   
Home Turbine Wind
Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy have shown that the
if the wind from Texas, Kansas, and North Dakota was harvested,
it could provide enough electricity to power the entire nation
with home turbine wind. In the last few years, the United
States added more wind energy to the grid than any other
country. However, many countries are adding large scale wind
energy as a major energy source- Germany, Denmark, India,
China, etc; making home turbine wind the fastest growing energy
source in the world.
However, you do not have to wait on the government to catch
up. People have used small scale wind energy since ancient
times. There are a number of reasons wind power is attractive.
Farmers and ranchers, from isolated in rural areas, have long
utilized home turbine wind turbines as a supplemental power
source. Meanwhile, others have discovered that the expensive
cost of electricity( from a power company) can be eliminated/
reduced with the use of a wind turbine. A small on site system
can lower an electric bill from 40%-90%; depending on wind
availability. The higher the annual wind speed is, the more
efficient the system is. Since the home turbine wind is a clean
and renewable energy source, those seeking to be
environmentally friendly are utilizing the power of the wind.
Wind power does not produce air pollutants or greenhouses gas,
like other energy sources.
Whatever, the reason behind the use; wind power is a
multifold benefit. It provides clean renewable energy; while
simultaneously reducing, or eliminating an electrical bill.
There is one environmental downside to turbines.
Occasionally, a bird may be injured or killed as it flies into
the system. However, this is actually very rare. More birds are
killed from flying into a high rise building, then in wind
turbines.
The only cost involved with a home turbine wind turbine is
the materials to build one, or the cost to buy one. Generally,
the cost of maintenance is about 1% of what the system cost to
build/buy. It only takes a small fraction of land to build it,
but location is very important. Then, the home turbine wind
will be ready to utilize. Some areas may require permits.
Before building or buying a system, you should contact a local
representative. Ask what permits or certifications are required
to install a wind turbine.
There are some areas that already have the availability to
buy into grid-connected turbine power. This will link a person
into an already established large scale wind power grid. Grid
power can power the entire home, without electricity. However,
you must pay for the connection.
On the other hand, some rural area property owners are
allowing a private party to put wind turbine(s) on their
property. The land owner will be paid a rent on the land. The
turbine does not interfere with the continued agricultural use,
or ranching capability of the land.
There are a few challenges to utilizing wind power. Wind is
intermittent, and may not always blow when the electricity is
needed. The only way to store the power produced, is with a
battery. The chief complaint, by those against wind power, is
purely aesthetic. In other words, they don't think that clean,
renewable, cheap wind energy is a good thing based on their
opinion that the wind turbine isnt pretty!
Wind turbines have too many far reaching benefits, to be
concerned with how they look. Whether buying a prefabricated
system, or building your own system, wind turbines are a wise
investment.
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