Why is there such an interest in home wind power and solar energy, for powering a typical family home? Now that supplies of fossil fuels are under threat, and the demand for power continues to grow (especially from emerging economies like China), it is imperative that alternative sources of energy production are found. Households can go a long way toward alleviating the demand for energy by producing their own supplies.

Any excess energy produced (over and above the home's need) can be sold to the electricity company and made available on the national grid. It is relatively inexpensive and once the initial work is done, will provide energy for years to come. A typical small wind turbine, for instance, could be installed over the course of a weekend. What about the savings that can be achieved? The wind turbine typically lowers your utility bill by 50-90%. It is not unusual for families with total electric homes and wind turbines to have monthly utility bills of $8-$15 for part of the year. In cooler climates, where less air conditioning is used, the bills can be very low year round.

Energy-producing solar panels are also well within the ability of someone with a reasonable amount of DIY skills. The raw materials for these items are readily available - most of them in typical hardware chain stores.

The more families realise that it is a viable alternative to the electricity company, the faster it will catch on and the better it will be for the environment. Both of the energy sources that are dealt with on this website are environmentally friendly - wind power and solar power. They are both sources of electricity that are freely available in nature and so they deserve the "green" tag.

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