Is DIY Green Energy Penny Pinching?

Green energy technology, if we can get it to be taken up widely, represents a huge step forward in our efforts to produce power both cheaply and cleanly. But it's so often the preserve of governments who sometimes seem to take up the baton in an effort to keep favor with the voting public. This may seem somewhat cynical but the history large scale green energy projects is littered with many casualties which often seem related to poor costings, underestimated running and maintenance costs and underestimated performance too.

The small scale approach

Then there is the small scale approach in which green energy generation is designed for either small groups of houses, or perhaps a small industrial unit or even individual homes. The market for green energy generating equipment is now growing at a very high rate despite the poor economies in much of the developed world. But commercially available green energy equipment like solar panels and wind turbines still cost more than most householders are prepared to pay. So for anyone wanting to cut their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint but is not in a position to invest the large sums that commercially produced equipment demand, the Do It Yourself route is the only one available to us.

The DIY Green Energy approach

Now some people consider the DIY movement, if we can call it a movement, to be a penny-pinching way of doing things that has meant the death-knell of the professional tradesman. Other people might view it as an opportunity to experiment and make new things from old goods and materials. Doing things for yourself can be a very rewarding experience. To be able to understand a problem, think it through, and then experimentally and incrementally arrive at a practical solution is not only very satisfying but it is very instructive too.

DIY Green Power Guides

If you want to venture into the world of DIY green energy generation then there is plenty of help out there. The guides that now proliferate on the internet provide a wealth of information, not only on how and where to source the parts you'll need at the lowest possible prices but also on construction methods and, crucially, the theory too. You will find as you embark on your solar panel or wind turbine projects that understanding the theory of how and why the systems work is very helpful if you want to deviate from the explicit instructions in the guides. The philosophy of DIY matches up with that of green energy generation perfectly. They both represent an approach to self-sufficiency that seems to have been declining ever since the second world war. But perhaps we are beginning to see the green shoots of a new movement of self sufficiency and personal responsibilty. Obviously, large power generation schemes can only be undertaken by governments or multi-national corporations but for householders the DIY route to green energy generation is the obvious one if you want to cut your bills and be a little gentler on the planet too.


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