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Residential Wind Power at a Glance

September 5th, 2009 No comments

Anywhere that there are relatively strong winds is a good candidate for a wind energy system to partially or even totally replace the power from your local utility. A residential wind turbine can help you to meet the energy needs of your home or business, significantly reducing costs. These turbines may be and often are used along with a solar power system, since many of the parts needed for one are also used for the other. A wind turbine is installed on a tower and transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy which may be used to provide power in the home.

Most homes which use residential wind power also draw electricity from their local utility company as well. If wind speeds are below the turbine’s cut in speed (typically 7-10 mph), then the turbine will produce no power and all of the home’s energy needs will be met by the utility company. However, when wind speeds are above the turbine’s cut in speed, then the turbine generates power, lessening the amount drawn from the power grid. Any electricity produced which is above and beyond that needed for the home may be sold back to the local electricity supplier.

In general, a wind turbine can lower a homeowner’s electric bills by around 50% and up, depending on the exact wind power system and number of turbines used. How much a smaller wind turbine will save exactly all depends on the power usage of the home and the average wind speeds in the area, among other factors.[youtube:UQWf_-OEHOw;[link:DIY Wind Power Generator];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWf_-OEHOw&feature=related]

The efficiency of a wind power system depends entirely on the average wind speeds in your region. If you live somewhere where the wind speeds average above 10 mph, then your home is an excellent candidate for a residential wind power system ad you should be able to save a significant amount on your energy bill.

You can easily find out your area’s average wind speeds to determine if a wind power system is like to work well for your home. If your area is a breezy one, you may find that you can generate much of your own electrical power by installing a residential wind turbine.

Residential wind systems are quiet and don’t interfere with television or other electronic signals and can be installed with relative ease. Your local utility may even install an additional meter in your home to measure the excess electricity your wind power system is feeding back into the power grid.

Complete, ready to install wind turbine systems are readily available, though homeowners can also choose to buy the necessary parts and install it themselves. Purchasing a ready to install system costs a bit more but comes with more comprehensive support if needed. Installing a wind turbine on one’s own requires a little more technical know-how, but also a significant savings over a ready to install system. People interested in a residential wind power system should look into the pros and cons of each option for themselves to choose which is best for their needs.

A home wind power generator can save homeowners a considerable amount of money as well as being environmentally sound. A wind turbine creates no pollutants and reduce your reliance on greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels; it’s good for the Earth and great for your pocketbook.

Want to find out how to build a wind turbine for your backyard and save your hard earned money on your hydro bill. Find out how to build a homemade wind generator and you can save 1000s on of purchasing one and still make lots of power.

Things that Influence Output from a Wind Turbine

July 22nd, 2009 No comments

There are many different things that influence the output of a wind turbine that you must consider if you are going to put up this form of alternative energy on your property. There are also differences with solar systems which may make wind a better choice.

The average wind speed is a factor that is a big influence on how much electricity that can be produced from a wind turbine. The more wind speed that you have then the higher the production of electricity will be. This means two things.

You will need to take into account the amount of wind that you receive where you live. If you receive lots of wind and often that wind is strong, you will know that using a wind powered system, or wind turbine, would be the smart choice for your energy needs. However, if you live in an area that does not experience much wind then you will not be able to generate much energy from the wind turbine.

The diameter of the rotor has a lot to do with the output of the electricity that you get from a wind turbine also. The bigger the diameter is of the rotor then the more output you have of electricity also. You need to consider a good sized rotor. Cost may be a factor but you are defeating the purpose if you go for the cheaper solution of a smaller rotor. In order to get the most energy you need to get a bigger rotor.

The height of the tower is another factor that makes a big difference of how much output of electricity you receive from your wind turbine. This is because a wind turbine collects strong gusts of wind to convert into energy. Slow movements of air up to 10 mph don’t mean anything. The stronger winds are higher in the air and not so close to the ground. To get the most electricity you need to have a tall tower to capture the higher wind speeds. This will allow for more wind to be caught in the turbine.

A solar system is common for alternative sources of energy but this type of solution is often dependent on the sun shining. Cloudy days, rain, snow, and even debris can cause this not to work. In addition, most solar panel solutions rely on electricity to run the panels.

A wind turbine does not require anything but the wind in the air. There isn’t anything stopping the wind unless you live in a pocket or right up against a mountain and are blocked.

Many factors influence the amount of electricity that wind turbines generate and store within the system. Most of the time the system actually relies on these factors in order to put out the most energy possible. If you can meet these factors, IE, the height and size, then you can expect to have a system that will supply your energy needs in a very cost effective, environment friendly way.

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