Harnessing the energy of the sun and wind is something that has been around for many years. It is only since the advent of global warming and the realization of climate change that we have begun to think about using renewable energy sources. The sun is the most powerful natural source of energy available. The power of the wind has been used for centuries to propel ships.

Residential solar power systems use photovoltaic cells that convert the sun’s radiation into electricity. Residential wind power systems harness the energy of the wind to turn the blades of a windmill that generates electricity through a turbine. The photovoltaic cells in a solar power system consist of layers of silicon. Light shining on the cells creates an electric field across the layers that causes electricity to flow. The greater the intensity of the light, the greater the flow of electricity. The amount of electricity generated by residential wind power systems depends on the wind speed, wind speed intensifies with height, and therefore windmills are mounted on a tall mast or on the roof of the home.

Construction of residential solar and wind power systems has been done until relatively recently by some of the established power supply companies. However, this is no longer the case, now anyone can build their own residential solar and wind energy systems. Manuals and guides that are accompanied by detailed illustrations and even video instructions can be obtained online for $50.

Energy companies will charge thousands of dollars to build solar and wind power systems. But with a good guide, you can build a professional solar power system for as little as $200 and a wind power system for $100. They will last twenty years or more with little maintenance and save you up to 80% on your electric bill. In fact, you can even go offline if you increase the capacity of your system or sell the excess to the network.