Wind Energy Projects
Wind Energy…More Than Affordable for the Home
Wind Turbine Offers Another Clean Alternative
The first usage of wind power dates back more than three thousand years. Windmills, which we all know from literature, were used primarily in the west between 1300 and the late 1800’s. None of this means anything to the modern homeowner, considering a wind turbine as a possible alternative energy source, however. What you do need to know is that wind power is not as expensive to impalement as you might think. This may sound funny, but you must determine first, if it is windy enough where you live, to justify a wind turbine. Many use wind power as a back up to solar, while still others use them both in conjunction, as an alternative energy package.
Just how much energy can a wind turbine produce? Again, we must determine how windy it is where you are planning to install it. This is not a question about whether it is ever windy where you live, it is probably windy during storms, but that is merely an observation about the weather. What you want to know about is the long-term average wind speed for your area, or historic climate data, not day-to-day weather. Obviously it will produce a greater amount of energy the more the small turbine spins.
So what exactly is a small wind turbine. They are designed for individual homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that utilize wind energy to produce clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are defined as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were thinking that one wind generator will power your house, I’m sorry but it won’t. Keep in mind that the wind turbine is simply a collector just like a solar panel is. In this case the collector is the spinning rotor, made up of a number of blades that rotate to turn the electrical generator. Small blades result in a small rotor diameter, which translates into a small collector area, which further translates into small amounts of generated electricity.
Positioning is Very Important
It Must Be High Enough to Catch the Wind
To properly access the wind flow and generate enough electricity, wind turbines are installed on high towers that rise above any trees or surrounding buildings. Your roof top might not be the right place unless a tower is utilized. It is advisable to get your neighbors permission before installing such a structure. For whatever reason you chose not to have a high enough tower, it won’t matter when it comes to generating adequate energy. It is better not to install a wind turbine in the first place, rather than to not have it high enough. There is simply little energy in low winds that you can convert into usable electricity.
Is it better to have many wind turbines or one larger one? To answer this question, you first have to determine what it is exactly that you plan to power. Are we talking about an all electric home, or perhaps one that uses other energy sources such as natural gas? Considering that most homes do have more than one energy source, the average household consumes about 1,000 kWh of electricity per month, or about 12,000 kWh per year. Depending on your wind resource and the tower height required to get the wind turbine above the trees, a wind system designed to generate that kind of electric capacity would have to have a very large rotor. The price tag could easily exceed $50,000.00 to install. Another option could be to have multiple smaller turbines. This of course would depend on the space you have available to erect the amount of towers needed.
Smaller is Better
Limiting the Size Can Be Very Cost Effective
Even if you decided to go with several smaller wind turbines, the cost could still run you about $12-$15,000. Yes it is a far cry from $50,000, but it is still a pretty penny. Depending of course what your electric bill is currently, you must determine how long it will take to pay for it. There is of course another option that, depending on your situation, can save you thousands of dollars. I am referring to making this a do-it-yourself project. There are kits available that will cut your cost in half. Even better than that there are online instructional guides that will walk you through the entire process step by step. Small wind turbine system can be constructed for literally pennies on the dollar in this manner.
For those of you who don’t have either the time or the inclination to do it all yourself, I might suggest that you take advantage of the current work shortage by hiring a couple of competent handymen to construct the entire project. I bet with the right instructions, you could bring it in for a tenth of the original estimate.
My own extensive research has helped me narrow down the best of the best instructional guides, complete with blueprints, photos, for that do-it-yourself wind and/or solar power project you might be considering. Obviously, I can’t go into great detail in this article, but if I have piqued your interest, you can get all the facts of this or many other ideas on how to go green at my site Possibly GREEN. There you’ll find the right ways to live a greener life, including information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and even find green jobs in your area.
About the Author
At 57, I consider myself to be a Jack Of All Trades And Master Of Nothing. I was a struggling actor for 25 years. During that time I learned a little about a lot of things, and would like to pass along some of that knowledge. I live in California with my beautiful wife and a menagerie of pets.
Cannon Power Group is a leader in financing wind energy projects
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