The Benefits of Renewable Energy

With energy bills constantly going up and climate change driving our entire planet to the dangerous tipping point - we must be doing more to protect our homes and move towards the use of renewable energy. Renewable energy has so many advantages for our planet and our consumer needs combined. So what is renewable energy and how does it help us financially and environmentally?

Renewable energy sources are powered by nature, either without damaging it or leaving very little impact. An aspect of this is that resources are not being depleated, and so the energy source will not run out, like the wind, wave power and the heat from the sun. Whilst some of these resources can be limited at certain points in the year, there is enough variety in weather patterns to provide sufficient energy throughout the course of the year.

In a way we’ve been using Renewable energy for centuries - wind power moved ships and turned windmills long before the discovery of oil, natural gas and coal offered an easier and cheaper ways to power our lives. Today, more and more people are turning back to wind energy, solar energy and other sources, and finding more cost-effective ways to use these renewable energy resource.

What types of renewable energy are there?

There are plenty of types of renewable energy - from solar panels and wind turbines, to biomass heating systems which make fuels from natural materials such as wood waste. There are air source and ground source heat pumps that absorb heat from either the air or ground outside your home, which can then be used to power underfloor heating, radiators and water! The great thing is that heat pumps can absorb heat even if the temperature drops below zero! There is also geothermal energy which can be built underground and so leaves very little footprint on land.

Hydropower plants are able to produce electricity without burning fossil fuels and, like wind power, the use of dams to control river currents and water flow dates back for centuries. Hydropower is a clean energy source that is constantly replenished by nature.

If you’re a homeowner, you have the option of installing solar panels in your home. Solar panels not only reduce your energy costs, but help improve your standard of living with a safer, more eco-friendlier energy choice that doesn’t depend on resources that harm the environment.

So how do I use renewable energy at home?

As an energy consumer you have plenty of opportunities to make an impact on improving the environment through the choice of a greener energy solution.

If you’re a homeowner, you have the option of installing solar panels in your home. Solar panels not only reduce your energy costs, but help improve your standard of living with a safer, more eco-friendlier energy choice that doesn’t depend on resources that harm the environment. Not only will this provide enough energy for your home, it could also provide enough to sell some electricity back to the energy provider and earn money.

By installing heat pumps outside your property you can significantly lower your energy bills. Similar to refrigerators, heat pumps absorb heat from outside and transfer this inside to heat you home. However the cost and energy efficiency of air and ground source heat pumps will depend on the insulation level of your property. Therefore it is important to ensure that your home is properly insulated.

At Happy Energy we offer a range of eco-friendly home energy efficiency upgrades, apply today to reduce your carbon footprint as well as lower your energy bills.