So I might be building a new home now that the kids are all gone and I don't need all this space anymore. I was wondering what the benefits and drawbacks are of solar, wind and geothermal power on a residential scale. Which should I use or avoid?

Its all a matter of where you live emptynester. If you live in a region that is overcast, then a PV cell system might not be the best choice, but a solar hot water system may still yield benefits. If you live in an area with high sun most of the year, like Arizona, then a PV solar system might be more beneficial. If you live in a high wind area, then a small or multiple small wind turbines might be in order.

What I am trying to get at here is that each location and situation calls for a different set of solutions. In many cases, you will want a combination of technologies. Some of these systems work in a symbiosis with eachother. The example I like to use is in many places where the sun shines all day, the wind is fairly calm, but at night when the sun is down and that system is no longer producing power for the home, the wind has picked up and a turbine could be gaining you power.

G3DH - So will certain technologies cost more in certain locations? Say if I wanted to live in Arizona, would it be cheaper to buy solar panels out there? How about other technologies like geothermal caves and wind turbines? Are there markets where prices are higher or lower?

If I go solar, does it make a difference what I buy based on where I live. Should I be going with the new technologies or the old proven ones? I have read that solar hot water pays itself back faster, so should I be going with one of those systems?

I live in an overcast area for most of the year and I don't know if PV will cut it.