How and Why to Build a DIY Wind Turbine
Whether or not to invest in a diy wind turbine?...maybe you have been thinking about that for awhile now. If you have ever even considered it, now is the time. The confluence of political events in the Middle East with the diminishing supply of oil should make us all wake up and take notice about the uncertain future of centralized energy production.
What's in it for me right now? You may ask…
1. Make your power bill feel insignificant
By getting your diy wind turbine up and running, you are taking advantage of the FREE wind that blows by you every day. There are home kit wind generators out there that will power anywhere from your refrigerator to your whole house. They don't have to be conspicuous either. You can of course mount them 100 feet up in the air on a tower to take maximum advantage of the most wind, or you can mount them on your roof and be low profile to be more discrete.
2. You can achieve energy independence
These are reasons why energy independence is quickly becoming a necessity:
* Fossil fuels are quickly being used up and we aren't making any more
* Government and private industry realizes what's going on here but they've hit the snooze button
* Getting a diy wind turbine and harvesting the free energy that is all around us will make you independent of foreign oil supplies - at least for your home
3. Make the planet a Greener place to live
By taking a first step toward ridding yourself of fossil fuel generated power, you are helping in your own way to make the planet more habitable for future generations. The carbon dioxide that is produced as a result of burning fossil fuels is the most prevalent Greenhouse Gas. Carbon is a significant factor in climate change.
The really great thing about a diy wind turbine is, it doesn't have to cost a lot. The more of the assembly and installation you can do, the cheaper the process becomes. Here is all you have to do to sort things out and get your home wind turbine spinning and saving money…
1. Research what you need for YOUR local wind conditions
Do your research up front before you spend any money. All wind is not the same. Even if you look at the government maps that show where in the country the wind is the strongest, it is no guarantee that the wind at your house, with your obstructions (trees, buildings, etc) will offer you that same wind pattern. The easiest and most certain way to test your wind is with an anemometer. They only cost about $30 and they will tell you wind speed and direction. Digital and analog models are both available.
2. If you are mechanically inclined and like to build, check out diy wind turbine plans
There are many plans and books available through Amazon. If you go this route, you need to plan on taking some time to actually start making power. You will be on a scavenger hunt of sorts for parts and materials, so it may take some time based on your access to hardware stores and the like. This is a very very cheap way build your diy wind turbine if you have the time, patience, (and knowledge of your limitations).
3. Buy a kit from a manufacturer
The main difference in plans and a kit is the main components in a kit will come largely assembled for you. In other words, you won't have to go to a number of stores to get the materials you need to put this together and start producing energy.
This is much cheaper than calling a dealer and getting them to install one for you - without the potentially super-high price tag (up to $70,000 for a large home).
Plan on paying at least $6,000 - $10,000 for the windmill kit and extra to have it installed and tied-in to your home's electrical system.
Another advantage of the kit is how good they look. The kit will probably look more professional and presentable to your neighbors than one you would build from a set of plans - no offense.
Either way you go, you will be able to make 250 killowatt-hours to 1,500 killowatt-hours per month with a diy wind turbine. That is enough to power most homes or at least a significant portion of the power you need.
Don't let your lack of familiarity with wind technology keep you on the sidelines. As Richard Branson always says, "Life is a helluva lot more fun if you say yes rather than no".
About the Author
Roger G. Brown has been an energy engineer for 20 years and has saved millions of dollars on power bills. If you want to learn how to reduce the check you write to your utility each month, check out Roger's tips at http://windturbinealternatives.com.
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