Want to lower your electricity bill by 100%?
You can use the green energy of your very own wind turbine to reduce energy costs in your own home. But it depends on a few factors.
Are you comfortable working with AC and DC wiring? Can you safely connect a battery? Are you comfortable pouring cement and renting heavy equipment such as a lift? Then you may be up for the project of installing your own micro wind turbine!
As someone who is already confident maintaining and fixing your own equipment, you might want to consider adding a wind turbine to your skill set. Below we’ve created a guide to wind turbines, to help you take advantage of the power of the wind!
How Wind Turbines Work
Giant wind turbines catch energy from either moving liquid or gas, as they spin around. They rotate because of the shape of their blades, which have a slight curve to them. This is similar to how wind lifts an airplane due to the shape of its wings. Except, in this case, the wind pushes the turbines or giant rotor blades.
The length of the rotor blade determines how much energy the turbine produces. They are usually about 230 feet long. It will also depend on the speed of the wind, which causes the turbines to spin faster.
If the wind blows twice as quickly, your turbines will produce eight times more energy. This is because wind energy is your turbine’s speed cubed.
Wind Power: Pros & Cons
The generator is the part of the wind turbine that takes the kinetic energy created by the wind turning the turbines and converts it into electrical energy. This can then be used to light a home or other building.
One nice aspect of wind turbine energy is that it doesn’t produce greenhouse gas emissions or pollution. However, there are some disadvantages to wind turbines, the most obvious being that they don’t generate as much energy as coal, gas or a nuclear plant. You would need about 1000 2MW wind turbines to keep up with a coal plant.
Plus wind power is dependent on, well, wind. Which as you know isn’t consistent. Lastly, it takes up a lot of space because each wind turbine must be a significant distance apart.
This is because as the wind passes through the turbines, it slows down.
Harness the Power of the Wind
If you’d like to take advantage of wind energy in your own home, you can install your own micro wind turbine. Small windmill generators can be a great way to save on electricity bills and also help the environment. But location is everything when it comes to turbines.
You will need to live in an area with very few obstructions from things like buildings or trees. These can block wind and prevent your turbines from generating energy. You will also need to speak with your town to make sure tall towers are allowed in your neighborhood.
The tower must be installed 30 feet above any obstruction in the area. Once you’ve determined that your location will work, consider finding ways to make your home more energy efficient. This will not only instantly reduce the cost of your energy bills but will also allow you to purchase a smaller renewable energy system.
There are plenty of energy saving tips to help you get started. When choosing a wind turbine, you will need to consult a professional manufacturer who will provide a total cost for all the parts you need as well as the labor. If you are unable to connect your wind turbine to a grid, you need a standalone battery.
Deep-cycle batteries are best for wind turbines since they can discharge and recharge 80% of their energy 100 times! Automotive batteries aren’t recommended.
You can learn more about setting up your own micro wind turbine through resources such as the Clean Energy States Alliance.
Wind Turbine Maintenance
Building your own small wind turbine might be the start of some major savings for you and your family!
If you’re ready to get started and are searching for specific parts, we’ve got an inventory you can’t miss!