Wind Turbines

Many household wind turbines generate direct current (DC) electricity. A converter changes it to alternating current (AC) so it can be used in the home. Wind turbine systems can either be connected to the national electricity grid, or connected to a battery.

Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity is produced

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:  http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/wndspd.txt

If You Live in Canada: http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/CN/WindSpeed.html 

If You Live in the UK or Europe: http://www.xcweather.co.uk             

If you live in Australia: http://www.wunderground.com/global/Region/AU/WindSpeed.html

 New Wind Turbine Design - The Wind Spire

The Windspire is the most affordable renewable energy appliance in the 1 kilowatt range. The Windspire comes as a complete system that includes poles, rotor, generator, inverter, and wireless performance monitor, so there are no expensive extras to purchase. A 30% federal tax credit (available in the USA) and local rebates are available in some areas. The average payback is under 10 years.

If you don’t live in a suitable area, then you should consider a solar power conversion instead