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/

How to grow an organic garden

Choosing organic gardening methods over conventional gardening practices will have profound consequences for both your family and the environment. Acre-for-acre, an average homeowner uses three to six times more pesticide in his backyard than a farmer does on crops. Most wildlife poisoning and surface water contamination comes from single-family homes.

Organic home gardening eliminates the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers for building healthy soil and controlling pests and weeds. Organic farming not only reduces health risks associated with the chemical residues on conventional produce, but also cultivates better-tasting produce that may, depending on the cultural practices, have a better nutritional profile. Adopting organic practices in your flower and vegetable garden is easy.
Building Healthy Soil
Healthy soil is the key component of a healthy garden. Compost, produced by decomposition of organic materials, improves soil structure, texture, aeration and water retention capacity. It also increases soil fertility and promotes healthy root development. Compost is available in ready to use bags at the local garden supply stores, or you can make your own compost by recycling the kitchen waste rather than sending it to the trash or landfill.
In addition you can make use of worms to produce compost. For more on harnessing worm power for fertilizer, Check out Vermicomposting for Beginners
Controlling pest and diseases
Biodiversity is among the best methods to defend your garden against destructive pests and weeds. Growing different kinds of plants encourages a variety of beneficial insects to take up residence in your yard, where they can eat away the harmful insects and create a balanced ecosystem. You can delight yourself as well as your kids with a close look at such beneficial insects. Crop rotation—not planting the same flowers and vegetables in the same place every year—discourages disease organisms in the soil and can foil pests that become accustomed to finding a food source in a particular location.

Controlling Weeds in Greener Ways
One of the best methods to control weeds is mulching with a 3-inch layer of organic material like leaves, grass clipping, vegetable scraps, bark chips, aged wood chips or sawdust. Mulches can also be inorganic, including stones, brick chips etc. This is spread on the top of the soil around your plants in spring to suppress weeds and fall to protect plants from winter conditions. Mulch stabilizes the soil temperature, prevents weeds, conserves water, prevents soil erosion and gives a nice look to your garden. Organic mulches break down over time to improve soil conditions.
Disposing of Toxic Chemicals Safely
Once you have chosen to go organic, you need to dispose off the harmful and the toxic chemicals in a safe way. Most chemicals cannot be tossed into the trash or dumped anywhere because they will contaminate the environment. Most municipalities provide a toxic waste drop off site or periodic hazardous material collection events. To locate nearby site go to www.eath911.org. You can also contact your trash collection company or municipal solid waste agency for advice on proper disposal.

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Save Energy-Save Money-Save Environment

Consider an average American family: two adults, commuting 20-30 miles each per day in separate cars with average fuel efficiency, driving an additional 5,500 miles running errands and taking their child to basketball games and piano practice. The family takes one vacation trip per year, flying to visit friends and grandparents 1,450 miles away. Can you guess how much CO2 their house and cars produce? Around 60,000 pounds, or 10 tons for each family member! Isn’t it too much??!!

Switching to power saving practices will not only cut homeowners’ heavy electric bills but also save the energy. This will further reduce the pollution, greenhouse gases and global warming.
Here are a few ways you can save energy at home and outside:
Switch electronic devices off when you’re not using them.
Use a timer for your air conditioner that is automatically programmed according to your schedule. Rather than running it all day, the air conditioner can turn on just before you come home.
If you own a clothes dryer, try to use it only when you are pressed for time. If you have the time, dry your clothes in the ‘old fashioned’ way: by hanging them up either indoors or outdoors. You can purchase a drying rack or simply hang your clothes around your home. This can be one of the best energy cutting decisions, as dryers consume more energy than any other appliance.

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