Harness Renewable Energy with a Home Wind Power System

Increasing prices of fossil fuels and the environmental pollution associated with them have forced homeowners to opt for cleaner and cheaper sources of electricity. A very good option is energy generated by wind. It has been estimated by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) that a small residential wind turbine can eliminate 1.2 tons of smog-forming pollution . A small wind system capable of generating 5 to 10 kilowatts of electricity under optimal conditions can actually lower the average electricity costs of your home by 50 to 90 percent. Thus, wind energy which is a clean and natural source of power will prove to be helpful in a long run.

When determining if a home wind system is for you, consider your power needs, available space, the wind conditions and local regulations. You need an acre or more of open property for a residential wind power system. Home wind systems require a minimum average wind speed of 10 miles per hour. State and municipal regulations may restrict the size and placement of a residential wind turbine.



Siting a Home Wind Power System
The wind turbine should be located so that it gets a wind at a moderate rate. The turbine should be sited upwind of any buildings and trees. The tips of the turbine’s blades should be at least 30 feet higher at the lowest point of their arc than any trees or structures within 300 feet. Keep in mind that local zoning ordinances might have some height restrictions.

Home Wind Power System Options
If you are planning to have horizontal wind turbines they must be mounted on tall towers so that they can catch the the wind. Vertical wind turbines do not need any tower. They can catch wind from any direction. Take the time to research wind energy, and see which option works best for you and your area.

Interfacing a Home Wind Power System with the Grid
Inter-tied or grid-tied systems are connected to the electrical grid. This helps in feeding energy you use into the grid. This may earn you a few extra dollars because of the this excess electricity. In addition, this inter-tied systems also give you the option of drawing power from the grid if your wind system is not generating enough power for your current needs.

You can also get interfaced systems connected to the grid where the excess energy is stored in batteries. In this case you will have a backup power. Keep in mind that a home wind power system with batteries may require you to deal with the operation, maintenance, and eventual disposal of the batteries.

Off-Grid Home Wind Power Systems
Off-grid systems are better for remote locations. These are not connected to the power grid, so they don’t feed excess power into the system or have the grid as a backup when wind power doesn’t meet demand. Homeowners who want to be completely self-sufficient have to make sure the system the have is sized to meet the maximum anticipated electricity needs because you will not be able to tap into the grid.

Costs of Home Wind Power Systems
Compared with solar photovoltaic panels, residential wind power systems are 50 percent less expensive to install. According to AWEA, the upfront costs are still high, at about $3,000 to $5,000 per kilowatt, including installation. You can reduce the upfront costs of wind power systems by making your home as energy-efficient as possible. Some states and utility providers have incentives for residential renewable energy systems.

Source-http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/