Oct 06 2007
The Basics of Home Wind Power
Installing home wind power for energy just makes sense. By adding a wind turbine to your home you can usually lower your electricity bill by 50 to 90 percent. Many families that own turbines have electric bills of no more than $8 to $15 for most of the year. It’s also great on the environment.
Home wind power produces no pollution, and by using wind power, instead of mass produced electricity, you will be offsetting 1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases could have been created by your electric company. Most small turbines do not require any regular maintenance and last for up to twenty years.
Cost
Home wind power is defiantly an investment. A small turbine can cost from $6,000 to $22,000, including installation. In around six to fifteen years the turbine will recoup your investment, and, after it pays for itself, the electricity it produces will be almost free. Installing a system also increases property value.
The Set Up
Here is how home wind power works: A turbine collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it into electricity, then makes it compatible with your home’s electrical system. Your home will be connected to both the turbine and your local electric company. If there is not enough wind to power your turbine you will get your electricity from the electric company. As you get more wind, the turbine’s electric output increases and you use less electricity from the electric company. During the times when your turbine produces more electricity than it needs, the electric company is required by law to buy it from you automatically.
Many home wind power dealers offer readymade systems that you can either install yourself, or have a professional install. They will also help you set up the paperwork needed to sell your surplus electricity to the electric company and test for the best place to put the turbine for optimal wind speed.
The installation set-up is pretty simple. First, an 80 to 120 foot tower is installed to raise the turbine above wind turbulence and to get better wind flow. The higher the tower, the more wind the turbine will be able to use. Next, the turbine will be installed. The turbine has very few moving parts, so there is no need to worry about it breaking. The turbine is then retro fitted to your home’s current wiring with a secondary utility meter. Then your set up is complete!
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