Residential Wind Turbines

Today, more and more people are looking for alternative energy sources due to rising energy costs and a desire to help the environment by switching to renewable energy sources.  Residential wind turbines can be a great way to save on energy costs while reducing your dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources. Wind is a free and non-exhaustible energy source that creates no pollution, making it very environmentally friendly. 

Residential wind turbines can be installed in any location that gets winds of at least 10 or 11 miles per hour. Although they work better in large areas, such as an acre or more, where the wind is not stopped by buildings or other obstructions, they can even be used in smaller yards provided that the tower is tall enough.  Residential wind turbines are a great way to begin a small scale switch to alternative energy sources, and small turbines are unobtrusive additions to your yard. Many can even be mounted on a rooftop, although a tower height of up to 30 feet may be necessary if the area where you live is not very windy. 

Residential wind turbines vary in both the size of the tower and the size of the blades; longer blades can capture more wind power, but they also take up more space. You can choose ready-made residential wind turbines with professional installation, or build and install one yourself from plans.   When choosing a turbine, consider your family’s average energy uses. However, you can still draw some of your power from the utility grid, and any excess power from your wind turbines can be sold to the utility company.  

Every time the wind blows, power will be stored in the batteries of the wind turbine. Older versions of residential wind turbines required a lot of wind just to get them to begin turning.  Newer turbines have lighter and stronger blades, capable of turning in light breezes. With small residential wind turbines used in an area with 7-10mph average winds, you can generate up to 1 kilowatt of electricity per turbine.
 

The turbine blades spin a small generator, which stores energy in DC form. An inverter then changes this current to AC power, which is contained in a battery that can be used to power everything from refrigerators and microwaves to lights, televisions, and computers.  Although a single turbine may not be able to produce enough energy to power a whole household, they are a great start. Residential wind turbines are an excellent way to begin the switch to renewable energy without leaving traditional utilities behind. Most people with residential wind turbines remain connected to their local power grid to supplement their wind-based power.

For every kilowatt of electricity you create using residential wind turbines, one kilowatt of electricity will remain on the utility grid, directly reducing the amount of energy you use from non-renewable sources. The stored power generated by the wind can even be used in emergencies when there are power outages.  In many cases, residential wind turbines generate more energy than comparably-priced solar cells. Of course, the exact amount of power produced using their method depends on many variables. Both are an excellent way to show your commitment to renewable energy sources without going “off the grid” completely. 

Are you looking for tips that will shortcut your development time and save you headaches? If so, then I highly recommend you check out this step-by-step installation guide!  This regularly updated, essential how-to guide includes instructions on everything from how to wire your first new renewable energy system, how to recondition batteries, how biodiesel is made...even how to assemble solar cells! Click here to visit earth4energy

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