Off the Grid with Wind Power for the Home

You've probably been driving down the expressway and come across a large field of huge wind turbines.  These are called wind farms and because they generate emission free power they are continually being built in the U.S. and across the world.  Did you know that the country of Denmark generates over 1/3 of it's electricity from wind power.  We've been using wind power ever since the first person put a sail on a boat.   This form of power generation is the least destructive to the environment but it does have a few down sides.  Primarily the noise generated from the turbines can impact neighborhoods and of course the wind isn't always blowing so power generation can be variable.  Nevertheless, wind power has become a legitimate method of power generation for utility companies.  And now, with the use of small wind systems or turbines, individual homes, farms, and small businesses can take advantage of wind power.

Small Wind Turbines are electric generators that use the energy of the wind to produce clean, emissions-free power for individual homes, farms, and small businesses. This is a simple and increasingly popular technology that allows home and business owners to generate their own power off the grid.  Unlike utility-scale turbines, small turbines can be suitable for use on properties as small as one acre of land in most areas of the country.  These small wind turbines aren't necessarily small, normally at least 80 feet in height and can be as tall as 140 feet.   On average a small wind turbine with a 5 kilowatt generating capacity will cost around $30,000.  It can take between 6 to 20 years to recoup the investment of a small wind system but tax incentives in the future may speed that up.  Your local zoning codes and wind factors will determine whether or not your property would be suited to have a small wind turbine installed.   Generally, a minimum of 12 mph winds must be the average for the area.  For more information on small wind systems an wind power please visit www.awea.org