If you haven’t considered a solar hot water system yet. Build a thermosiphon solar hot water system. It requires no moving parts and no electricity. The tank must be above the panel, but if you design it right, it should not be problem. The size of the tank is depends on the number of people using it. The average is 20 gals of hot water person and the number of panels needed is one sq. ft of panel for each two gals of hot water. Make sure you face the panel in the southwest direction in the Northern Hemisphere.

Grow your food.

if it’s possible and wind is strong, you would can even build a wind tower on the roof.

You need
- a system for converting wind motion into rotatory motion through a wind tower on the roof…
- a dynamo
- a battery for electric energy storage
- a system for converting unused electric energy into heat.

It’s not particularly complicated…

I just saw an article this evening on ABC, either 20/20 or Nightline, about a company that has switched from making automobile parts to making wind turbines. The turbine shown costs about 8K and looked to be between 3″and 5′ in diameter. The emphasis of the article was on the conversion of the factory, the saving of 40 jobs, and hints about the effect upon the local economy.

You might want to also look at old (as far back as the 70’s) and current Mother Earth News publications. If you have a consistient source of sunlight, in addition to solar panel systems there are a number of systems that utilize heated water to reduce energy use that are less costly and more of a DYI type of installation. Some utilize the heated water in a tubed or untubed radiant heating type of system and others use it to preheat hot water in a number of ways.

Most folks that have seriously reduced their grid use and/or have gone off the grid have also done some serious revamping of their electricty and other energy usage. Often, this requires a combination of revising their landscaping and structures to be more efficient moderators of and insulators from the elements along while using natural light as well as changing their energy consumption life-styles. Some have re-wired all or individual circuits into a 12 volt system as well.

Before building anything new, I would recommend reviewing the current structure’s insulation, caulking, windows, and other openings into the elements. In our area, those who have triple paned windows as opposed to double panes are realizing energy and comfort level differences; especially when we have summer heat. I would imagine that building and/or sewing serious window coverings would result in either less energy used and/or more comfort. But, if the outside of your walls are hot due to sunlight, you should be able to reduce the heat energy they aborsb if you can reduce the naturally occuring solar energy that touches them in the first place; check out different types of wood shuttering systems used through out the world. Even screens as inexpensive as framed lattice used as garden hard scapes and set a few feet way from the walls would reduce the amount of solar energy that gets to your structure in the first place. Eves are great in reducing summer heat and winter cold. But, if you may, consider some of those roll-up window and patio screens hung from the eves; even in the areas or sides of the house without windows. Landscaping vegetation by type and placement can make quite a difference too. There are some insulating paints that, while expensive, can be used for wall primers and as attic paints too.

These are things that can be done with less initial time and dollar investment than building a solar panel system. Should you decide on a solar panel system in the end, these things will only make you all the more energy efficient.

Ive just built one with my dad it was such a great feeling we bought this book and it is awesome its on this site and you click on the link

Here is a link to a site that has tons of info you will be interested in check it out! I hope this helps

2 more years….. photovoltaic panels will be history like cassette tapes

Heat does not affect how much a solar panel absorbs. It matters on how much sunlight there are during the day. Also, the amount of cloudy days is also a factor. Your house also must be faced towards the south to maximize the about of sunlight you get during the day.
Other ways to be eco-friendly is to install a wind turbine for wind energy. A windy location would be preferred for this. There are many other smaller ways to be eco-friendly like buying a treadmill/bike that runs on the power you generate.

These are some really good green energy links. check them out