Catch The Wind And Crank Up Your Turbine

Wind power has been growing at a pace that rivals that of the solar industry. The worldwide generating capacity of wind turbines has grown more than 25% every year for the past decade, reaching nearly 60,000 MW in early 2006. In Europe, the growth has been phenomenal. In 1994, the total installed wind generated power capacity of the European Union nations was 1700 MW. In 2005, wind generators produce more than 40,000 MW. Read more

Wind Power Alone Could Provide 3 Times The Energy Europe Needs By 2020

A recent report from the European environment agency says that the potential of wind generated power in 2020 is three times greater than what Europe’s expected electrical demand will be.

In other words, it is feasible for Europe to generate three times as much power as it needs by the year 2020. Read more

Don’t Stop With Solar Panels And Wind Generators; Get Aggressively Passive

It can be simple and easy to be green. You don’t have to exclusively use the highest technology to create and store power in order to maintain an eco-friendly home.

In San Francisco recently, the first ever-fully manufactured version of a pre-fabricated home designed by Michelle Kaufman was debuted. The home is called mkLotus®. As a dwelling, it is coyly understated, yet slick and offers the highest level of modern, sustainable living. Read more

Money From The Stimulus Package Powers The Purchase Of Solar Panels

Money from the recently passed federal stimulus package is going to help the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs with a brand-new 2 MW solar power plant.

The plant will cost $18.3 million and cover up to 30 acres on the Academy grounds. It is the first part of a long-range plan to shift the school’s power demands to completely renewable resources. Read more

Rooftop Wind Power

Homeowners could cut 20% off their electricity bills with a new wind turbine that can be mounted directly on a building. The ­seven-foot-wide plastic turbine has a ring around its rotors that diffuses noise and limits vibration; the company claims that the turbine is no louder than a whisper. In windy locations, its power output should be about 2,000 kilowatt-hours a year. Read more

Wind Turbine And Wind Generator FAQs

How Does A Wind Turbine Work?

A wind turbine, which is usually installed at the top of a tower, collects energy from the wind and converts it to electricity.

In other words, the wind spins the propeller which is attached to a generator. As the generator spins, it produces electricity. Depending on the generator, the electricity that is produced may or may not be compatible with your existing 120 V AC system. Many times, especially with homemade units, the generator will produce 12 VDC.

In a typical residential application, the home will use power from the wind turbine and the local utility at the same time. If the wind is blowing above what is known as “cut-in” speed, then the generator is spinning fast enough to produce electricity for the home.

If the wind is not blowing fast enough to turn the propeller, then all of the homes electrical needs are supplied by the utility company.

Typically, this is done automatically. You don’t have to run out and flip a switch when the wind starts to blow or when it stops to blow.

At the current prices of wind generators, it would be difficult to economically justify purchasing a wind generator that supplies 100% of the homes needs, even if the wind is blowing hard.

What Is The Cost Savings?

A wind turbine can lower your electrical bill buy as much as 90%. However in reality, savings of 30% or more realistic. It depends on the part of the country in which you live, much like solar power.

Look at the climate in your area regarding the average wind speed. You can get a pretty good idea of how cost-effective your wind turbine will be, based on this data.

What Size Turbine Is Best For My Needs?

The average home uses approximately 9000 kWh for electricity every year. That works out to about 760 kWh per month. Again, depending on the average wind speed in your area, a turbine rated in the range of 6-12 kW would be required to make a decent contribution to meet this demand.

Should I Consider Buying A Wind Turbine?

This certainly depends on where you are.

Some residential wind turbines can be pretty large and may not be suitable for urban or suburban homes. You may have HOA considerations.

However, as turbines become smaller and more effective, there may be a viable solution available for your home.

How Will Wind Turbines Help The Environment?

Wind turbines produce very little pollution and by using wind power you can offset pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over the life of a wind turbine, a small residential unit can offset approximately 1.1 tons of air pollutants.

Don’t I Have To Take Wind Measurements For A Year?

For most residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified. Wind resource data published by the U.S. Department of Energy is sufficient for an experienced evaluator to predict wind turbine performance. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be best to collect wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site is not in a sheltered area.

Will My Utility Allow Me To Hook Up A Wind Generator?

Current federal regulations require utilities to connect with and purchased power from small, that is less than 80 MW, wind energy systems.

Of course, the best way to find out the answer to this question is to simply call your utility company.

Will I Have To Change The Wiring In My House?

You won’t have to change any of the existing wiring, but you might want to add an extra breaker panel as part of the wind turbine system.

Do I Have To Install A Tower?

Usually, an 80 foot or higher tower is supplied with commercial wind turbines However, the choice is yours. The higher the better.

How Much Does A Wind Generator System Cost?

Commercial wind turbines can cost anywhere from $5000-$20,000 depending on the size, application and service agreements that may have been made with the manufacturer.

How Much Maintenance Is Required For A Wind Turbine?

Most wind turbines have very few moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance, as they are designed for a life span of up to 20 years.

Is A Wind Turbine A Good Investment?

Most commercial wind systems will read who their investments through utility savings within eight years. This varies on local conditions, the cost of local electricity and the initial price of the wind turbine.