Consider The Environment: Home Wind Power Kits
Home wind power kits, otherwise known as home wind turbine systems, enable individuals to generate their own electricity. While not necessarily being cheaper (although the start up cost is decreasing as it becomes more popular) than ordinary electricity, power supplied by home wind power kits is greener and more eco-friendly, therefore kinder to the environment.
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships. Wind power is fast becoming a popular source of home power generation. Home wind power kits convert wind using a process similar to that of a windmill to create energy. Wind power is generally only used to supply a low portion of the total demand for electricity as it is non-dispatchable. However, in some jurisdictions the surplus power produced by domestic micro generators can be fed into the network and sold to the electricity board or company, producing credit that then pays for the micro generators' owners extra electricity that is not covered by their home wind power.
Using wind power for homes is not a new technique as humans have been using wind power for at least 5,500 years and windmills have been used for irrigation pumping and for milling grain since the 7th century AD. Small wind turbines for lighting of isolated rural buildings were widespread in the first part of the 20th century and now the process has simply been adapted to create residential wind power. Although the technology is older than solar power it is yet to catch up to the popularity of solar powered generators. This could be attributed to wind being a fickle and in some areas a scarce resource.
The question of cost
The cost for a wind electricity kit is in the region of $2200. Larger mast mounted systems cost between $15,000 and $27,000, including installation. These provide enough electricity for lighting and appliances in a typical home. It could save you as much a $600 a year on electricity, which means it is slow to pay itself back and will be more expensive initially but in time wind power does have the ability to save cash. Fuel costs are nil and maintenance is inexpensive, but checks are necessary every few years, and a well-maintained turbine should last over 20 years. Battery storage life is typically between 6 and 10 years.
To check if wind electricity is a suitable option for your home, several factors need to be taken into account. First off, Small domestic wind turbines work best in exposed locations, without turbulence that can be caused by large trees or buildings buffering the wind away from your house. Is your house surrounded by any such objects or structures? Secondly, is your house located in a very windy area? If there is no wind then wind energy won't be an option. Small domestic wind systems are particularly suitable for use in remote locations where mains electricity is unavailable, so are you located away from a main grid and finally do you need planning permission to set up a home wind power kit?
Home wind power kits can be used to reduce or eliminate an individual's dependence on grid electricity for economic or other reasons, or to reduce their carbon footprint. Wind turbines have been used for household electricity generation in conjunction with battery storage in remote areas for a very long time.
