We all do the same thing once a month; we write that check or make an online payment to our local electrical supplier to keep the energy we need flowing into our homes. Your bill is typically based on the amount of energy used, making this one of the few bills which we can directly lower through our actions.

Depending on the number of appliances and other electronics that you have in your house, your electric bills can easily exceed past your regular budgets putting a dent on your future plans and investments for other endeavors. It is always important to keep your bills to a minimum because electricity isn't the only bill that you need to pay. You got the phone bills and other utilities that needs to be paid as well.

Conserving energy is always desirable. It saves you money and it's better for the environment. Unfortunately, you can only conserve so much energy; there are some appliances which you really can't do without and if the other people in your home aren't as green-minded as yourself, you could be fighting a losing battle.

One solution is to use alternative energy sources to reduce your energy costs. You're probably already aware of solar energy and wind power, but what can you do if there are no nearby solar or wind energy providers to buy energy from?

Actually, you don't need those big facilities to power your home with alternative energy. All you need are home devices that take advantage of the sun or wind and convert it to energy. But the real question is, which of the energy alternatives is affordable?

Solar energy is great and while I definitely don't want to discount it as a viable alternative energy source, it's also very expensive to get started with. Solar panels are anything but cheap and you'll need a lot of them if you plan to provide all of your own electricity using a solar power system.

Wind power, by contrast can be gotten up and running for a low cost. You can even make your own wind turbines using cheap and widely available parts. You can find everything you need online or at your friendly neighborhood junkyard for a low cost. All you need is some rotors, a structure to support them and a generator to handle converting the wind energy into electricity.

Since the steps in making a wind turbine is fairly simple, you can make numerous wind turbines to provide more amounts of electricity to power your devices while reducing the dependence of your main supply of electricity. Plus you get added benefits of them working 24 hours a day as long as there is wind.
 
Especially if you live in a rural area, you can generate a lot of power using your wind turbines. Placing your turbines as high off the ground as possible will give you the best results; on your rooftop is usually the best place. Even those who live in large cities can take advantage of the benefits of wind power to lower their electricity bills - all it takes is a roof and a little DIY know-how.

Want to learn to make windmill power generators at your place? They can be a great energy alternative to the power company and save you a lot of money. Check out how to build small wind power for your backyard here.

 
 

But before you install a home solar power system, how many panel will you need in order to say reduce your utilities by half? And how much will you have to invest in the system?

Here is a simple 4-step formula to help you calculate your home's solar panel watt requirements and costs...Read entire post

 
 

Michael Davis of Arizona has always had an interest in renewable energy. Last year he needed a way to provide electricity in a remote location and learned that used parts found on eBay can be used to build a solar-powered electric generator.

The potential benefits of solar power are well known - lower cost, less dependence on other natural resources, etc. The main drawback has been the initial expense - mostly in the cost of photovoltaic (PV) cells required to convert sunlight into electricity.

Michael knew that damaged or blemished PV cells were available on eBay and purchased some, not sure if they would work. This is what he learned when he used them to build a solar-powered electric generator:

* Less then perfect cells can still perform efficiently.
* They are just a fraction of the cost of new cells.
* They are readily available on eBay or from other sources

Steps in Building Your Own Solar Panels

If you are handy with tools, you can construct your own solar-powered generator following these basic steps:

1. Determine How Many Cells You Need
You'll need to decide whether you want to produce enough power for your entire home or just power a few items such as lights or small appliances. This will help you determine how many cells you need.

2. Purchase The Photovoltaic Cells
eBay is a good source for used or blemished cells, but you might also ask the cell manufacturers or contractors that install panels if they have used or damaged units. Be aware that all PV cells are not alike and have different performance ratings

3. Connect The Cells Together
If the cells are not already connected together, you will need to connect them yourself. This is done by laying them out in the desired pattern to fit into the panel described in the next step. You then use solder and metal strips or wire to join them together.

4. Construct Panels To Hold The Cells.
The solar panel is nothing more than a shallow box typically made out of wood. It needs to be large enough to hold your cells, but don't make it too large or you'll have trouble carrying up to your roof for mounting. You can have many panels, all connected together with wiring.
 
5. Assemble And Install Your Panels
Place your completed solar cells inside the panel, running the wires out through holes. Then cover the panel with Plexiglas. This will increase their efficiency and make the whole system more weather-resistant. Finally, test the panel under the sun using a multimeter.

6. Install Your Panels
Most homeowners mount solar panels on the roof, but they can go anywhere that sunlight is unobstructed. Face them southward if you live in the northern hemisphere.
 
7.Connect Your Panels To Your Home's Electrical System.
To complete your project, you'll need to run wires from your panels to your home's electrical system. Here are some additional items you will need:
 
* Inverter - to convert power from DC to AC
* Emergency shut-off switches
* System monitor and Battery back-up (optional)

Depending on your level of expertise, you may need professional help to complete portions of this project. Then you can begin enjoying the benefits that solar energy offers.

About the author: John Horning specializes in reporting on solar and wind energy. <a href="http://">Learn more about building a solar powered system for your home</a> on his website, www.DIY-Solar-Power.net</a>.