The first kind is passive and all it really refers to are components of a house or set up that take advantage of the shining sun. These include focused greenhouse glass and specially built walls that can trap and absorb heat. The other kind, the kind we most identify with solar power, is active and relies upon special solar arrays and cells to capture solar radiation for direct and immediate use in heating water and even cooking.

Solar power can be one of the most reliable forms of renewable energy and many homes are being built today with materials that make use of this form of energy. It’s important that we, as human beings, spread our wings and really explore new and reliable energy sources, especially solar. After all, we will run out of fossil fuels long before the sun runs out of juice and the money you save using solar power could quite possibly turn you into a believer.

As a result, auto manufacturers are producing more and more ethanol powered or, better yer, flex fuel cars. A flex fuel car can run on gasoline or an ethanol/gasoline blend of up to 85 ethanol. Flex fuel vehicles mean that the owner does not have to drive around looking for an ethanol station but can fill up with normal gas in a pinch. They have been around since the 1980s. However, flex fuel capability is not always well advertised and there are flex fuel cars out there being driven by owners who have no idea their car can run on ethanol.

As ethanol mixes become more commonly available and high ethanol only cars are produced, the demand for ethanol is increasing rapidly. Unfortunately ethanol is not purely a good thing. Corn that is used to make ethanol is not available for human or animal feed and until high cellulose ethanol becomes feasible, rising ethanol demand will continue to impact the price of food, especially beef. Ethanol is a useful fuel, but as of right now it is not the sole solution and as demand increases, so will pressure to solve its problems.If you like what you see, keep going: Wheels Blog: In Chrysler Deal, Cellulosic Ethanol Firm Gets a Prominent Partner

Processing waste to create energy reduces landfill content as well as reliance on fossil fuels. In fact some first world countries are even exporting garbage to third world locations. Most waste to energy plants process waste biomass such as food or garden waste. They may do this by burning the waste and capturing the heat, but there are now more sophisticated methods. For example, it is possible to ferment organic waste to produce ethanol which is then used to fuel cars. Or it can be processed to make methane which can be used directly as fuel for heating or cooking or to power gas turbines to create electricity.

On the edge of viability is breaking down plastic to create synthetic crude oil which could be used either as fuel or to make more plastic. Thermal gasification is also becoming common. The amount of waste being processed to create energy is dramatically increasing and some countries consider it to be renewable energy. At the very least, it is better than leaving stuff to rot in landfills, creating thousands of cubic feet of methane per ton of waste, that then does nothing but leach into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Making use of that energy is much more efficient. Waste to energy does require some sorting of garbage but most of what is separated out can then be recycled and waste to energy plants are often on the same ground as recycling plants that can handle glass, metal and paper.

But what does living off the grid truly mean?

Urban or suburban homesteading, as it is being called by some, is about living a more fulfilling, sustainable and simpler life in the midst of our busy modern world.

Does this mean I have to read by candlelight?

Go for it! But you don’t have to. Get more information here. In terms of power and energy conservation, it involves the use of new and innovative ways of generating electricity, such as: battery, solar, hydro and wind systems just for starters.

Do I get to have chickens in my backyard?

If you want some, absolutely! In terms of food, it’s all about being organic. A well planned garden, as well as creating an edible landscape in your front and back yard, can provide healthy food for your family all year round.

Where do I start?

Living off the grid is challenging, but the wealth of information currently available on the internet is quickly making it a very attainable venture. Nothing is more rewarding than being able to take care of your family – especially in the event of an emergency – while at the same time creating your own little self-sustaining oasis.

Wind power is one of the ‘big things’ right now. The current trend is to build wind turbines off shore in shallow water. In theory, they are in nobody’s way out there, although they are sometimes visible from ocean or lakeside resorts and some people complain that they interrupt the view. Wind power is best utilized where there is a steady prevailing wind. Also, turbines have to be located out of the flight path of migratory birds who may fail to see the blades and fly into them.Didn’t catch that? This explains it.

Wave power remains on the edge of commercial viability, but is under development off Scotland and the Pacific Northwest. The cost is too high to compete with traditional fuels, but is slowly coming down. Tidal barrages have also been toyed with but only one exists in Europe and the environmental issues connected to them make them less likely as an option. They have similar problems to large hydroelectric dams, in that they mess up the tide flow and cause problems for wading birds.

Finally, much research is going into the use of biofuels. These include biodiesel, ethanol and the use of animal waste to produce methane to generate electricity. However, they compete with food production for land. Ethanol has been associated with higher corn and meat prices and in some places, the use of soy-based biodiesel has accelerated rainforest destruction. Creating biofuels out of waste material is a far better solution that is still somewhat in the future.