Three good reasons to incorporate alternative energy into your home design:
(1) Lower energy costs, often by 30-50%. In some cases, you can even sell surplus energy back to the grid. Imagine the power company sending you a check instead of a bill!
(2) Lower your carbon footprint. We all want to do our part to care for our environment; this is your opportunity.
(3) The government is eager to help in the form of tax credits available to help offset your costs. See these pages:
Federal tax incentives https://energy.gov/savings
Georgia-specific programs
https://energy.gov/savings/search?f%5B0%5D=im_field_rebate_state%3A859981
Solar panels
Use the energy of the sun to heat water and/or produce electricity through passive (water heating) and active (photo-voltaic) solar panels.
http://energy.gov/savings/income-tax-credits-program-arkansas
Wind energy
Generate some or all of your own electricity using moving air with a small residential wind turbine.
http://energy.gov/savings/income-tax-credits-program-arkansas
Radiant energy
Radiant energy systems avoid the air quality issues associated with forced air heating. Linked to geothermal systems, they use the temperature of the earth to help regulate the temperature of your home.
http://energy.gov/savings/income-tax-credits-program-arkansas
Fuel cells
Fuel cells convert natural gas to electricity. The by product of this cutting-edge technology is pure clean hot water.
https://energy.gov/savings/income-tax-credits-program-arkansas