Blog5 - How to Bring Sustainable Energy Sources to Your Home and the Influence of Open Source

Many people still think that renewable or sustainable energy options are only for those who can afford it. This is not true. There are many ways in which you can make your home more energy-efficient through things you can do yourself. The great thing about renewable energy is that it has two very big advantages. The first one is that you are helping the planet and the second one is that you are saving yourself money. Renewable energy can help reduce or completely eliminate your utility bills and save you a lot of money.

Here are RMEDTECH’s suggestions for generating renewable energy in your home and saving yourself some cash.

Solar ovens – If you would like to start out slow with the transition from fossil fuel power to renewable energy, a solar oven is a great option. You can build your own or buy one. An oven uses the heat from the sun to warm and cook food. This is great because you can have hot meals even when there are power outages. Electric ovens use a lot of electricity and these ovens will help you save some money.

Solar panels – This is one of the most common ways that home owners are making use of renewable energy. Solar panels are most often installed on roofs, but they can also be set up in the yard. The angle of your property and roof will play a role. Solar panels can have an expensive upfront cost, but the money you will save in the long run makes it all worth it. You can also look into solar shingles if you need to upgrade or replace your roof. These shingles actually become your roof tiles and you won’t need to install big solar panels.

Wind turbines – Solar panels are easier to get away with in residential areas than wind turbines. Wind turbines may not be allowed for zoning purpose. They make a lot of noise and they are quite big even if it’s a small one. However, if you have a large property or a farm, nothing should stand in your way. Wind power has the potential to generate all the power you need to run your household. The success will obviously depend on your location and how the wind is there.

Solar water heaters – These heaters can also be seen on many roofs in residential areas. They are also like solar panels but they don’t generate electricity. Instead, these solar heaters are used to warm up water that is then used in your home. Using a solar water heater is a lot more cost-effective than using an electrical heater. It is also a lot easier to install than solar panels. This is another great option to get you started on converting from electrical to renewable energy.

solar - How to Bring Sustainable Energy Sources to Your Home and the Influence of Open Source

These options have been available for years and have become more accessible and affordable for homeowners. Some of this equipment will cost you a lot to install initially, but it doesn’t compare to the amount of money you will be saving. There are smaller versions and gadgets that perform these functions and you can find many YouTube videos that tell you how to build them yourself. So, ease yourself into the transition. As soon as you start seeing results, you will get on the renewable energy train and never look back.

You can also look for open source designs and software to get you started with 3D printing renewable energy gadgets and equipment.

OPEN SOURCE DESIGNS AND HOW IT INFLUENCES THE USE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Open source refers to something that is created by an individual or a group and is available to the public at no cost. This most often refers to software that programmers design for specific purposes or functions. The Linux operating system is a good example. One guy started it, made it open source, and a whole lot of people have since changed it and added to it to make it better. In other words, open source means that the public can have access to something that other people ask money for.

So, what does open source have to do with renewable energy? Everything! There is more than one reason why the world is only slowly moving towards renewable energy sources. One of these reasons is the science behind harnessing new sources to generate electricity. However, a lot of progress has been made and solar and wind farms are up and running in countries across the world. The second reason is the high cost of implementing these alternative sources in our everyday lives.

Buying solar panels or finding the space and permission to set up a small wind or solar farm can be a mission. The costs involved are tremendous and are too much to carry for most individuals. This is where open source and 3D printing come in. Many people are making their designs and instructions for wind turbines and solar cells open source. This means that anyone who has a 3D printer or a bit of creativity, can take these designs and create his own equipment and machines.

Yes, it is not quite that simple, but it isn’t all that complicated. If you can find an investor or seed money from someone who also believes that your idea is viable and can be profitable, all you need is to manufacture the necessary equipment and get it running. If your farm of small-scale equipment is successful, you can work to involve others and make renewable energy an easy option that is available to everyone at affordable costs.

If you like the idea of taking the fight for the planet into your own hands, start looking online for open source designs for wind turbines, solar panels, and other renewable energy options. There are many examples of people who have successfully used 3D printing to create their own solar cells that work better than the expensive ones and wind turbines that are portable. Gather your friends and family and get everyone involved in doing your part on making renewable energy an option for everyone.

We would love to hear about your experiments and successes. If you have open source designs or if you have started a renewable energy project in your community, please let us know. Visit our CONTRIBUTE page for more information on sharing your story.