In the midst of solar power becoming the poster child for sustainable living, wind power is often overlooked as an energy source for the home. Like solar panels, wind powered generators harnesses a renewable resource that is found everywhere and in certain areas, wind power is more economically viable and can actually produce more electricity than solar power. And much like solar panels, the progression of technology is making wind turbines easier and easier to integrate into suburban homes.

Wind-powered electricity is generated through the use of wind turbines, which look like fans. Wind blows against the turbine, pushing the blades around, which converts the kinetic energy into electricity via a generator. Please note though, that while wind power can be used to supplement your existing power usage, it cannot replace it in most homes.

Unlike solar power, the inherent unpredictable properties of wind make turbine-generated electric output erratic and unless you have a constant strong wind, it will not be possible to generate power consistently. As such, you will still need to have a power source such as the power grid or a solar power system in place. After all, winds can pick up and die off in a heartbeat and cannot be predicted like the sun, only calculated using average speeds, which leads to the first step in adding wind power to your home:

CHECK YOUR WIND SPEED

Most wind turbines need mild to strong winds to function properly. Many home wind turbines require a wind speed of 7-10 mph to begin generating electricity. As such, it is important to check that your area can provide this constantly. There are a few sites, including www.swiftwindturbine.com, that can give you an idea of the wind speed for your neighborhood.

Generally, you will need Class 2 winds or higher to make wind turbines economically viable but there are also a few options for those that have lower wind speeds. Once you check to ensure that your area has sufficient average wind speed, the next step is to look into the different types of wind turbines.

COMMERCIAL WIND TURBINES:

Commercial wind turbines are gigantic structures and not designed for home use. They commonly consists of three blades that each measure 65-130 ft (or even larger), mounted on 200-300 feet tall towers to catch optimum winds. As such, they are mainly only found on wind farms. However, if you have a large plot of land, such as farm or a remote house, it could be a viable option as they are reliable electricity generators due to their efficiency. In addition, many farmers have integrated them on their land for specific tasks (such as powering a water pump), with minimal disruption as the turbines have small footprints that don't take up much grazing or planting space. For the more urban households, though, the Small Wind Turbine is the more suitable choice.

SMALL WIND TURBINES:

Small wind turbines are turbines that generate less than 50 kWh and they usually differ from commercial turbines in that they directly feed electricity into the home's existing power system, bypassing using a battery for storage. Simplified, they generate power when wind is blowing to supplement your electricity consumption and when the wind doesn't blow, your home will use power from the grid as normal. Generally, the larger output turbines should ideally be mounted on a mast/pole that puts it 30 feet higher than anything else within 500 feet to eliminate turbulence from the wind going over other objects and many turbines come supplied with 80-120 foot towers. Depending on the size, single home turbines can cost anywhere from $6000 - $22000 including the installation but can pay for itself in 6 to 15 years depending on wind speeds.

In recent years, there has also been a lot of development in "Micro turbines", small wind-powered generators that look like weathervanes. These are engineered to be able to be mounted on rooftops and require a much lower wind speed (some even as low as 4.5 mph) to start generating power. They are also much quieter and more aesthetically pleasing with models such as the Swift Wind Turbine and the Energy Ball looking more like pieces of art. However, these generally cost a bit more per kWh than traditional small wind turbines and though they are functional in lower wind speeds, they will also generate less power, leading to a longer break even point. Bigger is better in this case, but if you are limited for space, these are still a viable option.

COSTS AND SAVINGS

10 kWh wind power systems can be set up for as little as $25,000, which is significantly less than solar power systems. Micro turbines run a bit more, with the 1 kWh Swift Wind Turbine pricing in at $10,000 and the 500 W Energy Ball costing around $5500. Like solar counterparts, wind power systems are also eligible for rebates in may areas, which can significantly knock down the initial investment cost. However, as stated before, the economic savings of wind power is dependent on the average wind speeds in your area. They have the potential to break even at less than half the time of solar systems, but those are in ideal wind conditions. With average life spans of 20-25 years, if you located in an area that is able to support one, it could be a very wise investment.

RESOURCES:

American Wind Energy Association - http://www.awea.org/

- contains more information on wind energy as well as a list of distributors

Swift Wind Turbine - www.swiftwindturbine.com

- the official site of one of the most popular micro turbines also includes a form to search the wind speed in your area.

Good resource to further your knowledge on the subject: