Renewable Energy

	Solar Electricity Solar electricity is generated when light falls on specially designed devices, usually made from silicon based materials. These devices, known as photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert the photon energy of light into the electron energy of electricity. The sun offers tremendous potential for use as a renewable energy source.
	Solar Hot Water Perhaps the most widely used green energy technology, solar hot water can provide year-round hot water for your home, pool or commercial building. Solar hot water is one of the most cost-effective solar technologies on the market.
	Geothermal Heating and Cooling Geothermal heating and cooling technology uses the earth's renewable energy, just below the surface, to heat or cool a home or other building.  A few feet beneath the surface, the earth's temperature remains fairly constant.  In the Tampa Bay region, the ground temperature remains a constant 72 degrees.  A geothermal heat pump takes advantage of this constant temperature to provide efficient heating and cooling.
	Wind Power By investing in a small wind system, you can reduce pollution and reduce your exposure to future fuel shortages and price increases. Deciding whether to purchase a wind system, however, is complicated; there are many factors to consider. But if you have the right set of circumstances, a well-designed wind energy system can provide you with many years of cost-effective, clean, and reliable electricity.

Before you plan to install your own wind turbine, you must know if the wind resource in your location is adequate. From wind resource maps, you can determine if your property should be further explored.  According to the Wind Resource Map, produced by the United States Department of Energy, the City of St. Petersburg is not a suitable location for the efficient use of wind power.  However, wind resource at a micro level can vary significantly; therefore, you should get a professional evaluation of your property.