9 Self-Sustaining Home Ideas | Family Handyman

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Install Solar Panels

Reynolds encourages all homeowners looking to become more self-sustaining and environmentally conscious to get solar electricity.

“The grid is antiquated and goes down in every storm,” he says. “[It’s] powered by nuclear power plants, coal-powered plants and dams that ruin rivers…when the sun shines on every house.”

The cost of adding solar panels to your home varies widely and depends on many factors, including panel type, home size and energy needs, but expect to pay between $14,000 to $20,000 for a two-story home, or half that if you do most of the work yourself. A good place to start is the Department of Energy’s guide for homeowners interested in going solar.

If adding a whole house system seems a bit ambitious, there are lots of smaller ways to incorporate solar power into your daily life. Try solar-powered air conditioners, exterior lights or phone chargers as a foray into the world of solar energy.