Whether you’re building or buying a home, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of different energy sources. Where you live largely dictates what type of energy is available to heat and cool your home. But, as technology progresses, homeowners will likely see renewable energy to become mainstream in most U.S. households. The articles below discuss some of them, but make sure to do your own research to see what makes the most sense for you and your family.
Anthracite coal burns extremely efficiently, which makes it highly desirable. On top of this, the price is stable compared to other energy sources, like oil. However, you might also want to take into consideration that coal is a non-renewable resource. As it has a high-carbon makeup, it produces CO2 emissions when burnt, which means it is ultimately harmful to our atmosphere.
Used mainly in the Northeast, which sees bitter winters, oil burns hotter than other fuels like natural gas, while using less fuel. You’re also able to use it in remote locations, compared to natural has, where you would need to connect to a line. Before installing oil in your home, it’s important to consider the instability of the fuel’s cost. As a hard-to-extract resource (and a limited one at that), the price in the long term will only go up.
Gas or Natural Gas, as some refer to it, is considered more environmentally friendly than most other fossil fuels because it emits less carbon dioxide. It also burns warmer than electric heat, which makes it a favorite in colder climates, such as the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast. Before buying into this heat source, make sure you weigh the low fuel cost with the higher maintenance cost to reduce possibility of gas leaks.
When you think of renewable energy, the type that comes to mind first might be solar. Homeowners have a variety of options available to them if they are interested in solar, including ground-based panels, roof-mounted panels, and soon solar roofs from Tesla. Downsides of solar are the high installation cost, excess energy storage problems, and the need for somewhat consistent sunlight. These are mostly negligible to the benefits of reducing pollution and small amount of maintenance they require over their lifetime.
2017 marked the first time that renewable energy made up 10 percent of the generated electricity. The real surprise? Wind accounted for 8 out of that 10 percent. The cost of installing wind turbines has fallen, and the trend is expected to continue. This will make wind energy a low-cost alternative to other energy types. The downside to wind energy is that, like solar, wind comes and goes, which can make it somewhat unstable. There’s also the issues of the impact it can potentially have on wildlife, and also on home values due to the general aesthetic and noise generated.
Geothermal, in my opinion at least, is the most interesting energy source, because it utilizes the heat the Earth produces. The Earth will last a few billion more years, so you won’t have to worry about supply instability. It’s also low-maintenance and can save you a lot of money (20-60% on cooling/heating costs) over the course of several years. However, geothermal is mostly in new construction homes, as it is relatively new. Most built homes have another method of heating and installing a geothermal system is also fairly expensive. But like throughout history, new technology will likely develop in the future to lower the cost of installation. This will hopefully make geothermal energy more accessible for homeowners who use another energy source.
There are six types of energy sources, here. Take a look at each and make sure you evaluate which is best for your home.