It's no secret that alternative energy is more popular when oil and electric prices are high. Perhaps it should be popular all of the time. Environmental studies on power generation have shown that renewable energy is the most dynamic of today's global energy market. Power generators using renewable, sustainable energy sources don't burn fuels in the production of electricity, thus reducing atmosphere- harming emissions. Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, small hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal energy and photovoltaic conversion systems, allow you a broader freedom of operation. The concept of alternative energy excludes fossil fuels.
Alternative energy is cleaner than fossil fuel energy, is renewable, gives you independence from foreign oil, helps control rising electric bills, and allows development of new venues in a more areas. Even if you only use alternative energy as back up during outages or peak hours, it's a good option to provide for your property. Habitat Suites in Austin, Texas, generates 25% of its power from solar energy, using the largest onsite solar installation anywhere in the U.S. Depending on your location, there are typcially several options of alternative energy available to you.
The balancing measure in the discussion of alternative energy is conservation. Conservation is an integral aspect of alternative energy usage because what you save in consumption is what you save in creation. That's a money savings you can thrive with.