Wind Power for Homes

If you stay in an area where there are strong winds all the time, then why not think of generating electricity at home. That may not only solve your dependence on the utility company, but you can save a lot of money as well. Besides solar energy, wind energy can also be exploited to produce electricity, which can light up your homes. Usually, large wind turbines are installed in wind farms for generating electricity, but for homes they may not be feasible, and that's the reason manufacturers have come up with turbines which can generate electricity from wind power for homes. Depending on the size of the wind turbine, the amount of electricity produced varies.

Solar and Wind Power for Homes

Just like solar-powered machines which convert DC into AC, a wind turbine also has the capacity to convert DC into AC. The only difference between the two is that in solar-powered homes, sunlight is used instead of wind energy. Usually it's on top of a tall tower that the wind turbine is installed. When the wind blows, the wind turbine moves, thereby kinetic energy is converted into electric energy.

Even though wind power can be a great source of power generation, the speed of wind blowing in your locality should be at least 5m/s, so that the power generated is cost-effective. Moreover, the wind turbine should be installed in such a place which is away from obstacles like homes and trees, as they work best in locations which are exposed. If the wind speed is below 5m/s, it will not serve any purpose, so you need to measure the speed of wind first before installing a turbine.

Usually wind turbines are connected to the utility grid, so whenever the power generated from your wind turbine is less than required, you are supplied with power from the utility company. On the other hand if the speed of wind is high, which increases the amount of electricity produced, the dependence on the utility company is automatically reduced. And when there's excess generation of power, surplus electricity is sold to the grid. This is an automated process, but if you don't want such a process, you can opt to use batteries to store power, which can be used on a later date.

The power produced by wind turbines, reduces your dependence on electricity from an outside source, besides considerably decreasing your electricity bill. Just as power generated from a solar panel, can either be stored or sold to the grid, wind power can also be sold or stored, it's all up to you. If the speed of wind tends to fluctuate in the place you live, it's better to connect the turbines used for generating wind power for homes to the electricity grid, as you never know when power may not be generated.

Cost of Wind Power for Homes

Wind turbines for homes usually cost in the range of US $6,000 to 22,000. Most systems cost about US $10,000. However, this is only the wind turbine cost, and it does not include the costs associated with installing the whole system. There may be several other components of the wind energy system like batteries and inverters, which you may like to install, and as such you will need to take these into consideration. Moreover, there are costs associated with labor and installation charges, to be taken into consideration as well. Once you have installed the system, you don't need to spend anything for operating it, thereby making generation of wind power a viable option in the long run.

So, wind power for homes can be a great option if you are looking to reduce your dependence on utility company, thereby reducing your monthly electricity bills. However, you also need to remember that the amount of electricity produced may not be enough to light up your home, throughout the day, every day all round the year. You need to have a plan ready, so that your house is lighted every day.