What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy, to put it simply, is energy that develops from a natural source that is naturally restored. Renewable energy alternatives are a rapidly expanding segment of the energy sector. So much in fact that today nearly a fifth of electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources. Over 44 million homes use biogas for cooking and lighting.
With climate change worsening and oil prices inflating, it’s no wonder thousands of people are making the switch to renewable energy services. Keep reading to explore your California renewable energy options, what you can save and where to find providers.
Renewable Energy Resources in California
There is actually a wide range of renewable energy resources in CA. Which renewable energy options are available to you depend on where you live in California and how your home is built or retrofitted.
- Wind
- Solar
- Tides
- Rain
- Geothermal heat
- Biofuels
- Hydropower
These are just a portion of the renewable energy sources that are currently being used in California. New renewable energy sources are being discovered every single day, giving consumers everywhere more control over where their energy comes from and how much they have to pay for it.
How to Get Renewable Energy in Your California Home
Interested in using renewable energy as opposed to traditional energy sources? Fortunately, consumers have more renewable energy options than any other time and are available in urban and rural areas alike.
Solar energy – If you want solar energy you can choose to invest in a solar water heater from any major home improvement center, have solar panels installed, or buy energy provided by California solar photovoltaic power plant.
Wind energy – Wind farms have been being built in California to provide communities with another electricity option. It's also possible to contact a local provider to have a residential wind turbine installed at your home.
Geothermal energy – You can purchase a geothermal heat pump system to received hot water or use a geothermal energy system rather than a traditional HVAC system. Contact geothermal installers in your city to get specific information on pricing and equipment.
You should also look into co-ops in California. Energy co-ops are some of the biggest supporters of employing renewable energy sources in an effort to preserve and protect the CA environment as well as providing members with more affordable energy services.
How Much Can You Save Using Renewable Energy Alternatives in California?
It’s obvious that switching to renewable energy sources will save you money in the long term. But just how much money, and how quickly will you start seeing the savings?
The only way to get an exact estimate (if you aren’t simply switching to an energy provider in California that uses renewable energy is to have an installer come to your property and give you an estimate. You can get a good idea of how much you'll save by using an online calculator. A brief search gives you a selection of renewable energy calculators.
One thing to bear in mind is tax incentives. Federal, California and local governments all offer tax credits and rebates for individuals that decide to use renewable energy sources. When contemplating the cost and savings of making the switch to renewable energy factor in tax incentives as well as the improved efficiency over the old systems. Additionally it is possible to get low interest loans to cover the cost of retrofitting the home with the new equipment. In many instances the monthly loan payment will be less than you were paying for energy each month – instant energy savings!
