Besides generating income from various sources, I have a goal to keep my utilities as low as possible through the use of alternative energy sources. I haven't taken the step into full solar usage yet, but I've entered it a little at a time.
For instance, instead of turning on a regular light inside at night, I use solar LED spotlights strategically placed inside the house. They aren't bright enough to read by, but I can certainly make coffee or do other simple tasks using only these lights.
I've also won an auction on eBay for a 12 volt solar charger. I'll get an inverter locally, maybe at Radio Shack or one of the auto parts places, to use with the inverter. Then, I can use the solar panel to charge my cell phone and maybe even my laptop battery.
I'm very conservative with energy usage anyway. I have compact fluorescent bulbs all through my house. They are bright, but are low wattage and cool. I only run my dishwasher and washing machine when they are full.
Anytime we save on utilities, shopping, and just spending in general, we are essentially paying ourselves a little extra money.
