Using Wind Turbines to Power Your Home
The
first thing to look at, before you ever consider converting to wind power, is
the area where you live. A windmill solution obviously requires wind. More
specifically you want wind speeds that exceed 8MPH on average. Even 8MPH is
considered a low-wind-speed area for wind turbines. 12MPH average is ideal.
To
start, take the time to look at the wind speed charts that fit your area:
If You Live in the USA
If
You Live in Canada
If
You Live in the UK or Europe : http://www.xcweather.co.uk
If
you live in Australia
Assuming
that the average wind speed in your area is above 8MPH, then continue on to the
other considerations listed below. If you don’t live in a suitable area, then
you should consider a solar power conversion instead.
Convert
Your Home Today:
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Wind
Turbine Considerations
Once
you’ve determined that wind power is suitable for your area there are a few
other things you need to consider.
Really this is just about asking some questions and then answering them.
Taking the time to do so will ensure you choose a wind power system that fits.
Especially if you are planning to live off the grid, you should take the time
to answer these questions before you start.
Your Power Needs
The
first thing that needs to be considered is your power needs. Are you simply looking
to reduce your power bill with a single small windmill? Or, will you want to
power your entire home?
If
you’re looking to power your whole home, you should take the time to calculate
your actual power requirements. If you take the time to download Earth 4
Energy, their guide comes with a calculator and instructions on how to do this
(you’ll need this guide anyway).
Storing
Power from Wind Turbines
From
the answer to your first question you then need to consider building a storage
system for your wind turbine. A simple array of batteries can be designed to
store as little or as much power as needed.
If
you’re only building a small wind power solution to reduce your power bills
then this is likely less of a concern.
On
the other hand if you’re looking to live off the grid, you will need to
consider energy storage. You should use your calculation for your power needs
to design this part of your system. Take into consideration how much power you
will need to store and for how long.
If
you have weeks where there is less wind than usual, ensure that you have a
large enough battery array to compensate (or better yet work to reduce you
energy needs by using high efficiency bulbs and appliances).
Having
a Backup Plan
Finally,
for those who plan to live entirely off the grid, you should consider your
backup plan. For most of us consistent power is a requirement. Ensure that you
design your wind turbine solution with a backup plan. Generally a small gas
generator is enough to ensure you have power if something goes wrong.
Reducing Your Energy Needs before Going Green
With
simple instructions available on how to convert to homemade wind power or DIY
solar panels for as little as $200, many people are taking the alternative
energy more seriously. When choosing to take on a DIY conversion project the
first question most people ask is will one windmill or one large solar panel be
enough? There are too many factors involved here to answer that question for
you. But one way to start is to ensure your home is efficient in the first
place. In this article we will walk you through some steps that will help you
reduce your energy consumption before you start converting your home.
Reducing
Your Energy Needs
One
often overlooked step in converting a home to green power is reducing your
energy needs in the first place. The average home uses inefficient lighting,
power hungry appliances, and poor heating/cooling solutions. An important step to reducing your energy
needs is to look at the inefficiencies in your current system.
Consider:
1. Replacing old incandescent bulbs with
fluorescents or led bulbs will cut your power consumption from light in half.
2.
Replacing old, inefficient, appliances may reduce your energy bills by as much
as 30% by itself.
You
should also look at your current heating/cooling solutions. For example an
electric hot water heater could potentially be replaced by a solar water
heater. Maybe that inefficient air conditioner can be replaced with a more
efficient heat exchanger.
If
you need help choosing more efficient appliances, an excellent resource for
this is put out by the Canadian government: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/EnerGuide/home.cfm. It’s called Energuide, and it covers
everything power consumption of home appliance to energy requirements of large
commercial air conditioners.
Spend
some time looking through that guide and calculating how much you can reduce
your power consumption in different areas of your home. By simply taking a look at everything in your
home that consumes energy, you will find ways to reduce your energy needs
before you start.
You
don’t necessarily have to go all out and spend $10,000 replacing everything –
but things as simple as changing your lighting will reduce your energy needs
before you start your conversion project.
More
Related Articles on Alternative Energy at http://www.vunamer.com/
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