How to Make Money Being Green
= }3-HOW TO * EARN MONEY BY BEING GREEN Most people are looking for ways to earn extra income, but did you know one of the best ways to do this is to invest in energy generating equipment for the home? That's right, forget about being charged for your electricity - you can charge the grid instead! SOLAR PANELS INVESTMENT NEEDED: £6,000 - £9,000 ESTIMATED IST YEAR EARNINGS: £600 Income / £175 electricity savings ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £15,000 - £20,000* *the value of the energy you sell increases each year in line with the retail prices index (RPI) /10 SOLAR PANEL OWNERS WOULD RECOMMEND THEM TO FRIENDS & FAMILY DIRECTION & ROOF ANGLE Ideally, your roof would face due south. However, any roof at an angle between 35 to 50 degrees will work well. 50°- 35° Rooftop angles of 22 to 75 degrees can 75° 22 still perform well at certain times of the year. Solar panels are not good on a flat roof as the sun is rarely directly overhead. LOCATION Try to avoid putting panels where they will be shaded by other buildings or trees. The sun's rays aren't vital for PV panels, but light levels are. 12 LONGEVITY Solar panels degrade in efficiency as time goes on - similar to a rechargeable battery. Most panels are guaranteed to produce at least 80 percent of their 3 original output after 20 years. 4 80% WIND TURBINES ROOF-MOUNTED 1KW SYSTEM INVESTMENT NEEDED: £3,000+ approx. plus £100/yr maintenance ESTIMATED 1ST YEAR EARNINGS: £235 Income / £50 electricity savings ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £5,000 - £7,000* POLE-MOUNTED 2.5KW SYSTEM INVESTMENT NEEDED: £9,900-19,000 plus £250/yr maintenance ESTIMATED 1ST YEAR EARNINGS: £600 Income / £110 electricity savings ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £6,000 - £16,000* POLE-MOUNTED 6.5KW SYSTEM INVESTMENT NEEDED: £21,000-£30,000. plus £250/yr maintenance ESTIMATED 1ST YEAR EARNINGS: £1400 Income / £250 electricity savings ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £30,000 - £50,000* "the value of the energy you sell increases each year in line with the retail prices index (RPI) LOCATION Wind speeds of at least 5 metres per second are needed to be effective. 5 M/S This can be checked using the wind speed prediction tool on energysavingtrust.org.uk. Typically, you will need to live in rural (and windy...) areas. LONGEVITY Wind turbines will typically last 20-25 years, but as is the case with anything mechanical, maintenance costs will likely increase as it gets older. HYDRO-ELECTRICITY INVESTMENT NEEDED: £10,000 - £25,000 ESTIMATED 1ST YEAR EARNINGS: £1,000 - £3,000 ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £15,000 - £50,000* *the value of the energy you sell increases each year in line with the retail prices index (RPI) LOCATION Your home will need to have a river or stream running through or by it to be considered a good money-making hror investment. Planning permission will also be needed in most cases, along with permission from the Environment Agency and any local angling or fishing bodies. LONGEVITY As they are low-stressed pieces of machinery, some hydro-power systems are over 100 years old. Most manufacturers will quote a 25 year design life, but this can easily be extended to 50 with regular maintenance. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION INVESTMENT NEEDED: £400 - £1,500 ESTIMATED 1ST YEAR EARNINGS: £300 - £600 ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £8,000 - £15,000* *the value of the energy you sell increases each year in line with the retail prices index (RPI) LOCATION Anaerobic Digesters can be created at home to turn home, garden and animal waste into a source of energy created from the capture of methane gas. Most beneficial for those living with livestock, Anaerobic Digesters could light and heat your whole home should enough waste be captured regularly. Not only do they help generate money, but they reduce greenhouse gases. LONGEVITY This can vary, but the system is cheap to replace if necessary as you can create your own - money is often recouped within a year after doing so. GEOTHERMAL INVESTMENT NEEDED: £7,500 - £15,000 ESTIMATED IST YEAR EARNINGS: £600 - £1,400 ESTIMATED PROFIT OVER 20 YEARS: £7,000 - £20,000* *the value of the energy you sell increases each year in line with the retail prices index (RPI) LOCATION Underground. Because temperatures stay consistent beneath the earth's surface, geothermal heat pumps use the constant energy to heat and cool buildings. LONGEVITY 25 years for internal components and over 50 years for the ground loop. IN ADDITION TO MAKING MONEY, YOU CAN ALSO SAVE MONEY WITH THESE ENERGY SAVING TIPS LIGHTS Change to Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) bulbs as they are more efficient and can last for years longer than standard bulbs. THERMOSTAT 18:88 Buy a programmable thermostat and set your thermostat on a timer so you're never using energy when you don't need it. WATER HEATER Lower the temperature on your water heater by a few degrees to save on gas and/or electricity. Most people don't even notice the difference! FREEZER Keep your freezer to the minimum freezing temperature. You don't need to overwork it which leads to overuse of electricity. * *** REPLACING APPLIANCES When you need to replace appliances ensure you purchase the most efficient model possible. However, don't just replace them if you don't really need to. WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL Shut off lamps and other devices at the touch of a button ensuring your home isn't using needless electricity - no more yelling at the kids to turn off their lights! SEAL THE CRACKS Ensure all drafts and cracks are efficiently sealed during an annual house checkup. Windows, basements, attics and piping should all be thoroughly checked. SAY NO TO STANDBY MODE Leaving a desktop computer on standby uses up to 300% more electricity than it would turning it off. Turn off or unplug all electrical goods between every use. SOURCES uswitch.com | thisismoney.co.uk energysavingtrust.org.uk | efergy.com webecoist.momtastic.com brought to you by UKOAKDOORS bringing home natural beauty www.ukoakdoors.co.uk
How to Make Money Being Green
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