Join the massive crowds that have gone to wind power, solar and other types of power generation. Save the planet and save your money at the same time.
1. Simply put, the revolving blades of a wind turbine pick up energy from the wind. This is transferred through a mechanism to a generator that produces electricity that is either used right away, stored for later in batteries, or sold to the local power authority. The systems can be expensive but there are many ways of building and installing one cheaply. Many homes in North America already are powered by wind generators that produce 1kw and more.
2. A home wind power system may take a few years to pay for itself at current energy prices but who can say what your bills will be in the next few years? A properly installed system can last 25 years or more. In some places you can get a small tax credit to help you set up to connect to the local grid. Yes, if you produce more than you use, you can sell electricity to your local power company! What a happy day it is when you get your bill and, instead of owing them, they've enclosed a check!
3. A relatively new design of turbine are called Energy Balls. They have a radicall rotor design that includes the generator itself. Energy Balls are very efficient because they make use of microwinds and are usually sold in sizes below 6 feet across.
4. Turbines for home owners or small industry come in sizes varying from 1kW to 50 kW outputs. Turbines, like airplanes, utilize the laws of aerodynamics to work. Turbines can be made passively able to better cope with high wind speeds and light electrical loads with, for example, "furling" to point them out of high winds, or using designs such as VAWTs that tend to speed up less due to turbulence.
Turbines might annoy you, though, due to "horizon pollution'. Some view them as ugly.
5. The winds are always changing speed. Your home wind power generator is at its mercy so you WILL need deep-cycle batteries to store energy for when the winds are calm. Most of the time, battery banks are built to store 3 days worth of calm weather.
6. In times of long periods of calm wind, power can be purchased from the local power authority. On the other hand, if you are in a position of having excess power and you can't or don't want to sell power to the local power grid, you can pass the excess energy into the immersion heaters of your hot water tank.
7. Some home wind power systems are tied into the local power grid. In times of excess, power is automatically sold and meterred to the local utility. In times of need, your system sucks power off the grid automatically and you are billed for what you use. All this can be easily done automatically but make sure the whole installation is approved by an electrician or other knowledgeable expert. Let electricity be your friend, not your enemy.
Building your own home wind power system isn't rocket science. Your greatest assets will be knowledge and inspections to know it is safe and efficient. Read, invest in knowledge and don't rush. You are building something that will benefit you for decades.
Environmental are still a concern. Environmentalists claim that wind power generators have an effect on wild bird populations and bats. This is probably true, but nothing comes without a price. How does smoke from a coal fired plant affect birds and bats? It, in the end, is your decision.
8. You will laugh all the way to the bank if you spend a few dollars before starting on information from experts. If you don't, you might cry all the way to the hospital or worse. Building and installing a system can be fun and exciting. Know your project and tap into the best sources of timely, information on wind generation you can find. - 16463
1. Simply put, the revolving blades of a wind turbine pick up energy from the wind. This is transferred through a mechanism to a generator that produces electricity that is either used right away, stored for later in batteries, or sold to the local power authority. The systems can be expensive but there are many ways of building and installing one cheaply. Many homes in North America already are powered by wind generators that produce 1kw and more.
2. A home wind power system may take a few years to pay for itself at current energy prices but who can say what your bills will be in the next few years? A properly installed system can last 25 years or more. In some places you can get a small tax credit to help you set up to connect to the local grid. Yes, if you produce more than you use, you can sell electricity to your local power company! What a happy day it is when you get your bill and, instead of owing them, they've enclosed a check!
3. A relatively new design of turbine are called Energy Balls. They have a radicall rotor design that includes the generator itself. Energy Balls are very efficient because they make use of microwinds and are usually sold in sizes below 6 feet across.
4. Turbines for home owners or small industry come in sizes varying from 1kW to 50 kW outputs. Turbines, like airplanes, utilize the laws of aerodynamics to work. Turbines can be made passively able to better cope with high wind speeds and light electrical loads with, for example, "furling" to point them out of high winds, or using designs such as VAWTs that tend to speed up less due to turbulence.
Turbines might annoy you, though, due to "horizon pollution'. Some view them as ugly.
5. The winds are always changing speed. Your home wind power generator is at its mercy so you WILL need deep-cycle batteries to store energy for when the winds are calm. Most of the time, battery banks are built to store 3 days worth of calm weather.
6. In times of long periods of calm wind, power can be purchased from the local power authority. On the other hand, if you are in a position of having excess power and you can't or don't want to sell power to the local power grid, you can pass the excess energy into the immersion heaters of your hot water tank.
7. Some home wind power systems are tied into the local power grid. In times of excess, power is automatically sold and meterred to the local utility. In times of need, your system sucks power off the grid automatically and you are billed for what you use. All this can be easily done automatically but make sure the whole installation is approved by an electrician or other knowledgeable expert. Let electricity be your friend, not your enemy.
Building your own home wind power system isn't rocket science. Your greatest assets will be knowledge and inspections to know it is safe and efficient. Read, invest in knowledge and don't rush. You are building something that will benefit you for decades.
Environmental are still a concern. Environmentalists claim that wind power generators have an effect on wild bird populations and bats. This is probably true, but nothing comes without a price. How does smoke from a coal fired plant affect birds and bats? It, in the end, is your decision.
8. You will laugh all the way to the bank if you spend a few dollars before starting on information from experts. If you don't, you might cry all the way to the hospital or worse. Building and installing a system can be fun and exciting. Know your project and tap into the best sources of timely, information on wind generation you can find. - 16463
About the Author:
About The Author: Gene Vent is anEngineering Technologist. His lifelong mission has been to blend the best in research with looking after the environment. His happiest accomplishment has been to build a working partnership with a genius of innovation named David Knight. Learn all there is to know about solar and Wind Power Generation at their Do It Yourself site Home Wind Power
