generate DC power, but inverters convert it to AC power so you can use it in your home. [7] X Expert Source Guy GabaySolar Energy Contractor Expert Interview. 4 August 2020.

Any extra electricity you generate can usually be sold back to your electric company, so you may be able to make some extra money over time.

Many zoning ordinances have a height limit of about 35 feet (11 m), and many wind systems need to be 30 feet (9. 1 m) higher than the tallest structure within 500 feet (150 m). [10] X Research source

Wind speeds increase the higher above ground you are. Many airports measure their wind speed from about 30 feet (9. 1 m) above ground, which is similar to the height of a residential turbine. Hire a professional who installs wind turbines to check the efficiency and wind speed of your property for you if you have trouble determining it yourself.

For example, if you use 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and the average annual wind speed is 20 miles per hour, your formula would be 11,000 = (0. 01328)D2(15)3. If you solve for D, the diameter you need for your system is about 10 feet (3. 0 m). Once you know what size turbine you need, purchase one from a local supplier. This company may also be able to supply you with other crucial parts (like the tower) and/or complete the installation. You can also find wind turbines online.

You can ask a local supplier to provide an estimate for you before you buy.

Burning these waste materials creates methane and carbon dioxide, which can be used for heating, cooling, and cooking. While methane and carbon dioxide are both greenhouse gasses, burning the methane in a biogas system is better than releasing it into the atmosphere. Typically, it’s more efficient to burn biomass than it is to compost it.

Biogas systems are typically slightly more expensive, but they are still around the same range.

If you’ve already had surveys done or the previous owner of the property has had them done, contact your local county records office to access those surveys. There are ways to take these measurements yourself; however, they are very complicated and often take multiple seasons to complete. It’s usually much easier just to hire someone to survey your property.

Each state controls their own water rights, and they can vary from state to state. You will also need to factor in the environmental impact of your micro-hydro system. If you have any native species on your property, for instance, that would be impacted by a micro-hydro system, it may not be feasible.

Micro-hydro systems are typically expensive upfront, but they can last for decades and often require little to no maintenance.

You can keep costs low by reducing your energy consumption to decrease the kilowatts that are needed for your system.

Generators are fairly simple machines, and they’re easy to maintain. However, they tend to get noisy, and diesel or biodiesel fuel costs can add up.

Diesel generators are slightly more expensive than gas-powered generators. However, diesel generators are more fuel-efficient, so they’re worth the extra cost.