Wind power is one of the oldest and simplest technologies in the world. Grain, man's staple crop, required milling to make it into flour and meal. Water wheels were used to power mills in areas where there were fast moving streams and rivers, but if there was no fast moving water, mills had to be turned by man power. In the flat low lands of the Netherlands, fast moving water was lacking, but there was plenty of wind. Man learned to harness the energy of the wind to turn his mills.
Home wind power is not a new idea. Isolated farms and ranches depended on wind power to create electricity because they were too far from the power grid to be connected. The wind turbines of today are much more efficient than they early wind turbines and capable of producing more than half the power used by the average American household.
Wind turbines create clean energy from a dependable, perpetual resource. Once installed, home wind power requires almost no maintenance. The turbines will last an average of twenty years. There are some drawbacks to home wind power, since it is not suitable for every home, but for homeowners that can use a turbine, it is a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
If you live in an urban or suburban area, you will probably not be able to take advantage of this technology. It is recommended that wind turbines be use on lots of an acre or more. The turbines are large and must be placed on high towers of over 80'. There has already been some controversy over the installation of wind turbines in some suburban neighborhoods. The size and height of the turbines makes them highly visible and they emit a low level noise. In crowded areas this can create some difficulties.
Most US states have areas where wind turbines are a good alternative source of electricity. In areas which use little air conditioning, the savings in electric costs can be as much as 90%. One wind turbine can produce as much energy as several solar panels, so the installation cost compares favorably. Once installed, wind turbines don't require any regular maintenance and will usually last over twenty years.
People who live in the valleys of mountainous areas may be too sheltered to take advantage of home wind power technology. The turbines require average wind speeds of 10 mph to work efficiently. If your area doesn't have average wind speeds of at least 10 mph this power source is not suitable.
One of the really amazing things about home wind power is the simplicity of the technology. Wind turbines have a great deal in common with the wind mills used before electricity was invented. While the original idea has been tweaked and adapted, it has changed very little in hundreds of years. Sometimes the old ways are best, and this ancient and perpetual source of clean energy may be one of the saviors of our planet.
