Although solar panels can be installed on most homes, wind turbines are less adaptable to residential situations. When looking at wind power for home use most people find that it's not practical in most urban and many suburban settings. It's usually best to have a lot of at least one acre if you are planning to install a wind turbine. The devices are large and require towers of 80 to 120 feet high for maximum benefit.
Wind turbines are very efficient and can reduce the average monthly electric bill by over 50%. The amount your bill will be reduced will depend on your area and the type of turbine you install. Wind power for home use is supplemental, and as a rule, homes with wind turbines remain on the power grid. If you produce more power from your wind turbine than you use, the utility company will buy the excess power from you.
You can use the data regarding wind in your area from the US Dept. of Energy to determine if a wind turbine is suitable in your area. Average winds of 10 mph are required for effective use of a turbine. If you live in a mountainous are, you may have to take wind measurements for a year to determine if your particular area is too sheltered to take advantage of wind power for home use.
Some wind turbines can be installed by a home owner and others will require professional installation. The power company may put in a second meter to measure the electricity produced by your turbine. Once installed, wind turbines require little, if any, maintenance. The average cost is $6000 to $22,000 and they have an average life of twenty years.
Wind power for home use saves money and makes your carbon footprint smaller since you will be using less power produced by burning fossil fuels. A wind turbine prevents about 200 tons of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere over its lifetime.
Wind turbines for home use do make some noise, but usually less than a washing machine or dishwasher. The turbines require a tall tower to take full advantage of the wind which blows more steadily at higher altitudes. Trees and buildings can interfere with wind. At 80' to 120' the turbine is above obstacles that can effect wind speed. The turbines do not interfere with television, Internet or phone reception.
Wind power for home use is a dependable, renewable, sustainable source of energy. Wind power was used even before electricity to power mills in areas where there was no fast moving water. The technology is relatively simple and there are no batteries or other storage units with a home wind turbine.
While wind power for home use may not be available to everyone, it is a great alternative to the traditional power sources. It is environmentally friendly, cost efficient and virtually maintenance free. Wind turbines have been installed for homes in forty seven of the fifty US states. The cost of installing a wind turbine compares favorably with the cost of solar panels.