Looking to wean yourself off the grid? The savings — to you and the planet — can be astronomical. Here’s how: Start by calculating how much energy your home is consuming and what you can save by changing your habits and retrofitting your home.

The next step is to calculate the return on investment of generating your own energy, beginning with the simplest technologies and those that give the biggest immediate bang for the buck.

Read the full article for alternative energy technology suggestions including how much unit saves in energy costs.