Renewables
Renewable Energy is energy that is derived from sources that are replenished or renwewed. Typical examples include wind power, hydroelectricity, wood pellets, wood chip, biomass and solar. Renewable sources of energy are better for the environment and for the long-term sustainability of the planet. They are generally cleaner forms of energy.
That is not to say that using renewable energy does not have certain negative impacts on the environment. The recent trend to using crops as bio-fuels has contributed to world food shortages. Certain HydroElectric installations have damamged valuable ecosystems and have resulted in displacements of indigenous populations.
Consider renewable energy options for your home early in the design stage. Some applications, such as masonry heat walls will need to be incorporated into the design at an early stage. Don’t rely on the opinion of some sales agent at a building show. If someone at a building show is overly concerned about how bad another company’s product is, the chances are that he or she is not very confident about their own company’s product. Talk to people who already have installed renewable energy applications. Ask, for example, how did their solar water heating panels perform in the west of Ireland in July 2008. My solar panels produces very little hot water in July 2008. There were, however days in February and October, when the solar panels supplied a more than adequate supply of hot water.
House Design Online will be posting information here on the varoius options available for renewable energy. If you have a specific enquiry. Please contact us through the contacts page.
