| We decide to install an alternative energy system for | | | | I know you find it hard to swallow that; that we |
| home, something like a solar power system or a wind | | | | burn gas and cut down carbon emission! This is no |
| energy system. Any alternative energy system for | | | | sleight of hand. You see, most of the power stations |
| home we install is going to burn holes in our pockets | | | | that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels work |
| in spite of the tax cuts and subsidies we may be able | | | | at a conversion efficiency of less than 30%. Our |
| to avail of. The only way we can make the | | | | domestic gas burning apparatus are far more efficient |
| expenses bearable is by opting for a smaller system | | | | in the conversion process and so we need not feel |
| and that would mean we may have to forego some | | | | guilty of increasing carbon emissions if we use gas |
| of the electrical comforts and conveniences we are | | | | burning appliances at home. |
| so used to. | | | | Now high energy efficiency electrical equipment such |
| Is it really worth it? We decided to install alternative | | | | as refrigerators is available; they consume 50% less |
| energy system for home like the solar or wind | | | | energy as compared to the older equipments. Gas |
| energy system not under duress, there was no | | | | operated refrigerators are also available. In dry |
| compulsion on us. We took the decision to safeguard | | | | climate areas evaporative cooling equipment will |
| the future of our children and their children by cutting | | | | provide cooling in summers at a substantially less |
| down the use of fossil fuels. So let us face it and | | | | consumption of energy. |
| take the hard decisions. | | | | We can get the benefit of special tax breaks and |
| The dilemma is created by some of our household | | | | tax credits or subsidies for buying these high |
| appliances and equipments. About 70% of our | | | | efficiency alternative equipment. And we could make |
| domestic electrical load is made up of heating | | | | a substantially reduction in our lighting load by |
| appliances in one form or the other. A break-up of | | | | changing over from incandescent lamps and |
| electricity consumption in residential sector shows | | | | fluorescent lamps to CFL lamps. |
| that: | | | | We started off considering ways to reduce |
| - space conditioning, 44% | | | | investment and here we are reeling off ideas to |
| - water heating, 13% | | | | spend more money by buying new equipment and |
| - lighting, 12% | | | | appliances! But if we work out the overall cost, we |
| - refrigeration, 8% | | | | find that for every extra dollar we spend on these |
| - home electronics, 6% | | | | alternative appliances we shall be saving two to three |
| - laundry appliances, 5% | | | | times that amount on alternative energy system for |
| - kitchen appliances, 4% | | | | home such as the solar or wind powered supply. |
| - other uses, 8% | | | | And while we are at it, why not think of one more |
| (source: "Energy Conservation"- Wikipedia) | | | | way of spending more to save even more? If we |
| Heating appliances such as water heaters, cooking | | | | install solar heating system, all our requirements of |
| ranges, space heating equipment, etc. are the major | | | | domestic hot water as well as space heating will be |
| power hogging appliances in the house. These are the | | | | met with free of cost of fuel and no carbon emission |
| appliances and equipments that are posing difficulties | | | | either. |
| in providing alternative energy system for home at a | | | | Taking all these things into account, the situation is |
| reasonable cost. Why not replace these equipments | | | | not all that bleak. All that is needed is a little careful |
| by those more efficient ones running on natural gas | | | | planning and we shall be able to derive the benefits |
| or propane? This change will not only reduce our | | | | of alternative energy system for home for a long |
| electrical energy requirement drastically but also help | | | | time of our children's lives too. |
| us cut down carbon emissions. | | | | |