Generate Your Own Energy
A direct way of using renewable energy is to install renewable energy generating
equipment like solar panels or small wind turbines. These systems can be cost-effective,
particularly in rural areas where the only alternative is extending long electric
distribution lines to serve the house or another small load. Many Texas ranchers use solar
panels to pump water in a cost-effective manner. Others choose to augment their existing
utility power with solar panels; in this arrangement, they reduce their electric bill by
generating a portion of their own power needs. Solar water heaters are another great
technology that is vastly underused in Texas. While these devices don't generate
electricity, they do reduce the need for electricity or gas for your water heater. Solar
water heaters can provide 50-80% of the hot water needs for typical homes and businesses
in Texas. Here are some materials to get you started:
Design for Renewable Energy
When building a new home or remodeling an existing one, pay attention to details such
as passive solar design (taking advantage of the sun's ability to heat the house in winter
simply by proper house orientation and window sizing), roof overhangs (which can be
designed to keep the sunlight out in summer and let it shine in during the winter),
daylighting (allowing the sun to provide much of the home's lighting needs during the
day), and other factors. Here are some materials that can get you started.
Make the Most of the Sun and Wind
Often, we can use readily available renewable energy to accomplish tasks that we've
grown accustomed to completing with electric or gas power. For example, we can reduce our
reliance on electricity and other fuels by trying our hand at solar cooking, drying our
clothes outside, even using the sun's energy to make tea! Here are some ideas to get you
started.
Buy
Green Power
If you live in an area where you have a choice of electricity providers, choose a
provider that emphasizes their commitment to renewable energy. All electricity companies
competing in Texas are required to disclose information about how the power they are
selling you is generated via a content label (which looks something like the nutrition
labels found on many foods). You can use these content labels to compare power offerings
from competing electricity providers.
If you live in an area where you don't have a choice of your electricity supplier (for
example, if you are served by a municipal utility or rural electric cooperative that
hasn't opted into competition) you may still be able to purchase a green power option from
your existing supplier. Many utilities, including those in Austin and San Antonio, are
offering more than one choice to their customers. Ask your electric company if they offer,
or plan to offer, a green power option.
Make Your Home Energy Efficient
One of the most important benefits of renewable energy is that it generates electricity
with little or no pollution. We can also reduce pollution by simply reducing our own
energy requirements by conserving energy and making our homes more efficient. Examples of
energy conservation measures are turning the lights off when we leave the room and
installing programmable thermostats so we don't unnecessarily heat or cool our homes while
we're not there.
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