Wind Power Facts
1. Why would you install a residential wind turbine?
There are a number of reasons why you should think about investing in a wind turbine to generate some of the electricity for your home.
Wind power electricity will:
a) have positive benefits for the environment by reducing the carbon footprint of your home;
b) demonstrate to others that the concept of home renewable energy generation is possible;
c) lower your electricity bill as you will be buying less electricity from your utilities supplier;
d) provide a more reliable source of electricity for your home if you live in an area where the local power grid is subject to interruptions.
2. Will a wind power turbine work at your home?
Probably, but there are several necessary conditions related to the wind.
You will need to know:
a) that you have significant periods of steady winds of 10mph or greater on your
property;
b) whether these wind speeds are maintained at heights of at least 85 feet from the ground, and preferably up to 150 feet;
c) the seasonal wind speed peaks in your locality;
d) the times during the afternoon that wind speed around your home peaks;
e) what wind turbulence patterns are created by buildings and trees on and adjoining your property.
It is not likely that you have the answers to these questions. In that case you will need to engage a professional wind assessor to carry out an assessment of the potential for generating wind power electricity at your property
3. What other factors need to be considered when planning for a wind power system?
Other diverse, but very significant factors you will need to consider when deciding whether to proceed with supplementing your existing electricity supply by adding wind powered electricity to your property include:
a)the initial cost of the system. Cheaper micro wind turbines can be installed on your roof top but their output will be quite small compared with high tower mounted wind turbines;
b)the reaction of your neighbours, particularly if they are close to your house,
to the sight and sound of high tower mounted wind turbines;
c)the likelihood that your tower mounted wind turbines will generate significant noise which, depending on the direction of the prevailing winds in your area, may travel long distances into residential areas, potentially annoying many people;
d)whether the zoning regulations of your local authorities are favourable to what you plan.
These are some of the major factors you will need to consider very carefully when you are making your decision whether to proceed with generating through wind power some of the electricity you use in your home.
In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of a home wind system, you will need to look at such things as: initial cost of the system, the reaction of your neighbors, the favorability of local zoning laws, and the potential for noise. These things will be offset by your energy savings, lowered carbon footprint, and greater energy independence. Click here to explore the advantages and disadvantages of residential wind turbines in greater detail.
4. What does a home wind turbine cost?
You see that your local big box home store has a wind turbine on sale for $2,000. Great! But will it be big enough to create any real energy savings for your home? The wind manufacturer gave you an estimate of $22,000 for equipment and installation. Yikes! Is that too much? In truth, really effective residential wind systems range from $22,000 to $45,000+. Click here to read more about the cost of residential wind energy.
5. Will I still need my power company?
Setting up a residential wind turbine does not mean you'll be bidding your power company a fond farewell. Almost all home wind systems are on-grid units, meaning you'll need to negotiate an interconnection agreement with the electrical utility to establish a system of net metering to figure energy produced against commercial energy purchased. Click here to find out more about how your relationship with the power company will change when you put in a home wind turbine.
6. How much power will my turbine produce?
The amount of power your turbine will produce depends upon the size of the unit purchased and the quality of wind at the given site. Really effective turbines are tower-mounted at a height of 85 to 150 feet. Inexpensive, roof-mounted turbines will likely be subject to too much turbulence from adjacent structures and will only be capable of lowering you energy costs by 10%. Click here to learn more about energy production from residential wind turbines.
7. Where do I purchase a residential wind turbine?
How do I start shopping for a wind turbine? Do I look online? Are their manufacturers in my town or region? What's a fair price? What questions should I ask? Are their directories of manufacturers and equipment online? Can I find reviews or customer experiences? Click here to read more about buying your residential wind turbine and associated equipment.
8. Can I install a home wind turbine myself?
Most would-be home turbine owners stop at some point in the process and ask, "Can I do this myself?" The answer is probably yes, but the real question is, "Is it worth it?" There are different levels of "do it yourself," with different hurdles to overcome. To learn more about the resources for DIY installations and the expected potential results for each, click here.
9. What does it cost to maintain a wind turbine?
Although most modern residential wind turbines have few moving parts, all require some degree of maintenance and potentially repair (most likely from instances of bad weather.) Commercial installation companies build maintenance and repair visits into the initial sales contract with options for extension, but any turbine owner can learn what to watch -- and listen -- for to ensure their unit is functioning correctly and efficiently. Click here to learn more about wind turbine maintenance costs and procedures.
10. What energy tax credits and incentives will help defray the cost?
Fortunately, tax credits and other incentives are available to help homeowners defray the initial expense of installing home wind power. These benefits come from state and federal governments as well as local power utilities and other groups interested in promoting the cause of renewable energy. At minimum, you can expect to defray your installation costs by 30% with an uncapped federal tax credit. Click here to learn more about incentives for the installation of wind energy systems.
11. How long before my wind turbine pays for itself?
The bottom line is always, "If I spend all this money, how long before I recoup my investment?" Frankly, a long time. Some companies will tell you six years, but 15 to 20 is more likely. How is that worth it? Recouping your expenses, while important, may not be the only criterion for deciding to move forward with a residential wind turbine. Click here to read more about making the final decision to invest in wind energy.
12. What you should consider when deciding to invest in wind power for your home?
In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of a home wind system, you will need to look at such things as: initial cost of the system, the reaction of your neighbors, the favorability of local zoning laws, and the potential for noise. These things will be offset by your energy savings, lowered carbon footprint, and greater energy independence. Click here to explore the advantages and disadvantages of residential wind turbines in greater detail.
There are a number of reasons why you should think about investing in a wind turbine to generate some of the electricity for your home.
Wind power electricity will:
a) have positive benefits for the environment by reducing the carbon footprint of your home;
b) demonstrate to others that the concept of home renewable energy generation is possible;
c) lower your electricity bill as you will be buying less electricity from your utilities supplier;
d) provide a more reliable source of electricity for your home if you live in an area where the local power grid is subject to interruptions.
2. Will a wind power turbine work at your home?
Probably, but there are several necessary conditions related to the wind.
You will need to know:
a) that you have significant periods of steady winds of 10mph or greater on your
property;
b) whether these wind speeds are maintained at heights of at least 85 feet from the ground, and preferably up to 150 feet;
c) the seasonal wind speed peaks in your locality;
d) the times during the afternoon that wind speed around your home peaks;
e) what wind turbulence patterns are created by buildings and trees on and adjoining your property.
It is not likely that you have the answers to these questions. In that case you will need to engage a professional wind assessor to carry out an assessment of the potential for generating wind power electricity at your property
3. What other factors need to be considered when planning for a wind power system?
Other diverse, but very significant factors you will need to consider when deciding whether to proceed with supplementing your existing electricity supply by adding wind powered electricity to your property include:
a)the initial cost of the system. Cheaper micro wind turbines can be installed on your roof top but their output will be quite small compared with high tower mounted wind turbines;
b)the reaction of your neighbours, particularly if they are close to your house,
to the sight and sound of high tower mounted wind turbines;
c)the likelihood that your tower mounted wind turbines will generate significant noise which, depending on the direction of the prevailing winds in your area, may travel long distances into residential areas, potentially annoying many people;
d)whether the zoning regulations of your local authorities are favourable to what you plan.
These are some of the major factors you will need to consider very carefully when you are making your decision whether to proceed with generating through wind power some of the electricity you use in your home.
In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of a home wind system, you will need to look at such things as: initial cost of the system, the reaction of your neighbors, the favorability of local zoning laws, and the potential for noise. These things will be offset by your energy savings, lowered carbon footprint, and greater energy independence. Click here to explore the advantages and disadvantages of residential wind turbines in greater detail.
4. What does a home wind turbine cost?
You see that your local big box home store has a wind turbine on sale for $2,000. Great! But will it be big enough to create any real energy savings for your home? The wind manufacturer gave you an estimate of $22,000 for equipment and installation. Yikes! Is that too much? In truth, really effective residential wind systems range from $22,000 to $45,000+. Click here to read more about the cost of residential wind energy.
5. Will I still need my power company?
Setting up a residential wind turbine does not mean you'll be bidding your power company a fond farewell. Almost all home wind systems are on-grid units, meaning you'll need to negotiate an interconnection agreement with the electrical utility to establish a system of net metering to figure energy produced against commercial energy purchased. Click here to find out more about how your relationship with the power company will change when you put in a home wind turbine.
6. How much power will my turbine produce?
The amount of power your turbine will produce depends upon the size of the unit purchased and the quality of wind at the given site. Really effective turbines are tower-mounted at a height of 85 to 150 feet. Inexpensive, roof-mounted turbines will likely be subject to too much turbulence from adjacent structures and will only be capable of lowering you energy costs by 10%. Click here to learn more about energy production from residential wind turbines.
7. Where do I purchase a residential wind turbine?
How do I start shopping for a wind turbine? Do I look online? Are their manufacturers in my town or region? What's a fair price? What questions should I ask? Are their directories of manufacturers and equipment online? Can I find reviews or customer experiences? Click here to read more about buying your residential wind turbine and associated equipment.
8. Can I install a home wind turbine myself?
Most would-be home turbine owners stop at some point in the process and ask, "Can I do this myself?" The answer is probably yes, but the real question is, "Is it worth it?" There are different levels of "do it yourself," with different hurdles to overcome. To learn more about the resources for DIY installations and the expected potential results for each, click here.
9. What does it cost to maintain a wind turbine?
Although most modern residential wind turbines have few moving parts, all require some degree of maintenance and potentially repair (most likely from instances of bad weather.) Commercial installation companies build maintenance and repair visits into the initial sales contract with options for extension, but any turbine owner can learn what to watch -- and listen -- for to ensure their unit is functioning correctly and efficiently. Click here to learn more about wind turbine maintenance costs and procedures.
10. What energy tax credits and incentives will help defray the cost?
Fortunately, tax credits and other incentives are available to help homeowners defray the initial expense of installing home wind power. These benefits come from state and federal governments as well as local power utilities and other groups interested in promoting the cause of renewable energy. At minimum, you can expect to defray your installation costs by 30% with an uncapped federal tax credit. Click here to learn more about incentives for the installation of wind energy systems.
11. How long before my wind turbine pays for itself?
The bottom line is always, "If I spend all this money, how long before I recoup my investment?" Frankly, a long time. Some companies will tell you six years, but 15 to 20 is more likely. How is that worth it? Recouping your expenses, while important, may not be the only criterion for deciding to move forward with a residential wind turbine. Click here to read more about making the final decision to invest in wind energy.
12. What you should consider when deciding to invest in wind power for your home?
In evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of a home wind system, you will need to look at such things as: initial cost of the system, the reaction of your neighbors, the favorability of local zoning laws, and the potential for noise. These things will be offset by your energy savings, lowered carbon footprint, and greater energy independence. Click here to explore the advantages and disadvantages of residential wind turbines in greater detail.
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