• Not only is hydroelectricity environmentally friendly, it also saves you money.turbine 3 image by Udo Ingber from Fotolia.com
  
  Water turbines convert potential energy from falling water into rotational energy, which is used to turn a shaft inside the turbine. Deciding which type of turbine you need depends on a range of factors including flow rate, location, the type of application and the required energy for consumption. A farm uses more power than a small boat, for example. Turbines provide excellent alternatives to standard fuels for the home, and can be applied to a variety of household tasks.
  
  

Battery Charging

• Small hydroelectric generators, which use water turbine technology at their core, can be used as household battery charging devices for 12, 24 or 48 volt charging capacities, according to alternative energy company Utility Free.
  
  

Running Appliances

• Washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and showers all consume large amounts of electricity. If you have access to running water most of the year, you can invest in a mini turbine system to provide the necessary power to run your appliances. If you have a seasonal water supply, you can combine your small water generator with solar panels to create a year-round supply. According to Otherpower.com, a small, home-built turbine can generate up to 1.9 amps from fast-flowing stream water.
  
  

Powering Boats

• Water turbines and generators can be used to supply enough energy to run a small boat that is moored beside your home, or a larger houseboat for longer trips.
  
  

Farm Equipment

• If your home also doubles as a farm, you may want to generate power according to a set of principles common to agriculture: energy production efficiency; cost-effectiveness; reduced environmental impact, enhanced scalability and overall reliability. Specialized water turbines can be built to run safely and effectively using hot spring water or even untreated sewage, depending on your location and requirements. Evans Engineering, for example, has built turbines that are only 20 mm in diameter and run on carbon dioxide; they have also created much larger tidal steam turbines which can be positioned near the seafront.
  
  

Free Lighting

• Wiring your household lighting circuit up to a generator and water turbine system would make your lights free, but could lead to dimness or intermittent operation if your water supply is also intermittent. Also, be sure to ask for advice from an electrician and your local council or standards officer before beginning work, as you may need regulations permission depending on where you live.