Residential Applications

With constant advances in renewable energy technology, there are now more options for energy systems than ever before. Whether seeking to reduce your domestic energy bill, or going all the way with off-grid systems, both urban and rural residential applications can be designed to suit your needs.

Solar Electric Power

With the cost of photovoltaic (PV) cells continuing to drop, using solar arrays to reduce electric bills is becoming more popular, and the practicality of meeting all or most of the homes' electrical needs is growing. Innovations continue to emerge, like roofing material made of PV cells, but lower cost options, including solar-powered gate openers, outdoor lighting, water pumps, and similar smaller applications can pay for themselves in a short time.

When solar-electric technology is combined with more energy-efficient products such as LED lights, water pumps, and other DC-powered devices specially-made for solar applications, the possibilities are continually expanding.

Solar Water/Space Heating

Solar water heaters are becoming increasingly cost-effective. Solar thermal panels can be used to pre-heat your water which can be stored in your water tank, or similar panels mounted to your home to capture solar radiation can heat the air in your building. In some cases, a small gas or electric heater may be used to top-off the water or air temperature to the desired level.

Solar water heating is particularly attractive in homes with swimming pools. Depending on the location, solar pool heaters cost from $2,000 to $5,000 installed and can pay for themselves in 2 to 7 years by replacing conventional forms of energy with heat from the sun.

Water Pumping

Water pumping may be the most common use of renewable energy in agriculture, but can be applied to residential or business use as well. Two basic types of electrically-driven water pumps are based on renewable energy systems.

PV-Powered Pumps

Submersible electric water pumps powered by photovoltaic (PV) modules are suitable for small to medium scale pumping needs up to about 2 horsepower depending on the depth of the water well. Given their simplicity, lack of moving parts and long life, these systems are growing in popularity.

Wind-Turbine Powered Pumps

A relatively new type of pump system, this method uses the electricity generated by a small wind turbine to directly power a submersible or centrifugal pump. U.S. Department of Agriculture tests here in Texas have compared this newer technology with mechanical windmills. While costing about the same as mechanical systems, the USDA found that the wind turbine systems produced almost twice the volume of water. Larger wind turbines can pump enough water for small-scale irrigation. Solar/wind hybrid pumping systems are also available.