Wind Power Facts – A Green Alternative For Reducing Electricity Costs
Thursday, August 26th, 2010People have various reasons for using electricity produced by a wind turbine. These can include concern for the environment, saving money, and fascination with the technology that cuts down the need to use power from a utility company. No matter what your motivation, you need to ensure that wind power is a practical option on your property.
Do you have sufficent wind available? This is the first thing that has to be determined before anything else is done. If you do not have enough of a wind resource, you will find it difficult to power your wind energy system and use it as the sole energy supply for your home. It’s recommended that you have an average wind speed of 8 – 14 miles per hour. If you’re not certain how much wind power your site has, it is a good idea to analyze your wind speed. If you are new to wind power then it’s recommended that you contact a wind site assessor who will have the tools to measure wind power and be able to give you an estimate of how much wind you have access to annually for your system.
Once you have found out that the available wind you need to power your system is sufficient, you need to make sure that you have enough land available, because towers and other wind power systems often require a lot of space, and there may be restrictions as to how close these systems can be located to a residence.
Noise can be a big factor when it comes to wind power equipment. However, not all wind turbines are noisy. It’s therefore important to research all of the wind turbines that are available, and pick one that has the lowest rotational speed while providing a sufficient quantity of power; these are the systems that will be the quietest.
One of the most important considerations that must be undertaken when thinking about installing a wind power system is safety. Wind power systems can be more dangerous than any other type of renewable energy system, and because of this you need to be especially careful when installing the equipment.
There are a few legalities that must also be taken into consideration when installing a wind power system on your property; these include zoning requirements, building permits and electrical permits.
There are tax credits and incentives available for people who choose to install renewable energy systems and this includes wind power systems.
To find out what incentives may be available, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org


















