North America is now becoming a large world player in using wind as an alternative source of power; ranging from entire fields of fans to personalized home windmills and turbines. The amount of energy that comes from converting the energy of the wind comes in just behind natural gas. More than 5040 megawatts of power was generated by wind in 2007 alone. In 2008, with the advent of cheaper systems, Home Wind Power generated about 1% of the energy needs for the ENTIRE US of A.
While the biggest chunk of the energy wind generates is due to the vast wind farms, Home Wind Power systems are on the rise. This is due to an increase in both their use per household, and the amount of power each turbine gives off thanks to developments in efficiency. More people using them has translated into more people wanting to use them due to the crowd effect. This spreading trend means that more people are helping North America become a cleaner place as a whole, and lowering our dependence on foreign oil and other harmful fossil fuels. As it stands, burning oil and coal is still the largest form of power generation in different power plants and vehicles. This produces pollution at an alarming rate that is increasing in proportion to our power needs as a civilization.
If you compare the pollution generated by fossil fuels and that produced by wind, you’ll find that wind produces ZERO emissions once the turbines are up and running. There are some minor objections from people concerned about the aesthetic problems that can arize from having a whole field full of wind turbines, but these complaints are based on opinion and usually fail to take the greater good into consideration. Personally I think fields of turbines look very artistic and futuristic at the same time. As the technology behind turbines progresses, these windmills will become smaller and more unobtrusive. Home Wind Power stations also mean less of an issue aesthetically, and a personal home system when combined with some solar panels can provide much, if not all, of a home’s power needs.
These small Home Wind Power stations can be purchased commercially, complete systems ready to be installed at a moments notice. Some can be attached to a house roof, while others can be installed in their own tower away from the house. Generally these systems work better when mounted higher, 30 feet being the trend, however depending on the shape of your yard or neighborhood, they can also be mounted in strategical places where lots of wind blows.
While initially the Home Wind Power that these turbines give off is free, high building costs mean that a significant time will pass before they pay themselves off. Purchasing them however is truly an investment that can only grow as not only will it lower your monthly bills, it helps to ensure the future of the environment. Plus as time passes and technology advances, mass production will be cheaper and more common thus driving production costs down so you’ll see a much quicker return.
Alternatively, instead of buying a premade commercial Home Wind Power system, you can build your own. With some know how, in the end this can really save you a lot of money and getting it done once will make every time you do it much easier. Home Wind Power can really be a great investment, both financially and for the future of the planet, but building one yourself can only make it better.
Technorati Tags: Alternative Energy, Foreign Oil, Home Wind Power
