Run your home on clean, sustainable electricity simply by
harnessing the power of flowing water. Using low-impact
mechanical systems, a home-scale hydroelectric system (or
"microhydro") mobilizes the kinetic energy of water gushing
downhill from a stream or river, then directs it onto a wheel in
a turbine that converts the rotational energy to electricity.
If you have at least 2 gallons per minute of flowering water, a
good amount of drop, shelter from bad weather, and permission
from the relevant authorities-that's important, even if the
project is on your own land-you can build your own microhydro
system. Expect to part with $1,000 for the smallest setup to
$20,000 for a system large enough to power several modern homes.
::Mother Earth News  Difficulty level: Advanced