What Are the Different Types of Renewable Energy?

Most of us don’t put too much thought into our utilities. We grumble about how the water, gas, or electric bill is higher than usual, but we never actually take the time to consider energy alternatives, much less compare energy prices.

You should know, however, that thanks to government legislation in recent years calling for increases in renewable energy to reduce dependence on foreign oil and cut back on pollution, consumers now have greater access than ever to green energy, not only provided by their energy companies in Florida, New York, and California, but also via home technologies.

Whether you elect to start shopping around for natural gas companies in Florida or you seek out vendors that sell solar panels, here are just a few different types of renewable energy every concerned citizen should know about.

Solar

Solar power comes from the sun and it is probably the best known and most popular source of renewable, green energy. Sunlight is collected by photovoltaic cells (solar panels) that convert it into usable energy.

As you are probably aware, sunlight cannot directly power our electronics. Without the proper technology to harness the light and heat energy of the sun, we cannot convert it into the electric current needed to power the lighting, electronics, and appliances in our homes.

Unfortunately, solar panels are not cheap. So when you start to compare energy prices you could be in for a shock. That said, most people no longer pay thousands of dollars up front for solar panels. Instead, they are able to finance them over, say, 20 years so that they continue to pay a monthly price similar to their average electric bill, and after that they get to enjoy free energy!

Don’t forget, the vast majority of energy companies in Florida and the rest of the U.S. also provide a portion of their energy from alternative sources like solar power these days, so even if you can’t afford solar panels, you could still be doing something good for the planet.

Wind

You’ve probably seen miles of wind turbines stretching across fields if you’re the road tripping type – in recent years the number of wind farms has increased incredibly. As energy alternatives go, wind is solidly in second place.

Although residential wind turbines are an option for some homeowners, and there have even been tax incentives to install them, most people seem to prefer solar power.

Water

Plenty of research is being done to figure out the best methods of using water power. Unless you happen to have water on your property, though, chances are you’ll have to rely on your energy provider to harness water power and deliver it to your home.

Geothermal

Perhaps the least known alternative energy resource is geothermal energy, although geothermal heating for homes has become more common. This is because the process of turning geothermal energy into electricity requires the collection of steam from below the Earth’s surface to fuel turbines that generate electricity. In other words, it’s not exactly feasible for the average homeowner.