Wind power for the home: things to consider
With the global energy crisis starting to scare everyone, average families are starting to realize it’s time we all acted as individuals do our part to save energy.
The truth is, every great movement starts with one person and we should never underestimate the impact we can make as individuals. We all conserve energy by turning off lights and buying energy saving appliances, but wouldn’t it be great if we could make more of an impact?
A more powerful step is to use renewable energy sources to meet our domestic energy demands. Solar and wind power energy solutions appear to be the best and most applicable to domestic situations.
Using renewable energy not only frees us from non-renewable fossil fuels, it cuts out our electricity bills and also protects our environment.
Click here to find out how to make your own wind turbine
If you are considering using wind power for the home, there are several issues to be aware of:
1. You will need a large space to allow for your windmill/turbine, especially if you plan on building one large enough to power your whole house. An acre or more of land should be enough.
2. Wind speed plays a crucial role in the success of your wind power system. In order to produce enough electricity, you will need to constantly experience wind speeds of more than 10 miles per hour.
3. While it is possible to go off-grid completely using your wind power system, it is advisable to stay on the grid if your wind source is sometimes unreliable. If there are certain seasons or extended periods of the year without strong winds you will need a power back-up.
So what exactly is a wind turbine?
A wind turbine usually consists of two or three blades, a motor and a tower. The longer the wind blades, the more energy they produce. The idea is to let the wind spin the blades, which in turn will rotate the motor and this produces electricity. It is then converted to AC current for use in the home. It is possible to store unused energy in batteries for later.
Click here if you want to find out how to make a wind turbine and harness wind power for the home
