Renewable Energy Design

Designing a custom home with renewable energy in mind, help reduce the reliance on the national electrical grid, we can also look into creating a home that is self sufficient. Being self sufficient not only incorporates electricity, but also water.

Technology options include solar, wind, microhydropower, and hybrid electric systems (solar and wind).

• Small solar electric systems -- A small solar electric or photovoltaic system can be a reliable and pollution-free producer of electricity for your home or office. Small photovoltaics systems also provide a cost-effective power supply in locations where it is expensive or impossible to send electricity through conventional power lines.

• Small wind electric systems -- Small wind electric systems are one of the most cost-effective home-based renewable energy systems. They can also be used for a variety of other applications, including water pumping on farms and ranches.

• Microhydropower systems -- Microhydropower systems usually generate up to 100 kilowatts of electricity, though a 10-kilowatt system can generally provide enough power for a large home, small resort, or a hobby farm.

• Small “hybrid” solar and wind electric systems -- Because the peak operating times for wind and solar systems occur at different times of the day and year, hybrid systems are more likely to produce power when you need it.

All of these technologies can be used by themselves, combined, or used in conjunction with a fossil fuel system. When these technologies are combined or used with a fossil fuel generator, the result is a hybrid system.