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Is Wind Power Right for You?
You can find wind generators used on everything from remote cabins to sailboats and other applications including utility connected homes.
According to the U.S. Census, more than 17 million homes in America are locatedon land that is appropriate for a small wind system. Could your home be one?
IS WIND RIGHT FOR ME? – There are four important factors to consider using wind as an energy source for your house.
Do I have a good site? 
Do I have the right wind resource?
What are my local laws?
Cash Incentives?
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Do I have a good site?
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Siting a wind generator is extremely important to the performance of the machine. It is the difference between a machine that give you lots of energy and a garden sculpture. The ideal location for a wind turbine is 20’ above any surrounding object within a 250 foot radius. This generally means your property should be at least ½ acre or larger in size.
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Do I have the right wind resource?
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Wind is the “fuel” for your wind generator. You should have at least a 9 MPH average wind speed at your location.. There are several wind maps for most States which will give you an idea of the wind resource at your house. Some states have even more accurate interactive windmaps. Check out these maps and see if you have the right wind resource. You should live in a “Class One” or better site.
If you cannot find your wind resource on the map, there are other ways.
- Contact the closest weather, TV or radio station and ask them for an idea of the average wind in their area. Wind patterns can change over short distances. We don’t recommend airports as they are generally located in places with the lowest potential wind.
- If you have trees in your area, use the Griggs Putnum Wind energy index. This looks at a tree and how the wind changes its shape to determine your wind speed.
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What are my local laws?
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The next step is to determine if you have any local laws a Home Owner’s Association, City or County that prohibit the use of towers.
You should research:
- If you have a Home Owner’s Association read the guidelines relating to towers or tall structures.
- Contact your local County or City Planning and Zoning authority and ask about the use of towers and tall structures. Remember, the tower must be 20 feet above any surrounding object, if it is not, then performance will be lower.
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CASH INCENTIVES
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Finally – the best news of all. Many States in the union offer various types of tax incentives and even rebates for your wind system. Follow the link to see what incentive programs your state offers for a small wind system.
Congratulations! If you have made it this far and everything looks great then it is likely a small wind system can save you a lot on your monthly electrical expense. discover more >>
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