Wind Power
New and Improved Wind Power!
Advances in residential turbines make them more affordable and easier to use than ever!
Home energy costs have recently increased by 50 percent or better for many people across the US. This fact alone is motivating a growing number of people to look for alternatives to regular provided power. The proliferation of net metering laws in about 45 states, a growing number of state residential wind incentive programs, and new federal tax credits have given a strong boost to the small-scale wind turbine industry.
Another thing to pay attention to is that recent technical developments have reduced blade noise, this will make having wind power devices for neighborhoods and businesses more feasible. They have improved both turbine efficiency and longevity. There now are a number of new home-scale wind turbines with advanced technology, and there’s the promise of more to come in the near future. This is great news for everyone!
For many years, residential wind turbines have been most popular in rural locations where zoning laws tend to be less restricitve and neighbors less likely to object to them (mainly on aesthetic grounds). That may be about to change. Many in the small-scale wind turbine industry think residential wind power is about to enter suburbia with simpler, less expensive systems that perform more like household appliances than complicated renewable energy systems. The potential here is enormous; did you know it is estimated that there are at least 15 million homes that already have the resources necessary to make a wind power system cost effective.
Does it really make sense to install a wind turbine in your own backyard? Perhaps it does, perhaps it does not. If you have seen one, but just can not see yourself having that in your own yard, you have to remember that they are not all the same. A lot of them are different, there are all types for all types of yards, and properties. A system that works in one place may not work as well in another. There are many variables to consider. How big is your lot? What are your zoning restrictions? What are the wind speeds in your area? What is the cost and amount of electricity you use? Does the utility company offer metering? What is the availability of state rebates and incentives?
