If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Wind Power For The Average American

With both environmental and economic concerns leading the quest for renewable forms of alternative energy, a number of Americans have begun looking for ways to reduce their dependence on oil and coal-based energy.  Though biodiesel, solar panels, and hydroelectric dams are currently the most well-known forms of alternative energy available, wind power is quickly becoming a viable alternative used both as a supplement to an external electrical supply and as a primary source of power.  Though you might think that wind power requires acres of expensive wind turbines in order to produce energy, it can also be personalized for individual home or business use.

Wind power has traditionally been produced in large amounts by wind farms, which are the stereotypical large turbines that many people associate with renewable wind energy.  While these large wind farms and their offshore cousins are very useful for reducing the carbon footprint of the areas that they provide power for, that form of wind power production just isn’t feasible for the average American.  A home wind generator can generally be purchased for less than the cost of a comparable solar energy kit, allowing you to produce the energy that you need to reduce your energy costs for less.  A larger home wind generator system can even be created so that you can live completely off grid with wind power if you so choose.

Most people would love to reduce their utilities, if not get rid of them completely. The two main factors that stop them in their tracks are perceived cost and the seemingly overwhelming technology. It just sounds to hard and to expensive to accomplish.

However, if you research the possibilities and approach the matter with common sense, you can start today with the long term goal of getting off the grid. Going green does not have to be insurmountable.

A very simple action you can take today is to remove all light bulbs and replace them with Earthmate EP3057AE 30-Watt Spiral CFL Full Spectrum Bulb, 6 Pack . These bulbs last up to seven years and use about 75% less mercury. Make the most of your natural light during the day by opening your blinds and curtains and letting the sunlight in. Use your dimmer switch effectively and often.

As needed, replace all your appliances with Energy Efficient choices. Look for the Energy Star.

Consider the Indoor Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater available now. Water is only heated as you use it, another big savings!

Wind generators for home use are rapidly growing more popular. A relatively small one can produce enough electricity to run your appliances. If you really want to reduce those utilities try the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine . These are acceptable in most urban areas as they are free of noise, easy to assemble in a short time and provide energy security. You can conceivably offset over 20% of your average energy use when combined with all those “energy star” rated appliances!

Most people don’t know that you can use wind generators for home use. If you live in the right area,  you might  be used to the sight of giant four hundred foot turbines perched on mountains or in the valley’s, capturing the wind and turning it into electrical power, but it may never have occurred to you that you can do the same thing with this renewable energy.

Now, obviously, wind generators for your individual home use are not going to be four hundred feet high, unless you’ve got a lot of free time, several million dollars and special permits. Since you probably don’t have all that, you can set your sites on something smaller, something that won’t terrify the neighbors but will save you some money on your electric bill.

Home wind generator systems work in concert with your power company. Basically, when the wind is blowing and your generator is producing electricity, you’re not going to be using any power from the electric company. The rest of the time, you’ll still need to have power, and battery power isn’t practical for most residential wind generator set ups.

If you generate more power than you use, it goes back into the grid and the power company will actually pay you, which helps to cut down on electricity costs. Depending on your power usage and the amount of wind you get, you can expect a decrease in your electric bill of between fifty to ninety percent.

One caveat to contemplate when considering wind generators for your home use is the amount of land you have available. They are not going to be appropriate for urban setting, and you should probably have an acre or so of land available for use. This will give you ample space to build on and reduces the risk of having neighbors get on your case.

Speaking of not annoying the neighbors, most turbines that are appropriate for home use are pretty unobtrusive. They are not particularly large and while they make some noise when the wind blows, it’s not usually enough to bother people. It’s almost certainly going to be less of a problem than a sky high electric bill.

Wind generators for home use are long term investments, and you need to keep that in mind. Most recoup many times their cost over the course of their lifetime, but it’s going to take several years of use before the savings earn back the cost. But if you’re planning on living where you are long term, wind generators for home use will save you tens of thousands of dollars.

If you are serious about becoming more self-sustaining you might want to look into the alternative energy now available to the average American. Wind energy is becoming more accessible to those of us wanting to use our natural resources.

Sunforce 44444 12-Volt 400-Watt Wind Generator uses wind to generate power and run your appliances and electronics. Constructed from lightweight, weatherproof cast aluminum, this generator is also a great choice for powering pumps or charging batteries for large power demands. With a maximum power up to 400 watts or 27 amps, this device features a fully integrated regulator that automatically shuts down when the batteries are completely charged. The 44444 is virtually maintenance free with only two moving parts, and the carbon fiber composite blades ensure low wind noise while the patented high wind over speed technology guarantees a smooth, clean charge. Assembly is required, but this generator installs easily and mounts to any sturdy pole, building, or the Sunforce 44455 Wind Generator 30-Foot Tower Kit. The 44444 uses a 12-volt battery (not included) and measures 15 x 9 x 27 inches (WxHxD).

For greater energy production yield for all wind speeds and lowest ownership cost you will want the Windmax HY1000-5 1,000 Watt Max 24-Volt 5-Blade Residential Wind Generator Kit . The HYenergy wind turbine system defines a new level of superior performance and reliability in the small wind turbine industry. Brushless, strong Neodymium magnet PMA, unique winding and multi pole design reduce the start-up torque of the alternator to assure the HYenergy wind turbine have great performance at low wind speed. Designed with both reliability and performance in mind, HYenergy Wind Turbines feature maintenance free design, high reliability and consistent performance. The result: greater energy production yield for all wind speeds and lowest ownership cost. A small home wind turbine is a long term investment. Windmax H series wind turbines lead the small wind turbine industry by eliminating problematic mechanical furling over speed control which requires a lot of maintenance and causes wind turbine failure. Windmax H series wind turbine improves the reliability and performance by advanced electromagnetic speed limitation supplemented by aerodynamic speed limitation by blade deformation. Electromagnetic braking is used in combination with Aerodynamic braking to reduce the rotational speed of the generator in high wind condition.

• 500 Watt Max/400 Watt Rated
• Pole not included
• Wind turbines include generator, blades, controller and screws/bolts
• Maintanence free
• Greater energy production yield for all wind speeds and lowest ownership cost

Product Description
Solar/wind Max: 650w, Wind only: 400w rated, Wind only Max: 500w, solar panel is not included…. More >>

Windmax HY400 500 Watt Max 12-Volt 5-Blade Residential Wind Generator Kit

• 1,000 Watt Max
• Pole not included
• Wind turbines include generator, blades, controller and screws/bolts
• Maintanence free
• Greater energy production yield for all wind speeds and lowest ownership cost

Product Description
Solar/wind Max: 1200w, Wind only: 1000w rated, solar panel is not included…. More >>

Windmax HY1000-5 1,000 Watt Max 24-Volt 5-Blade Residential Wind Generator Kit

• 750 Watt Max/600 Watt Rated
• Pole not included
• Wind turbines include generator, blades, controller and screws/bolts
• Maintanence free
• Greater energy production yield for all wind speeds and lowest ownership cost

Product Description
Solar/wind Max: 900w, Wind only: 600w rated, Wind only Max: 750w, solar panel is not included…. More >>

Windmax HY600-3 750 Watt Max 24-Volt 3-Blade Residential Wind Generator Kit

Many of us have questions about what is required to reduce our energy costs with wind energy. Will a wind turbine save me money? What companies sell wind turbines for homeowners? What is the cost of a small residential wind turbine? How do I have a small wind turbine installed in my home? Does my state have tax incentives to go green?

Many of these questions can be answered by researching the official site @  http://www.awea.org/faq/rsdntqa.html

Discard your electrical waste and promote the well being of our earth for future generations by taking action.

Alternative energy is here. We must embrace it and learn about it and use it.

Wind prospectors regularly explore portions of each state with wind maps in hand, in search of desirable wind corridors for developing wind energy projects.

These wind-resource projections then combine with researching the potential for interconnection with a power-grid.

Most commercial or utility wind projects must have the the capacity to produce more than 100 kilowatts of power. It can take anywhere from five to ten years to develop wind projects.

Wind prospecting is not an exact science, but does assist the engineers with enough information to screen each potential region with a serious study.

On the other hand, the broader wind industry is still waiting for a national reneable electrical standard to be adopted that will lend credibility to continued development.

The average wind energy system costs between $3000 and $5000 per kilowatt-hour generated, though 10 kw/h systems can generally be purchased for around $14,000 to $15,000.  Though this may seem like a lot of money at first, it still is cheaper than many forms of renewable alternative energy that is available to homeowners.  The turbines for the home wind power generators are usually mounted on 60’ to 80’ towers located on land near the home or business that they will be supplying power to, though smaller systems that are being used as a means of generating energy for wells and similar devices tend to not require quite so high of a tower.  Higher towers are used to be able to access stronger air currents and winds that might be blocked by trees or other obstacles closer to ground level.

One of the keys to successful self-sustaining wind energy generation is finding the right site to place your wind turbines on.  Government agencies such as the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory offer wind maps and statistical data for most parts of the country to assist with finding the perfect location for your wind turbines.  Additional maps and resources can also be located from meteorological societies and private wind energy groups such as the American Wind Energy Association.  Many of these agencies and groups also offer practical advice, assistance with finding information on county and city zoning and building permit requirements, and even finding financing assistance and tax credits which you can claim after building your wind power generator.

Currently, only around 7% of the nation’s energy comes from renewable alternative energy sources.  Of this 7%, only 5% is generated by wind power.  Even with this small of an amount of wind energy being produced in the United States, the country still ranks third in overall wind energy production after Germany and Spain.  With the rising costs of petroleum-based fuels and the greater efficiency of modern wind turbines, wind energy is entering a stage of rising popularity and has become a major draw as an alternative means of getting needed electricity to American homes.  Whether the energy comes from large multi-acre wind farms, offshore turbines that take advantage of the trade winds, or small wind units that are used by average Americans as a means to reduce their carbon footprint and ease their dependence on petroleum, wind energy is poised to be a major form of energy production throughout the 21st century.

If you are interested in learning more about going “off grid” with wind power, I highly recommend you read Paul Gipe. He has several books out on the subject, including the results of many trial and error “mistakes ” and how to avoid them. You can find his books here:  Wind Energy Comes of Age (Wiley Series in Sustainable Design)