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Earth, wind and wire: Going beyond solar panels
Not long ago, people who wanted to generate their own green energy at home had to content themselves with rooftop solar panels.
But new technologies -- and hefty government subsidies -- are now allowing homeowners to tap the wind, the Earth and other renewable sources in their own backyards.
Call it the green evolution.
The cost of heating and cooling with fossil fuels has nowhere to go but up, thanks to rising global demand and increased regulation of carbon emissions. Turning one's home into a clean mini-power plant is getting cheaper and easier all the time.
Here's a look at three technologies that some California residents are using now to cut utility costs while turning their homes into truly green houses.