Residential Wind Turbines

Most discussions of wind turbines are based on large farms of giant spinning devices. Residential wind turbines are one way to bring the benefits of wind energy to your home.

The wind carries massive amounts of energy in it and man has used it for a very long time. Most of our use, however, was directed towards kinetic energy instead of electrical solutions. This was seen in everything from using sales on boats to capture the wind for transport to the use of windmills to capture the power to spin devices to crush grains or pump water. Modern wind energy technology, fortunately, has given us options for producing electricity.

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Wind systems for your home are pretty simple. They consist of a vertical column, usually a pole, that rises to 25 feet or so. On top is mounted a casing that contains a small generator. This generator is attached to an axle that extends out the front to a set of blades. The blades are contoured to capture the wind in an efficient manner. The system will then also include a converter that will change the electricity produced into a usable form. This may be on the ground or up in the generator unit.

Now all we need is some wind. Most systems work when wind of over 8 miles an hour hits the blades. This may sound like a lot, but remember that we are not talking about wind at ground level. The gusts at 25 feet up are completely different than what you are experiencing on the ground. Regardless, once the wind hits, the blades start spinning and the generator starts cranking. This produces electricity that is sent to the converter. At that point, it can either be stored in batteries or transferred into the general utility grid for the community. It is as simple as that.

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So, what issues do you need to watch out for with residential wind turbines? Well, there is going to be the cost. There are a wide variety of offerings on the market, but you can expect to pay a minimum of $5,000 up to however big you want to go. Before you do that, however, you'll want to check for any local restrictions that prohibit these systems. This includes local ordinances and HOA rules and regulations if you live in a community.

Residential wind turbines can slash your energy bill to nothing. Given the never ending rise in energy prices, this is making them pretty popular even in these tough economic times.

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