Distributed energy generation is not often discussed, but solar cells, as noted on the solutions page, are a commonly known distributed energy solution. Your local power company, district, or cooperative should be able to provide specific information about home solar installations (and maybe even other renewable energy solutions). If you live in Benton County, Washington, you can read Benton PUD's site on solar power or visit their Kennewick and Prosser locations to see live, individual, on-site, solar installations.

Your utility provider or local/state government may offer incentives for installing distributed energy solutions. Consult your utility provider or visit DSIRE for information on incentives in your area.

If you are ready explore further issues, materials, costs, and installation, read Solarbuzz's website for practical details on solar technology, its progress, and its costs. Alternatively, if you live with more wind than sun, Bergey Windpower offers similar information about wind power. Last, but not least, there is the fuel cell option. Fuel cells for commercial or residential use are almost non-existent, but Bloom Energy is currently testing fuel cell energy "servers" with large corporations like Google and Wal-Mart. While fuel cells are somewhat experimental at this time, Bloom Energy seems to have the most thorough and up-to-date information on fuel cells that may become a practical.