Posts Tagged ‘wind electricity’

Power Your Home with Wind Energy

Monday, August 24th, 2009

 

From sailing the seven seas to gathering water for the mill, wind has always been an important energy source. It has helped with food production, water irrigation, trade and commerce and morphed into aiding mankind in producing electricity for their residences and workplaces.

Wind turbines first showed up in the 19th century, and in the 20th century America’s first wind farm was built in Vermont and powered many areas during World War II. Thanks to today’s technology, it’s now possible for wind energy to serve as an affordable power solution for homeowners.

You can save money and help the environment by relying on wind energy to power your home. It is cost effective to put together for your home, and a humungous wind turbine like you see on a wind farm is not necessary for residential use.

You can opt for a grid-connected of a stand alone wind turbine system for your home. When you are still connected to the grid, wind energy can produce extra power, saving your need to use the utility company’s electricity with the company picking up any slack in your total production. When you go off-grid, you actually have the ability to sell money back to the power company.

Stand alone systems make trasnferring energy to locations far from the grid system more affordable. The average air movement speed should be about 10 mph for either system. It’s important to have a measure of the wind speed where you live, and the National Climatic Data Center can provide this information.

The types of equipment you sill need to provide your home with affordable wind energy include a wind turbine, a tower, wiring, controllers, and inverters or batteries. The rotor and generator will be mounted on the tail of the frame of the turbine.

A general rule of thumb when figuring on what type of wattage you will be needing to produce is: 1.5 kW turbines fit the requirements of a 300 kWh monthly usage wherein the average wind speed is 14 mph. Off-grid systems would need to be three times as powerful. When the wind blows high the turbine usually has an automatic speed governing system to keep it in check so it doesn’t spin too hard or too fast.

When you purchase your system there is a self-supporting, free standing tower and the more popular guyed lattice tower. The latter is cheaper and is supported by cables and earth anchors. Stand alones take batteries to store the extra power generated so that you can still have electricity when the winds are calm.

An inverter will be needed to convert this energy from the battery into AC (household) current. You even have the opportunity to purchase a stand-alone system that is piggy-backed with a solar cell. Local governmental agencies actually offer incentives such as rebates and discounts when you install and use these systems.

Many manufacturers produce wind turbines for the home. Keep an eye out for three and five blade turbines, the kwH produced – make sure you have enough for what you need to power, materials such as plastic or nylon synthetic materials. Some are more aerodynamic than others and the way in which your turbine is mounted to the tower.

Each manufacturer will have listed the specs for their equipment, so don’t be intimidated into thinking you need a physics degree to understand wind energy. It is affordable for homeowners now, so there’s no need to wait. Help save the planet and save your wallet with affordable wind energy for the home. You’ll be thrilled with the results!

Windmills Are A Great Way To Pump Water

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

 

Water pumping windmills are a very effective tool for the farmers. In times of drought, there is not a drop of rain for months, and in such times, farmers risk losing their crops and their income. However, even when there’s no rain, farmers can use water pumping windmills to save their harvest, provided there is air, which there usually is, because the trees and brushes that block the current of air die or lose their leaves in times of drought.

You see, a windmill is not only used to produce electricity but it is also used to pump water from the underground and use it to water your crops. The wind moving the large blades is able to pull water from deep underground. Due to the fact that there is no cap on the wind available, it is a great energy source that can always be used. That’s the reason why you see many water pumping windmills around agricultural centers. Many farmers like the option of free energy to pump water in cases of drought or a big delay in the rainy season starting.

A water pumping windmill is very good for those farms located in areas with abundant wind. They generate plenty of electricity to meet the needs of your family and your household. They can even be connected to electrical fences and power them at no cost. That way, if an animal comes to the crops, they will get a small electrical shock that won’t hurt it, but will scare it away. That way it’ll keep animals from eating the crops. Another benefit is to use it to keep cattle from escaping. In addition, if an area is flooded, they can be used to pump out the water, in order to dry it.

Water pumping windmills are also excellent to pull water out of the ground and then push it into water storage tanks. With global warming and the increase of human populations, some areas have started to suffer lack of water, or water rationing. Using a windmill to fill up water storage tanks is a great idea, and really comes in handy for those drought times or when the water pressure is too low to reach the house.

So, as you can see, there are many advantages to water pumping windmills. While water pumping windmills are unpractical in big cities, if you live in a farm or in an open area with lots of winds, water pumping windmills are a great idea. In addition, you can’t help but relax when you sit out in your porch and watch those water pumping windmills’ blades rotate with the air.

 

Transofrm Wind into Low Cost Electricity

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

People are beginning to learn more and more about how to harness the wind and lower their power bills. Wind is freely available on the planet and it is up to us to utilize it effectively.

It is up to us to figure out how to use them. Holland and other countries have relied on wind as a renewable power source for centuries.

With the development of wind turbines, even small homeowners can now install their own and run their own power. This sets them free from the local power company, and afterwards they can start saving money on energy costs. Plus, people who switch to alternative power could get a credit on their taxes, which will also save them more money.

Another great thing about harnessing your own wind power is that you can give some of your extra power to the power company and they will have to pay you for the amount that they use. Wind energy is a clean source of electricity, so there is no need to worry about polluting the atmosphere.

There are several companies that produce residential wind turbines, home wind turbines, wind generators, wire for hooking up the generators, charge controllers, rectifiers, and many other things that will help to transform your home into wind power. You can rely on books or plans to build your own wind turbine, or opt to have a local company install one for you.

You can check the internet to find a wind turbine installer around your area. You can acquire complete ready to operate installation from the factory or you can install the turbine yourself and save more money plus you will have the understanding how the system works, first hand.

Wind turbines have been seen all over the world in the past few years where electricity lines were not available to remote villages. They can even be seen in the western part of the United States. These turbines power large communities that may not have had any before.

Wind energy is the process of generating mechanical power into electricity. The wind turbines can produce small amounts of kilowatts, (less than 100), and are used for homes, pumping water and are sometimes connected to larger generators or batteries. Homes need between 5 and 15 kilowatts to produce sufficient energy to meet the demands of their residence.

A small wind turbine will save a lot of money in the long run. Wind power doesn’t demand any alteration to your home’s wiring.

The cost of switching to a wind turbine may seem expensive; however, considering the savings that you will have it should pay for itself in a few months, depending on the size of the wind system you want and if you build it yourself or have it installed by a company.

Once they are installed, there is very little maintenance as the parts can last up to 20 years. So why not harness the wind and lower your power bills as soon as possible? You’ll enjoy benefits and savings for years to come.

New Government Incentive Makes Wind Power Affordable for All

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Large wind farms with their towering turbines are becoming an increasingly common sight in regions all across the United States. Lots of people like the idea of wind power as a renewable source of energy, but many consider them too costly too install. Fortunately, it is now more practical than ever for homeowners and farmers to install and operate their own private wind turbine systems.

Today the Federal government offers serious incentives to offset the considerable capital costs of building wind turbine systems. Best of all, the large-scale wind farm is not the only way to cash in on these valuable incentives.

Small 3 and 5KW wind turbines that are built for private use are starting to become more popular with homeowners, but cost is still an objection. Today there are incentives specifically designed to encourage individuals to purchase and use small turbine systems. These incentives are designed to make cashing in on wind turbine savings available to any homeowner or farmer.

Government Incentive for Wind Turbine Installation.

Government incentives for personally owned, smaller wind turbine installation and use are covered under the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit. You can claim a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of wind turbine system purchase and installation on your income taxes. The system can be installed on any property owned by the taxpayer in order to qualify.

Unlike some renewable energy incentives, there is no restriction requiring that the wind turbines be installed at the taxpayer’s primary residence to claim the credit. It can be installed on any property the taxpayer owns. This credit is defined a flat 30% of the cost of the turbine for all turbines installed between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016. The legal details are found under the Tax and Health Care Relief Act of 2008.

Additional Wind Turbine Incentives

Currently, some states and even municipalities offer wind turbine incentives in addition to federal government incentive. Those considering the purchase of a wind turbine should look into their local laws regarding any possible extra tax breaks that could make doing so more affordable.

Whether it’s a large wind turbine farm or a small wind turbine system designed for private use, the biggest obstacle to installation is usually the capital costs. Wind turbine systems tend to be expensive relative to their power output initially. Although they allow homeowners to save on energy expenses, it can take years for wind turbine systems to pay for themselves through savings. Many individuals aren’t able or willing to make the long-term investment in savings wind turbines represent.

The hefty financial incentives offered by the government as well as state and local municipalities go a long way to defraying objectionable capital costs. Today private wind turbines are more affordable than ever for more people, and in the long run, they present a huge value in terms of energy production as well as environmental protection.