Flip a switch, and the lights turn on. Plug in a power cord, and electricity flows. Our household power needs are instantly met, and until recently, we've given little thought to the costs—both economic and environmental—of having electricity so readily available. But green awareness casts a different light on this everyday convenience. In the United States, electrical power is generated by facilities that rely on (in descending order) coal,
natural gas, or nuclear power—all sources that come with serious environmental caveats. As for price, electricity is still relatively affordable although the dollar amount varies by region (ranging from five cents per kilowatt-hour in Wyoming to 16 cents per kilowatt-hour in Connecticut). With the average American household use at 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year, the average residential annual electrical price tag comes in under $1,000—but costs are bound to increase as the environmental toll mounts.
One of the greenest things you can do is tap into the power of the sun for some or all of your home's electrical needs. Do you need to live in sunny California to take advantage of the sun's energy? Not at all. As long as a portion of your roof gets full sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. year-round, you're a candidate for rooftop-mounted solar panels, which have improved vastly in both looks and technology in recent years. Whereas solar panels (in the 1970s and '80s) once were used almost exclusively for
heating your home's water supply, today there are many applications of solar power—from providing your home's electricity to heating the swimming pool. Best of all, there are state and federal tax incentives and rebates that are making it more affordable for homeowners to follow their green conscience, reimbursing 25% or more of installation costs.
Click here for information to help you decide what's right for you.
