Perhaps the fastest growing portion of every home budget in the USA is energy costs. These costs show in utility bills, particularly gas, oil, and electric, but also in transportation, and even across the household consumables that depend upon transportation. More than half of the households in the country spend the greatest portion of their income on automobiles. As the price of oil continues to increase dramatically in the near future, this sector will stretch until it breaks.

Alternative energy holds hope, even though the name is a bit misleading. Earth has one primary source of energy, the sun. This energy is spread across the surface of the planet all the time and most of it bounces back into space. Plants are most efficient at absorbing and utilizing solar energy. These plants provide sustenance up the food chain and the ecosphere thrives. So it's been for billions of years.

Within the last century humans have put a radical twist upon this system by burning the ancient stored energy in petroleum, concentrated over thousands of years beneath the earth's crust. At this point in time, we've used up about half of the liquid petroleum and a smaller portion of the coal, which creates more pollution problems when burned. Laws of supply and demand dictate that these energy sources will grow more expensive at accelerating rates.

The alternative is mostly about going back to direct utilization of the sun, the wind, water, and tides that solar heating patterns generate, plants and animals, and the geothermal heat absorbed by earth. Nuclear energy exploits another nonrenewable source, uranium, with disastrous polluting effects, and cannot be sustained, so we won't discuss it in this article.

Solar energy is most efficient when used directly as heat and light, rather than converting it to electricity. The biggest factor in this is the placement of your home. A solar assessment involves studying the local sun patterns against your heating and cooling expenses. Solar retrofit is a growing industry. If your home is so poorly placed that your costs cannot be reduced, you should consider relocating.

Short of rebuilding your home, most people can benefit by using a solar water heater and a solar drier, better known as a clothesline. These can replace the other great energy users in most homes. Perhaps your utility or a local public agency offers conservation tips or energy assessments. Take advantage of these resources to use less and save money.

If you

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Money-saving tips: How to save money by using alternative energy?
We want to hear your view. Write now!