These 8 facts will explain the basics of how you can stop giving your money to the big power conglomerates. With a small effort, you can become a big source of improvement for the environment and your wallet.
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. It will take a few years to pay for itself but, once up, turbines can have a life of up to 25 years. Grid-connected system owners may be eligible to receive a small tax credit for the electricity they sell back to the utility. Power purchase agreements and system leases may help you take part in the solar future at a fraction of the up-front cost.
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. A wind turbine uses the same physics as an airplane wing. Home and small industry generators come in the 1kw to 50kw range. Wind power generators can be made to automatically compensate for high winds or light power usuage. One method involves turning the blades away from facing the full force of the wind. Other designs tend to just not speed up as much when the wind increases.
Turbines might annoy you, though, due to "horizon pollution'. Some view them as ugly.
5. You will need a method of storing excess electricity for when the wind is slow or calm. The best way of doing this is using what are called deep-cycle batteries. A good system will have enough storage capacity to hold the power needs of three days of no wind.
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.
Investing a few dollars in courses and books are your best investments as you plan, build and test your system. Having the proper tradespeople certifying your install will give you the peace of mind that all is safe, efficient and capable of selling energy to the grid.
There is evidence out there that birds, bats and other creatures are affected by home wind power generators. I personally believe this to be true so make sure that your install is as far away from their natural habitats as possible. I like the little beasties too.
8. This is not brain surgery but, you can get hurt or operate a system that is inefficient. Spend a little money now to learn from the best. This will allow you to knowledgeably build a system that will efficiently and safely deliver savings to you for years. - 15485
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. It will take a few years to pay for itself but, once up, turbines can have a life of up to 25 years. Grid-connected system owners may be eligible to receive a small tax credit for the electricity they sell back to the utility. Power purchase agreements and system leases may help you take part in the solar future at a fraction of the up-front cost.
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. A wind turbine uses the same physics as an airplane wing. Home and small industry generators come in the 1kw to 50kw range. Wind power generators can be made to automatically compensate for high winds or light power usuage. One method involves turning the blades away from facing the full force of the wind. Other designs tend to just not speed up as much when the wind increases.
Turbines might annoy you, though, due to "horizon pollution'. Some view them as ugly.
5. You will need a method of storing excess electricity for when the wind is slow or calm. The best way of doing this is using what are called deep-cycle batteries. A good system will have enough storage capacity to hold the power needs of three days of no wind.
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.
Investing a few dollars in courses and books are your best investments as you plan, build and test your system. Having the proper tradespeople certifying your install will give you the peace of mind that all is safe, efficient and capable of selling energy to the grid.
There is evidence out there that birds, bats and other creatures are affected by home wind power generators. I personally believe this to be true so make sure that your install is as far away from their natural habitats as possible. I like the little beasties too.
8. This is not brain surgery but, you can get hurt or operate a system that is inefficient. Spend a little money now to learn from the best. This will allow you to knowledgeably build a system that will efficiently and safely deliver savings to you for years. - 15485
About the Author:
About The Author: Gene Vent is anEngineering Technologist. His lifelong passion has been to mix the best in research with nurturing the environment. His most rewarding 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
