The ABC’s of Home Wind Generators
© Copyright Webstreet Properties
by D. Alan Carter
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Home Wind Generators: how they work, what it takes to make them economical. |
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Got wind? All across the country, homeowners are discovering the power of the
wind. It’s been there all along, of course, but until recently unharnessed. Things change. Now, a growing number of
homeowners are discovering the delight in cutting their electric bill in half, and in some cases, actually
selling electricity back to the local
utility. Want to be one?
Home Wind Generators - How They
Work
A wind generator or wind turbine is a device of rotating blades which converts the
kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy can be tapped directly to power pumps and
other machinery, as were the iconic "windmills" commonplace on farms worldwide and especially in the U.S. Midwest,
which powered water pumps to keep livestock ponds full. Although some 60,000 windmills remain active in the U.S.
(down from a peak of 600,000), for most modern purposes, including residential applications, the mechanical energy
of a wind generator is subsequently converted into electricity.
Home Wind Generators - Urban
Settings
In a typical residential application, a wind generator or wind turbine augments
the electrical service provided by the local utility. At wind speeds insufficient to power the generator, the
utility provides 100% of the electrical needs to the household. As wind speeds increase, the generator kicks in and
provides an increasing share of the electrical burden. Given enough speed and sustainability, and depending upon
the make and model of turbine, wind may actually generate more electricity than is needed. During these periods,
and thanks to net metering laws, the excess power is recovered by the utility by way of grid interconnection
equipment. The homeowner is, in effect, selling electricity to the utility.
Home Wind Generators - Rural
Settings
In rural residential applications beyond the reach of the power grid, the wind
generator supplies 100% of the household’s electrical needs, or is augmented with other power sources (i.e. solar).
Off-grid generators will include a bank of batteries to store electricity for use during windless
periods.
Home Wind Generators - Can They Work For
You?
A movement is under way. A number of wind turbine manufacturers are focused on
reducing the size and increasing the efficiency of home wind generators to counter complaints of esthetics and
up-front costs. And those costs can still be significant. Expect to pay between $5,000 and $20,000 depending upon
the size of the unit and after rebates and incentives, although at least one manufacturer recently launched a new,
roof-mounted product priced at $1,399 and change. Factoring in the up-front costs, a home wind generator can still
be an economical source of electricity for your household if most, if not all, of the following conditions
exist:
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Good Wind. Most small wind
generators need a 10 mph wind to operate efficiently.
- Favorable Zoning. Your city,
municipality or subdivision must allow wind turbines.
- Sizable Lot. Most home wind
generators need a larger lot to avoid wind block and turbulence from buildings, and allowing placement of the
turbine a sufficient distance from neighbors’ property lines.
- Long Term Horizon. The initial
investment payback on a home wind generator runs from 6 to 15 years. After that, the electricity it produces
will be virtually free. While an investment in a home wind generator will likely increase the value of your
home, any actual return on that investment –from that angle– will only come about if you
sell your home. Those
planning to remain in their home will see a return on investment based on accumulated utility savings, so
a long-term investment horizon needs to be acceptable.
Let’s break ‘em down and take
a closer look at each of the conditions mentioned above, in Is A Wind Generator Right For
You?
Home Wind Generators - Game
Changer
While economical within a long-term time horizon, there is one condition that
dramatically improves the economics behind a home wind generator - that being your home does not have easy access
to utility lines. If you’re currently "off the grid" and the financial responsibility for connecting to that grid
is yours, you’ll likely discover that there is less
up-front costs in buying and setting up a home wind generator than
running utility lines.
The urge to harness energy helped propel the human species out of the dark and
into the light of the modern world. But we now know that all energy is not created equal. Some of it is killing the
planet and some of it holds the promise to save the planet. The beauty part? Wind - and other renewable energy
sources - promise to save our pocketbooks, as well as the Mother Earth.
See a good selection of wind generators and wind turbines for the home that are
available now, including kits, towers and accessories, by visiting our Online Store just two pages over.
FYI, for an in-depth, side-by-side comparison with that
other renewable energy
source (that would be solar power), including economics, see Residential Solar vs Home Wind
Power.
– D. Alan Carter
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