Power

The biggest step to take in reducing a household’s carbon footprint is using sustainable energy. The harmful effects of standard mass-produced power stations and the fuel used to run them create a significant impact on the environment and the ecosystem. Using sustainable energy can mean going to mechanical energy instead of electrical in some situations, but it doesn’t mean electricity has to be given up entirely. It must simply be generated sustainably and used efficiently. Although there are many inventive ways to produce electricity in a sustainable manner, the most common are through running water, wind, solar energy, geothermal energy, and biomass fuels.

GreenPower Sustainable Electricity

Many people take themselves off the local electrical grid and generate all of their own electricity. Some are in areas where they have a choice of purchasing electricity from a sustainable power station. Sustainable electricity is still in limited supply, but it is available in some portions of all six states in Australia.

The Australian government has set up an accrediting agency called GreenPower that can help people to locate 100% sustainable electricity providers. In many areas, only a limited percentage of sustainable electricity is made available to each household. Many of these companies also produce electricity through unsustainable methods, so those seeking to live sustainably choose not to do business with them out of principle. In cases such as this, the sustainable energy is mixed in to the available electricity in the grid, so it is not being truly directed to each individual residence.

Off-Grid Electricity

Localised off-grid electricity is the preferred method used by most sustainable living enthusiasts. In this way, there is no question as to the source of the power. Off-grid electricity, however, does present several drawbacks. First, there is a substantially higher upfront cost for the purchase of collection equipment, generators, and battery banks. Secondly, the choice in electrical production methods available and the amount of electricity that can be generated from each method is limited by the environment. One of the bonuses of producing onsite electricity is that in most areas, the excess can be fed back into the local grid and sold to the electric company.

Solar Energy

Perhaps the most popular method of generating sustainable power is through the use of solar energy. Electricity from solar energy is produced using one of two methods. The first method uses what are called photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electrical current. The direct current is converted into alternating current and made available for household use or run into a recharging system of battery banks. In the second method, the solar energy gathered from the photovoltaic cells is concentrated and used to boil water. The stream is then used to run a steam turbine attached to an electrical generator.

Solar Energy is not only used to generate electricity. It has several passive applications, also. Solar thermal energy gathers the heat of sunlight and uses to heat water, so water does not have to be heated electrically. After heating, the water moves into a well-insulated tank to keep it hot during the night or on overcast days.

Wind Power

Wind power typically uses large blades set atop tall towers that catch the wind. The wind causes the blades to rotate, which in turn, drive a turbine attached to an electrical generator. The mechanical energy can also be used for other tasks such as grinding grain.

Hydroelectricity

For those whose property is near a source of flowing water, the energy from the flowing water can be used to turn a turbine and produce electricity. Single turbines or even small groups of turbines have been found to not disrupt the environment in any way.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy can be used in some instances to draw the natural heat of the Earth up to the surface. This energy can be used to heat water and create steam. It is still a new technology on the residential level, and it requires complex drilling operations to put into place.

Biomass Power

Biomass power uses sustainably-grown materials that are burned to produce heat and create electricity. Burning biomass does release carbon dioxide, sulphur, and nitrogen into the atmosphere, but the levels are low and thought to be sustainable.