Home Windmill Power
Is it Possible to Generate Your Own Energy at Home from a Windmill?
May 10, 2009
With energy costs skyrocketing and the environment paying the price, many homeowners are searching for ways to reduce energy costs while helping the environment. One of the best ways to do this is to install a residential wind turbine.
What is a Wind Turbine?
Installed on a tall tower, wind turbines collect wind energy and convert it to electricity. Since homes with wind turbines are simultaneously served by wind energy and power from the electric company, whenever wind speed drops, there is always a power back up. If there are exceptionally windy days or if the home is in a perpetually windy area, the excess power is then sold back to the utility company.
If you own your own land or live in an area which is relatively spread out, a wind turbine may be an excellent choice. However, if you live in a close knit residential neighborhood, there may be zoning laws which prohibit the placement of wind turbines on the property. Some neighbors might see your windmill as an unsightly addition to the neighborhood.
Benefits
Since wind turbines produce no pollution, they are considered a very environmentally friendly product. Though they will save you money in the long run, these windmills are often expensive to purchase and have quite a large up front cost. However, many home owners are beginning to learn to build their own wind turbines for as little as $200. There are even some federal and state tax credits available for making your home energy efficient.
Most wind turbines have very few parts and normally require very little maintenance. You won't even have to change any wiring or appliances in your home to be able to use windmill power.
Warnings
Some wind turbines do make a small amount of noise which your close neighbors might find annoying. Again, you should check with your neighborhood alliance before planning to purchase a residential wind turbine.
Since the wind is not constantly blowing, the amount of energy you can create by wind power is not easy to estimate. It's better to build your own wind turbine if you live in windy or coastal areas. You might also want to find out if you are living in an area which is on a bird migratory route, since some tall wind turbines can cause injury to birds.
Efficiency
Since it's easy to capture wind energy and it is a green, renewable power source, wind energy can be extremely efficient. Though some experts say that wind energy, in the long run, can only create a small percentage of our overall energy use, it is still an important and efficient part of keeping our planet clean and safe.
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