Green energy kind of sounds like a comic book hero, doesn’t it? Of course it’s not. It is actually a way you can save hundreds, or even thousands, on your utility bills. It’s much easier than you may have thought.

Renewable Energy

Today the two most common forms of renewable, non-polluting (green) energy are solar power and wind power.

Solar Power

Between the two, more people are probably familiar with solar power. We’ve seen solar panels on roofs for decades. A solar panel is just a way to capture the energy of the sun and convert it into electricity. That electricity is than used or stored.

Solar panels are completely green and don’t pollute the environment at all. The sunlight is a renewable source of energy so we don’t have to worry about running out.

As the cost of solar electricity has fallen, the number of grid-connected solar PV systems has grown into the millions and utility-scale solar power stations with hundreds of megawatts are being built.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is rapidly becoming an inexpensive, low-carbon technology to harness renewable energy from the Sun.

The International Energy Agency projected in 2014 that under its “high renewables” scenario, by 2050, solar photovoltaics and concentrated solar power would contribute about 16 and 11 percent, respectively, of the worldwide electricity consumption, and solar would be the world’s largest source of electricity.

Wind Power

Wind power is captured by wind turbines, which look very much like windmills. These turbines then convert that energy into electricity which can be stored for later use.

Turbines have come a long way in the last few years, the technology has advanced to the point where the turbines are now small enough for household use, you can install a turbine in your backyard or on your roof.

Building your own turbine is the option that makes the most sense since it would cost over $600 to buy one. There are manuals available today that will show you how to easily and quickly build your own wind turbine using regular household tools and using materials you can buy at your local hardware store.

This option makes more sense for most people since it will only cost around $200 and it will only take you a month or two to recoup your investment.

Conclusion

It really doesn’t matter if you choose solar power, wind power, or a combination of both, the important thing is that you take full advantage of technology to use green energy to save the planet as well as save your own money.