Residential Wind Power Facts: Part II
Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home?
Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting
pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over its nominal
30 year life, a BWC EXCEL wind turbine will offset approximately 1.2 tons of air
pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases.
Don't I have to take wind measurements for a year or more?
No. For residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified in
most situations. Wind resource data published by the US Dept. of Energy is sufficient
to predict performance. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be
prudent to take wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site in
not in a sheltered area.
Are wind turbines reliable, and what about maintenance?
Both Bergey and Southwest WindPower turbines have only 3 or 4 moving parts and
do not require any regular maintenance. After a 66 month test of one of Bergey's 10
kW units, Wisconsin Power & Light concluded that, "The turbines' reliability could not
be improved upon."
Do they make noise or interfere with TV reception?
Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable
by most people. They do not interfere with TV reception.
Will the utility company allow me to hookup a wind generator?
Federal regulations (PURPA) require utilities to allow you to install a wind generator,
and pay you for any excess power you produce.
Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house?
No, a wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without need of
changing any wiring or appliances. In some states a second utility meter will be
added, however, so that the utility can know how much electricity you have sold to
them.
What about towers?
Most towers sold are in the 35' to 80' range. The wind turbine should be installed a
minimum of 20' above obstructions on your property such as trees, your home or
other out-buildings. As tower heights increase, the wind becomes faster and less
turbulent. A 20 foot increase in tower height, from 60 to 80 feet, can increase the
output of your wind turbine by as much as 36%.
The most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice type, but other types that are
hinged or have no guy wires are also available.
How are they as an investment?
That depends on your cost of electricity and average wind speed. The wind system
will usually recoup its investment through utility savings within 6-15 years and after
that the electricity it produces will be virtually free.
Compared to purchasing utility power, a wind system can be a good investment
because your money goes to increasing the value of your home rather than just
paying for a service. Many people buy wind systems for their retirement because
they are concerned about utility rate increases.
Cash incentives
Many states in the USA offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for
your wind system. Follow the link to see what incentive programs your state offers
for a small wind systems.
Will it help the environment if I install a wind turbine at my home?
Wind turbines produce no pollution and by using wind power you will be offsetting
pollution that would have been generated by your utility company. Over its nominal
30 year life, a BWC EXCEL wind turbine will offset approximately 1.2 tons of air
pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases.
Don't I have to take wind measurements for a year or more?
No. For residential systems the cost of taking wind measurements is not justified in
most situations. Wind resource data published by the US Dept. of Energy is sufficient
to predict performance. In very hilly or mountainous areas, however, it may be
prudent to take wind data before purchasing a system to ensure that your site in
not in a sheltered area.
Are wind turbines reliable, and what about maintenance?
Both Bergey and Southwest WindPower turbines have only 3 or 4 moving parts and
do not require any regular maintenance. After a 66 month test of one of Bergey's 10
kW units, Wisconsin Power & Light concluded that, "The turbines' reliability could not
be improved upon."
Do they make noise or interfere with TV reception?
Small wind turbines do make some noise, but not enough to be found objectionable
by most people. They do not interfere with TV reception.
Will the utility company allow me to hookup a wind generator?
Federal regulations (PURPA) require utilities to allow you to install a wind generator,
and pay you for any excess power you produce.
Will I have to change any of the wiring in my house?
No, a wind turbine is easily retrofitted to virtually any home without need of
changing any wiring or appliances. In some states a second utility meter will be
added, however, so that the utility can know how much electricity you have sold to
them.
What about towers?
Most towers sold are in the 35' to 80' range. The wind turbine should be installed a
minimum of 20' above obstructions on your property such as trees, your home or
other out-buildings. As tower heights increase, the wind becomes faster and less
turbulent. A 20 foot increase in tower height, from 60 to 80 feet, can increase the
output of your wind turbine by as much as 36%.
The most economical type of tower is the guyed lattice type, but other types that are
hinged or have no guy wires are also available.
How are they as an investment?
That depends on your cost of electricity and average wind speed. The wind system
will usually recoup its investment through utility savings within 6-15 years and after
that the electricity it produces will be virtually free.
Compared to purchasing utility power, a wind system can be a good investment
because your money goes to increasing the value of your home rather than just
paying for a service. Many people buy wind systems for their retirement because
they are concerned about utility rate increases.
Cash incentives
Many states in the USA offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for
your wind system. Follow the link to see what incentive programs your state offers
for a small wind systems.
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