Types Of Renewable Energy That Can Be Used At The Household Level
Within a series of measures aimed at reducing pollution and taking care of our planet, great importance is given to the use of renewable energy. However, large global companies have been betting on this energy source for years to take better care of the planet. A significant boost is being given to its use at the housing level.
1. Photovoltaic solar panels
Although it is the only system that can allow self-consumption, a basic system of solar panels and a battery allows us to save up to 75% of our home's electricity bill. The battery would allow us to have energy both in winter (with the surplus of the summer) and at night (the surplus of the day).
Although the cost was the biggest drawback of installing solar panels years ago, today, this has been reduced by more than eighty percent. In addition, the application of home automation systems to this type of renewable energy allows the control of the solar panel through a smartphone, tablet, or computer connected to the Internet. This allows, among other things, to change the orientation of the plate to make the most of sunlight.
2. Thermal solar panels
Solar thermal energy is used for domestic hot water and reports a decrease in energy bills of up to 70%. Since 2007, it has also been mandatory in newly built buildings to install solar panels for hot water. This type of installation consists of solar panels (similar to the previous ones) through which a liquid moves, which is heated by exposure to solar radiation.
3. Wind energy
It uses wind resources through wind turbines with less than 100 kW. It may be the best option if you live where the wind blows frequently. Within this type are the different aerothermal systems. These systems can use wind energy for hot water, heating, or cooking.
4. Biomass
It entails savings of up to 70% compared to petroleum derivatives. Stoves or boilers transform the matter of vegetable or animal origin (including waste and organic waste) into clean and cheap energy.
5. Geothermal and aerothermal
Both aerothermal and geothermal are clean and renewable energies, and both use heat pumps. The most significant difference between the two (besides where the power comes from) is the cost of the system and efficiency. When choosing between both systems, whether for heating or domestic hot water, we must consider several aspects, among which the geographical location of the home and the outside weather stand out. When the outside temperature is freezing, an aerothermal system uses part of the extracted energy to heat itself, making it less efficient than a geothermal system.
Advantages of renewable energies to take into account
1. Investment cost
Geothermal energy, as it requires drilling, is considerably more expensive than aerothermal energy and can reach up to $40k. For its part, the aerothermal system only needs a space to locate the outdoor unit.
2. Performance
As I have said, the performance will depend a lot on the outside temperature in aerothermal energy. The geothermal heat pump is not affected by this fact since it obtains energy from the subsoil, which is always at the same temperature.
The geothermal heat pump always works with a source from which it extracts energy at a temperature closer to that of application than aerothermal.
3. Maintenance
Maintenance costs are similar in both systems, although an aerothermal system is more likely to suffer a breakdown. This is because the outdoor unit is outdoors due to the effect of defrosting, and more refrigerant leaks can occur in this type of installation.
4. Amortization
As I have said, installing a geothermal system is much more expensive than an aerothermal one because you have to drill. However, using this system is cheaper, and it is possible to recover the investment in three to seven years. Aerothermal energy, for its part, is cheaper to install, but its fluctuating performance can make it take us longer to recover the investment.
5. Comfort
If we install both systems with good dimensioning, the interior comfort will be the same. The most significant difference is that aerothermal energy can generate annoying noises.
6. Lifespan
The useful life of a geothermal system is almost double (24 years compared to 14 years), so manufacturers usually give twice the guarantee if the pump is going to be used for geothermal than if it is going to be used for aerothermal.
7. Aesthetic impact
In geothermal systems, no element faces the outside. Not so in aerothermal energy, although the outdoor unit is usually placed in areas where its aesthetic impact is the least possible.
8. Average cost of use
Aerothermal energy consumes 70% more than geothermal energy.
9. Normative
Geothermal requires a Mining Project, which costs around $500 for an average home. The aerothermal energy requires a solar thermal contribution to comply with the CTE (HE-4) technical construction code, which can cost around two thousand five hundred euros.
Can renewable energy systems be combined?
The answer is yes. One of the most efficient combinations in both consumption and performance:
Aerothermal energy with photovoltaic energy
With this system, the hybridization of an aerothermal air-water heat pump with photovoltaic solar energy allows us to extract all the necessary energy for our home from renewable sources. This allows you to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and forget about the electricity bill forever.
Did you know that one of the most essential uses of aerothermal energy is its application for air conditioning?
These systems are very efficient and have a meager maintenance cost. This gives us an efficient, economical, and highly sustainable system since it minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. Combined with photovoltaic solar technology, it transforms solar radiation into electricity, thus ending the electricity bill.
In addition, the legislative change about solar energy and self-consumption makes the installation of solar panels for homes an exciting way of using renewable energy in our homes.
Due to this, the law already allows certain types of self-consumption. The solar energy-aerothermal combination becomes the best option