I’ve been increasingly thinking about energy for the home, how to make it greener, but also how to be more resilient to the likely challenges we face alongside Peak Oil and the like.
While greener choices of energy supply are increasing (for example Ecotricity) there remain two problems. At present such cleaner energy requires a tariff that is far from the cheapest – though by no means the worst I’m sure! And secondly external supply forces a reliance on a national infrastructure which could easily be dramatically affected by some of the changes that the doomsayers of Peak Oil predict.
Lets be real here – I’m not at all sure we face cataclysmic social breakdown in the near future – but local community resilence can never be a bad thing.
So what are my energy options?
I looked at alternative energy sources. The green energy bandwagon has certainly started to roll, with some pretty scary prices. Solar Panels, Wind Turbines and solid fuel solutions for electricity and hot water.
Ok, so there are options. Most opinions suggest long payback periods – but then financial benefit for me is not the real driver.
But wait … what about this? DIY Green Energy! This site lists and even revues DIY projects for alternative energy systems. Time to read some more and maybe even buy some of the plans recommended. Surely they are worth an experiment or two?
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