Two centuries have gone since Mr.
Franklin endeavored to fly his kite into that storm with an idea about lightning and energy.
Noteworthy progress in the evolution of electricity has been made since then.
However, plenty remains to uncover and appreciate.
Even today scientists experiment continuously to discover more about electricity.
Consider for a minute how many times we use electricity daily.
Electricity presents users with simply better quality of life.
We depend heavily on electricity and the power it provides.
There is no reason to consider that our needs will change anytime soon.
Most electricity today is results from burning fossil fuels.
The detonation of fuel spawns turbines to move, which turn to create electricity.
Unfortunately fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and will eventually cease to exist.
These fuels also pollute run a muck of the environment.
If we intend to live longer healthier lives and continue to utilize our energy-consuming creature comforts we need to find an alternate way to produce electricity.
There are renewable choices for electricity including the sun, wind, water, and steam and scientists are busy developing technologies to harness all of these choices.
Try putting the lid on top of a pot of boiling water and hold it down.
You will notice that as the steam rises it expands.
The expansion of water creates pressure forcing the lid to up and off.
This illustrates how thermal energy works to spin turbines and drive electric generators.
Various fuels can be used to heat the water however one of the better sources arrives from deep beneath the Earth's surface.
Intense subterranean heat turns the water to steam, which then escapes to the surface through natural fissures as geothermal energy - energy provided by the earth's heat.
Fuel used to heat the water in other ways include coal, oil, natural gas or a nuclear source however for homemade electricity Biomass might be the best fuel option.
Biomass is organic or living matter like wood, plants, or animals and their waste products.
Biomass electricity comes from the burning of organic matter to create energy.
Biomass fuels are excess waste and by products from the agricultural industries.
Anything from orange peels to peanut shells can be incinerated to heat water for a homemade thermal power generator.
The wind is a powerful force.
It can literally move otherwise stationary objects.
That same power can be harnessed to rotate blades on a wind turbine to produce electricity.
Wind generators are a great idea where they are allowed because wind, like the sun, is a sustainable resource.
However, they can be very expensive and not strong winds are not always available.
The universal way to produce homemade electricity is through the use of solar panels.
Plants with the help of the sun and through a process called photosynthesis create energy for the plant to grow and survive.
The term photosynthesis literally means to convert light.
Man has discovered how to capitalize the sun's light to make electricity.
Man made silicon is used to create panels, which convert sunlight to electricity.
And today solar or photovoltaic (PV) panels can power everything from cell phones to appliances in a home.
Solar energy is renewable energy and will provide electricity as long as there is sunlight.
PV panels are currently very costly and therefore extensive use of solar energy is not as common as hydroelectric generation however demand for homemade solar power is on the rise so costs should start to lower as the demand is met by a growing supply.
There are many options available for creating homemade electricity.
It is just a matter of research, trial-and-error, and patience before we can generate sufficient and consistent amounts of electric energy for our homes.