Residential Wind Power

Residential wind power for your home

Residential wind power may be a viable renewable energy option for people looking for save money on power bills.  If solar or geo-thermal is not for you, then perhaps you should consider your own wind turbine!  Use it as a way to cut down your grid-based electrical demands when conditions are breezy.

Among the benefits of wind power over solar include potentially lower cost (solar panels may be more expensive than some models of residential wind turbines), flexibility in location of the turbine, power can be generated over night, and you don’t need to worry about the amount of sunlight received by your home.

Why residential wind power?  It is inexpensive and clean – zero carbon emissions result from its use.  It is an easy way to significantly reduce your carbon footprint if used in conjunction with grid-tied electricity.  Even a slight breeze can allow you to use less coal-based electricity on a given day.  By installing a device for residential wind power you can cut your utility bills by as much as 80%.

Home wind generators can be found in a number of makes and models, ranging in price from $100 to several thousand dollars.  One of the most ingenious types of residential wind turbines is a vertical device that takes virtually no space and yet is quite efficient, as shown in the following video:

Here are some fast facts about residential wind power:

1.  Free-standing towers are approximately 30-70 feet, depending on your location; there are roof-mounted options, as well.

2.  At average wind speeds of 12 mph, 400 KWh per month can be generated.

3.  Many manufacturers offer warranties of 5-10 years.

4.  You may be eligible for a renewable energy tax credit or incentive program.

5.  Operation is clean, green and quiet.

6.  You don’t have to live in a rural area – many models are small enough to be used in city neighborhoods (just be sure to check with your homeowner’s association, if applicable).

7.  The U.S. Census estimates that 17 million homes in America are located on land that is appropriate for a small wind system.

Looks like a good location for residential wind power

Whether for energy cost savings, or a desire to save the planet (or both), many homeowners are doing more than just considering wind power.  They are actually installing micr0-turbines on their properties.  No longer the idea of “hippy generations,” residential wind power has gone mainstream – particularly in the Northeast and California.

As observed in a New York Times article last spring:

“The big shift happened in the last three years,” Mr. Schwartz said, because of technology that makes it possible to feed electricity back to the grid, the commercial power system fed by large utilities. “These new systems use the utility for back up power, removing the need for big, expensive battery backup systems.”

Sounds promising to me!  Would you consider residential wind power for your home?  Why or why not?