This week I got my annual electricity bill and report. It said that I consumed 5400kwh of power in 2006. I would like to know if it's possible to make your own electricity or at least save it from somewhere. Because I think my electricity bill is TOO big for my budget, help me to save ok!
2006-12-30 04:53:29 · 10 answers · asked by gabnella 6 in Environment
you cannot make electricity without a large cash investment in equipment - solar panels, generators etc...
conservation will save you money
get those new light bulbs that save electricity
have your power company check your house out to see where you can save energy
2006-12-30 04:59:51 · answer #1 · answered by saltydunes24 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being worried about the size of your bill, making your own electricity is not a very viable solution. The cost of doing so is high and averaged out over the next 10-12 years, it might not be any less expensive at all. The initial cost, maintenance costs, interest that you will either pay (if you finance your system) or lose (by paying cash) will likely be more than what you want to pay.
The two major advantages of making your own electricity is the lower impact on the environment and that you're paying for your power up front. If you produce more energy than you use, your local power company MUST compensate you for that if you have a grid tied system. To compensate doesn't necessarily mean to send you a check, however. Typically, they will "bank" energy credits for you to draw on during times when your system may not produce all the energy you need or want to consume.
My suggestion is to check with your local power company to see if they will come out and do an energy audit. They can probably make some good suggestions regarding cutting your consumption. Of course some of the more obvious ones are to lower your thermostat even a couple of degrees, make sure you caulk and weather strip around windows and doors, turn off lights you're not using, and if you can't afford to replace your bulbs with the low energy fluorescent ones, then consider reducing the wattage in your incandescent bulbs.
2006-12-30 13:36:09 · answer #2 · answered by Spud55 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm...make your own electricity? You can buy solar panels for your house and actually many states have programs where if you do that and you produce too much energy (yes it is possible) they will buy that electricity off of you and if a while goes without enough sunlight for you to power your home you can buy what little you may need from the electric company. Some states will also allow you to make your panels tax deductible. Call your local electric company, they will ironically be happy to help you with information on what you can do.
2006-12-30 12:56:53 · answer #3 · answered by Little anionyx 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can produce your own electricity, how?, there are different ways (solar, wind, biomass, etc.), it is an important investment so probably you want to know what is the best for you, not only in general.
there are also many ways of saving energy and not changing your way of life at all.
hopefully you have associations close to where you live that will help you determine those plans. But if you have none, then e-mail me, i will put you in touch with associations over here. They will recommend you ways of saving, ways of producing and how to put all in place. In some places, even ways of funding it.
2006-12-30 13:04:11 · answer #4 · answered by carmenl_87 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If one has running water close by or is in a windy spot, one can buy a water turbine with a generator or a wind electric generator. But that is NOT cheap.
You are probably better off making sure that anything you don't need to be on is off. Conservation is still the cheapest individual answer to this. Switch your incandescent bulbs to fluorescents (screw in type!).
2006-12-30 12:56:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The cheapest way to make your own electricity is either solar, wind or hydro powered. If you want to reduce the cost of 5400 kwh, your energy source must be less expensive than the energy used by the utility company.
Got lots of sun, wind or flowing water?
2006-12-30 13:01:07 · answer #6 · answered by Thomas K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solar power. Or Hydro-Electric power.
Goggle Living off of the Grid
Good Luck.
2006-12-30 12:55:30 · answer #7 · answered by La5all3 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You may want to start by using less juice. Barring that, invest about 10000-20000 for solar panels or wind turbines to supplement your power or go to home depot and buy a few generators, will still have to pay for gasoline.
Oh, and get the appropiate local and state and federal permits.
2006-12-30 12:56:43 · answer #8 · answered by Dane 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ben Franklin just put a key on the end of a kite and hung out for a while until lighting struck.,....
2006-12-30 12:56:12 · answer #9 · answered by rcvhoya 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get a portable generator.
2006-12-30 12:56:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋