There’s more than one way to renewably power your home. The shortlist is full of great options; solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass. So which option is right for you?

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We focused on 3 priorities and named the best option for each one. 

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#1 in Efficiency - Wind

Efficiency is calculated by the cost of fuel, the cost of production, and the cost of its effect on the environment. “A formula was devised to compute the standard cost of electricity or LCOE of the various methods we discussed. The outcome depends on several factors including the capital cost, the fuel cost, the projected utilization rate, the operation cost, and the maintenance cost.” - Born to Engineer

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Using this equation, wind won by a landslide and was just over twice as efficient as the second place, geothermal. Not only is it efficient, it’s providing 100,000jobs around the country, and it has the potential to support 600,000 more by the year 2050. It can also be installed in a variety of places, from off shore to farm land that is still growing crops it can be built on land that is also used for growing crops or grazing animals.

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However, wind power comes with disadvantages. Wind is intermittent, ideal locations are far from the cities that need power, turbines are noisy and difficult to build. Most importantly, they require a lot of realestate and are expensive.

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#1 in Price - Hydroelectricity

According to Inspire Clean Energy, hydroelectric power is currently the cheapest renewable energy source  because the infrastructure has been in place for a long time, and it produces electricity consistently. Hydroelectricity costs about $0.05 per kilowatt-hour on average (it’s worth noting that wind power now comes in at $0.04 to $0.06 per kWh, making wind power the cheapest in some areas.

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Hydroelectricity’s biggest downfall? It’s only available to a handful of people for residential use. If you have a river running through your property, hydroelectric power is a great option to consider. 

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Don’t own part of a river or lots of space for turbines? This next option is great for you.

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#1 in Convenience/Accessability - Solar

According to the Energy Information Administration, wind and solar power represent the two fastest-growing sources of power in the country. Unlike wind and hydro turbines, solar panels can be installed nearly anywhere, take up less space, and have a more predictable production.

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The industry’s growing rate and lack of prequalifiers make solar the top choice for easily accessible renewable energy. In fact, you can talk to one of our experts today and get a quote for your own solar energy project.

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So what’s the best overall? If you don’t have a lot of property to set up a wind turbine with blades the length of a football field, or a river running through your private estate… solar is the best fit for renewable energy and your home.

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Lucky for you, Frugll will find you the best deal on already-decreasing prices in the solar industry. If you want to lower your power bill by using renewable energy, solar is for you. If you want to get solar for less, Frugll is for you.

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