Economical Incentives to Consider Renewable Energy

With the price of traditional fossil fuels always rising and families looking for ways to cut costs, alternative forms of energy have never been more attractive. Everyone wants to do more to help the environment and reduce their carbon footprint, but it takes a great deal of change, investment in costs, and time to switch over from traditional sources to alternative renewable energy.

Natural or renewable energy is not only cleaner than traditional fossil fuels but far more abundant. The problem is they are more dispersed and harder and costlier to collect. Popular natural renewable energy sources such as solar or wind energy are subject to disruptions because of changing weather patterns, and require backup systems like battery storage. Because of this, the direct cost of renewable energy is more expensive in dollars and cents. But what are the greater, underlying costs of traditional fossil fuels that we’re all trying to get away from? Pollution, global warming, and foreign oil dependence.

Because of the environmental benefits and decreased reliance on oil that stand to be gained from renewable energy systems, government programs have been designed to make alternative energy affordable for as many as possible. Thanks to these incentives, rebates, and grants to live green, conversions to natural or renewable energy are becoming feasible for more homes and businesses.

Interest in renewable energy spans the globe. In many countries, governments are offering assistance for investing in natural, renewable energy. In recent years, China’s hydroelectric power facilities have pushed them into the worldwide lead of electricity producing renewable energy. They are closely followed by the United States, Canada, and Brazil. Government incentives range from a lump sum for investing in renewable energies to a rebate for purchasing a wind turbine. Then, after that initial investment assisted by a government incentive, it will continue to pay off in reduced energy costs.

In the U.S., the best place to find information on incentives and state government assistance is the DSIRE website (www.dsireusa.org). Even though the acronym stands or Database for State Incentives (in Renewables and Efficiency), the site actually provides a comprehensive way to search for incentives from federal and state agencies, as well as utilities and local organizations. Although some states are more favorable to alternative energy assistance and have more generous programs, every state offers at least something.

The DSIRE database, which is updated daily, provides information on not only financial incentives, but also on rules, regulations and guidelines needed to qualify. The website is a great resource for anyone researching alternative energy sources for their home or business.

In Canada, there are new incentives and grants each year put out by the Office for Energy Efficiency. In Australia, there is a rebate program for photovoltaic solar energy systems called the PVRP program, as well as rebates available for solar hot water and wind power. A grant program can help to pay for generators for alternative renewable power. In England there is a grant program to assist buildings in adopting renewable energy sources. In Ireland, Action Renewables is a program that provides grants and renewable energy assistance. All over the globe, there are economical incentives to turn natural renewable energy dreams into a reality.