How can I make my home self-sustainable in energy?
I’ve been thinking about solar energy – photovoltaic panels – but I’m having doubt’s about how effecient it will be. (I live in Denmark – Scandinavia).
Which photovoltaic cells can perform best under the weather-situation in Denmark, what is cheapest? What is the most effecient? What is the best solution?
Are there other viable solutions for me than turning to the sun?
How costly will it be for me to invest in renewable energisources for my house?
I understand that it’s an investment and not an expence.
Thank you for taking time to read my question.
//Heatbabz
overall been green is not cheap, it most likely cost you more to transform your house to renewable energy then the saving you will get from it, for the time you are left to live in it. if the house is new and you are young and it is built in then over the life expectancy of the house it might be a good investment.
just an example i have researched is geothermal in a vertical well would cost about 50 000$ in canada and with winter time at -20 to -40°C that mean i still have to heat up the house to get to a normal living temperature. it would cost less per winter for heating but still the investment would take decades to be profitable. the question is how long before you will save not saving the environment. if you wish to save the environment then expense is futile. i for one have not that kind of money.
January 24th, 2010 at 12:44 am
overall been green is not cheap, it most likely cost you more to transform your house to renewable energy then the saving you will get from it, for the time you are left to live in it. if the house is new and you are young and it is built in then over the life expectancy of the house it might be a good investment.
just an example i have researched is geothermal in a vertical well would cost about 50 000$ in canada and with winter time at -20 to -40°C that mean i still have to heat up the house to get to a normal living temperature. it would cost less per winter for heating but still the investment would take decades to be profitable. the question is how long before you will save not saving the environment. if you wish to save the environment then expense is futile. i for one have not that kind of money.
References :
January 24th, 2010 at 1:11 am
well… idk anything about Denver or Scandinavia… the best bet is to get a combination of a solar panel and a windmill, the panel will work in cloudless still days, and the mill will work in cloudy, windy days. this way you have consistent energy. a 20 foot mill will produce enough energy to power a home by itself, but it will cost 2000-5000 USD [20 feet refers not to the mills height, but to the span of the surface the wind has to push against, the taller a mill is the better, the higher up the windier it gets] you can get a solar panel for $99 here; http://www.mysolarbackup.com/
if yo do go with the combo, a 16-foot or maybe a 12-foot mill will be sufficient, depending on the climate of denver…. BTW: solar panels work best in COLD weather, with 6 hours of uninterupted sunlight a day.
important fact; the most efficient solar panels REQUIRE complete sunlight, if a shadow hits the corner of a panel it WILL NOT WORK…. less efficient panels negate this, something to consider.
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