Homestead Energy: New and Odd Ideas, and Review

So far, we've looked at ideas for alternative energy from the most common to those that have been around, but just haven't gained much traction.  So far, so good, right?  In all of my research, I also came across a few ideas that just seemed odd.  Some may have potential, while others, well, they would take almost consistent maintenance to keep them running.  So let's look at those.

I'm not going to delve into details here.  There are just too many of these ideas out there.  But I'll give you a basic list with links connected to each.  That way, if a particular idea piques your interest, you'll know exactly where to go to get more information.

A simple place to start is the idea of building your own generator.  With these, you can decide what type of fuel you want to use in it.  You can run it on already available gas sources (which kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion), you can use a type of biofuel like algae, or you can set it up to run off of the energy you have gained from any of the other sources we've already discussed.    Of course, you can always just go out and buy a generator, but they can be costly.  So how about building one from a lawnmower?  Or how about building your own inexpensive AC generator from common items you can find at your local home improvement store?  Now, with that one, it may require a different set-up with regards to the location of the inverter/adapter if you are powering it with an alternative source.

If you don't mind spending an hour or so a day exercising, maybe you'd like to try a little "pedal power".  You'd just have to make sure you do it every day, as an hour of exercise produces roughly 24 hours worth of power.  Or, you could invest in one of these wood stoves that can create electricity for your home.  This would be a great idea if you're cooking a lot, live in a cooler climate, etc.  Or maybe a rectenna is a little more your speed.  This device will convert light directly into usable power, without going through the slightly more difficult process of solar.

Lastly, there are ideas like poop power (from people, cows, or even microorganisms) where a usable gas is collected from the poop, turning coffee into a biofuel, or even using sound waves or dancing to create your own usable energy, known as piezoelectricity.  Those ideas and more are covered here and here.

So, in looking back over the past several weeks, we've covered a LOT of ideas for alternative energy.  Maybe there is one that has jumped out at you as something you would seriously like to learn more about.  Maybe there are two or more that you think maybe you could use in conjunction with each other.  Or maybe, with this last post, you think you might want something new and different, or to even try to come up with your own ideas of creating energy.  There might be something that, while potentially would have difficulty running on a larger scale, could work amazingly well for you and your homestead.  The ideas and possibilities are, quite frankly, endless- limited only by your imagination.  Think about the options, do the research, maybe come up with a few ideas on your own, and give them a try.  Just remember, that no matter what you decide on, it all comes back to the simple fact that you are working with electricity here.  Be careful.  When in doubt, consult a professional.  But all in all, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to have ample electricity for your homestead without being tied to the grid.  It really doesn't matter if you need a lot or a little.  The possibilities are there.