An Introduction To Residential Wind Power

If you live in a region where the prevailing winds are regular and relatively strong, then you can probably install a residential wind turbine to save a great deal on your electrical energy costs. A wind turbine can help you to use less power from your local utility company, especially when used in conjunction with photovoltaic cells. Some people living in areas where conditions are ideal have even managed to go completely off the grid! While that’s not possible for most of us, the ability of a wind turbine to turn the kinetic energy of wind into the electrical power you need for your home can save you a substantial amount of money on your energy bills.

Most homes which use residential wind power also draw electricity from their local utility company as well. If wind speeds are below the turbine’s cut in speed (typically 7-10 mph), then the turbine will produce no power and all of the home’s energy needs will be met by the utility company. However, when wind speeds are above the turbine’s cut in speed, then the turbine generates power, lessening the amount drawn from the power grid. Any electricity produced which is above and beyond that needed for the home may be sold back to the local electricity supplier.

In general, a wind turbine can lower a homeowner’s electric bills by around 50% and up, depending on the exact wind power system and number of turbines used. How much a smaller wind turbine will save exactly all depends on the power usage of the home and the average wind speeds in the area, among other factors.

Wind systems are very sensitive to the average wind speed in the area, so if it were a concern, a turbine owner should have at least an average wind speed of 10 miles per hour and be paying at a lesser fee for electricity.

You can easily find out your area’s average wind speeds to determine if a wind power system is like to work well for your home. If your area is a breezy one, you may find that you can generate much of your own electrical power by installing a residential wind turbine.

A typical residential wind system makes less noise and does not interfere with a television’s reception at all. A wind turbine is easily rigged to virtually any residence without the hassle to change any appliances or wiring. In most cases, the utility will set up a second utility meter to gauge how much excess electricity it is purchasing from the turbine owner.

Most wind turbine system dealers provide either complete ready-to-install applications or the option to buy directly from a store and let a would-be turbine owner do the installation instead. While the first option offers more customer support from the company, self-installation offers considerable savings and a technical understanding of the turbine. Soon-to-be owners can discuss the choices available with manufacturers to settle on which method best suits their financial accounts and skills.

Homeowners can save a lot of money by installing a home wind power generator. These alternative energy technologies have the additional advantage of being environmentally friendly. A wind turbine doesn’t produce any pollution and greatly reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed to power your home.