Tuesday, July 28, 2009

What The Wind Does For You


By Brit Xavier

With all the concerns about improving the planet these days, many more people are searching for alternatives when it comes to powering their homes and businesses. While there are a number of companies exploring solar energy, the power of the wind has been in practical use for a very long time. From the first windmill that harnessed the wind's energy to grind out wheat to the wind generator farms of today, this abundant source of renewable energy has gone from uses in business, to many residential applications.

While the wind is not always plentiful or abundant if you have at least a breeze of more than 10 MPH, it's enough to power some low voltage turbines. You can expect to cut your utility bill by 50-90%, with some average power bills ranging from $8-$15 for most of the year. Where it's cooler and an air conditioning unit is used less often or not at all, this could be your electric bill throughout the year.

The typical home uses a little under 9000 KWh of electricity a year, averaging around 780 a month. Depending on your individual needs and the continued wind speed in your location, a wind turbine of only 5-15 kilowatts would cut this consumption down measureably.

Given the very nature of wind turbines, one should realize that it's necessary to have an adequate amount of space. In fact, one should ideally have more or less an acre of land. Remember, even small wind turbines which are mounted on towers measuring a foot or less, also require a suitable amount of space.

Unfortunately, if you live in an area where the average wind speed is less than 10mph, then you need to take note of the fact that a wind turbine may not be ideal. On the other hand, it is interesting to note that wind powered homes can be found in forty seven states. The many of these however are located in the Northeast and the Midwest.

The undeniable fact is; wind generators benefit the environment in more ways than one because not only do they reduce ambient noise, but they also reduce the demand for grid supplied electricity. Nowadays, it has become common practice for electricity companies to actually pay people for any excess electricity they may have. For many people, it is almost unbelievable when they first see their electric meters spinning backwards, knowing that they are not only being paid for it but are also helping to save the environment.

Many more companies are beginning to realize the profitability of wind turbine electricity. You see more and more wind farms springing up all over the country, and some farmers are beginning to turn their attentions to the wind as a viable source of income. It seems that the stronger the wind, the more wind power products spring up.

Whether you decide to start utilizing this endless supply of energy, or whether you start making a point of turning out the lights whenever you're not using them, it's critical that we all start doing our share in order to reduce the amount of damage being caused to the planet. The bottom line is; there are many little things we can do in order to minimize the impact we have on this amazing world.

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